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Original poster

Closing Job Application Process Early

225 replies

CockatooZoo · 09/03/2021 10:48

Just wanting some thoughts on this. I was applying for a job under the guaranteed interview scheme, I would have been offered an interview as I met all the criteria and had several years experience with all points of the criteria, qualified in the subject area and worked at a more senior level to this role in another organisation (similar).

I read through the application thoroughly and had worked on my draft application for quite a while, adjusted my CV and ensured everything was easy to link together to demonstrate the competencies. It also included a personal statement which I wrote from scratch.

There was no mention of rolling applications or that applications would close early for any circumstance on the website.

I went to submit the application on Friday (having had a reminder email at midnight) and they had closed it early. I have been told it's because they chose the candidate.

Now, I have a big issue with this because I feel it puts women and people with disabilities at a huge disadvantage. I feel really off that they have closed it on the final day of school closures, before a weekend (when partner's could have been in a better position to provide childcare) and with zero information about the possibly this would happen.

I have emailed HR but had no response yet.

OP posts:
Racoonworld · 09/03/2021 15:19

@CockatooZoo

It's really funny how I am being accused of saying it's discrimination - I can't see anywhere where I have actually said that.
Your opening post implies it

Now, I have a big issue with this because I feel it puts women and people with disabilities at a huge disadvantage

So you don't think it's discrimination then, in which case it is a non-issue.

Original poster
CockatooZoo · 09/03/2021 15:24

There's a difference between that though and an accusation of discrimination.

It does put those categories at a disadvantage - does a disadvantage always mean discrimination?

OP posts:
Okbussitout · 09/03/2021 15:24

Part of my role is around equality and diversity. This is well recognised as shitty practice.

It impacts people who have disabilities or caring responsibilities most as they are the ones who are least able to do pull together an application there and then. They are like to have to schedule support or childcare which you may not be vale to do straight away. Very short closing dates are also recognised as bad practice for these reasons.

It's pretty shocking that there are replies are very much well you didn't work hard enough or quickly enough. How was op supposed to know it would close early.

Can I ask at work if you do work ASAP just in case someone asks for it way before the deadline? If so how are you supposed to manage other work? It doesn't make sense!

Hankunamatata · 09/03/2021 15:25

I'd be annoyed

Haffiana · 09/03/2021 15:26

If it had said that they may close applications early, would it have made any difference to your application?

Would you have submitted it faster?

Okbussitout · 09/03/2021 15:27

I'm getting strong right wing vibes from these comment. Kind of I'm all right Jack fuck the rest of you. So gross. So mumsnet.

Okbussitout · 09/03/2021 15:28

@Racoonworld so in your life do things fall into two categories? 1) discrimination and therfore a problem or 2)not discrimination and therfore entirely unproblematic and fine?

haveapieceoftoast · 09/03/2021 15:28

@Haffiana

If it had said that they may close applications early, would it have made any difference to your application?

Would you have submitted it faster?

that’s a good point. OP you said you prepared your application for submission as soon as your possibly could have. so how would knowing they might close early have made any difference to the speed at which you could complete it?
Original poster
CockatooZoo · 09/03/2021 15:30

@Haffiana to be honest, i am not sure - however, at least I would have known I would have potentially been wasting the time that is now wasted! I am 99% sure i could not have submitted it faster, no.

Does that make sense?

I actually ended up not applying for another role to focus on this one.

OP posts:
rookiemere · 09/03/2021 15:31

@haveapieceoftoast that's such a daft question. If the closing date was sooner then OP would presumably have made a decision to apply or not apply based on how quickly she could get her application together.
I agree though that it's not down to recruiters to worry about people's personal circumstances e.g.schools being opened or closed.

JustDanceAddict · 09/03/2021 15:35

Ads normally say something like they may close before application deadline as I suppose if they find the right person etc. If it didn’t say that, I’d assume you could apply up until deadline, but don’t know legalities of this.,
I usually try and get in way before deadline but I saw an ad and had barely any time to send the application off, but still got the interview.

Racoonworld · 09/03/2021 15:35

@Okbussitout I was just pointing out why people had thought OP thought it was discrimination, as OP asked.

Haffiana · 09/03/2021 15:40

[quote CockatooZoo]@Haffiana to be honest, i am not sure - however, at least I would have known I would have potentially been wasting the time that is now wasted! I am 99% sure i could not have submitted it faster, no.

Does that make sense?

I actually ended up not applying for another role to focus on this one.[/quote]
Wasting your time is not putting women or people with disabilities at a disadvantage.

Otherwise you would need to lobby government that jobs are open for applications for a given set amount of time - whatever the relevant lobbyists declare is fair.

It isn't always clear what the difference is between what disadvantages you personally for whatever reasons, and what is actually discriminatory.

rookiemere · 09/03/2021 15:40

@CockatooZoo personally if you really need a job I'd carve aside some time for it every day, even if that means that DCs don't complete all their home schooling. After all if you had a wfh job that's what you'd have to do.

It seems a shame that if it's quite rare for you to find a job that suits, two popped up at once and you were applied for one of them. I get that it was your preferred one and you have to conserve your energy but equally it pays to spread the risk. I have an interview in Friday and it's not my preferred option out of the roles I've currently applied for, but I'll worry about that if and when I'm offered it. That way the choice is on my side rather than theirs.

goodbyelenin · 09/03/2021 15:46

It impacts people who have disabilities or caring responsibilities most as they are the ones who are least able to do pull together an application there and then. They are like to have to schedule support or childcare which you may not be vale to do straight away. Very short closing dates are also recognised as bad practice for these reasons.

I am not commenting about the disability, but people really need to stop with the "childcare issue" nonsense.
You don't need childcare to apply for a job. Let's be serious, most parents had to do a full time job without childcare during the pandemic - which was not pleasant, but more or less doable.

Unless you are given 1 hour to submit your app, be a bit profesional about it

Technically the ones who would be impacted are the people currently in employment and who have a job to do before filling a job ap! Grin

Original poster
CockatooZoo · 09/03/2021 15:51

@rookiemere the other job isn't in my field - I could do it, but it's not what I've trained to do (similar skill set but not my specialism). However, yes, amazing freaking timing with both deadlines being close together.

OP posts:
Disfordarkchocolate · 09/03/2021 15:58

I can't believe some of the comments you've had on here @CockatooZoo.

dontdisturbmenow · 09/03/2021 15:59

No, I am wanting to ensure that going forwards their application is a fair process to all, as fair as it can be
So what if indeed, wait appears very likely, it turned out that they already had a candidate. Would letting more people apply when their application will not even be read fairer?

Or should they even conduct interviews, involving more work preparation, making potentially disabled people travel during Covid, or make special arrangements for the kids to be looked after by someone else during Covid time for a zoom interview, all for nothing?

We had to take out an advert half way, not because we received so many candidates but because the contract got cancelled due to funding and there was no lo get a role to pay for.

RavingAnnie · 09/03/2021 16:05

I agree with you OP. It's discriminates defiant against disabled people who may need longer to apply and possible against women. I think you are right to raise and challenge as until people raise these points, people don't realise how they are putting certain groups at a disadvantage.

Mumtothelittlefella · 09/03/2021 16:07

This is not a discrimination issue. Schools maybe open for you but that isn’t the case across the whole of the UK.

Leaving applications for anything last minute always going to cause problems so it’s always best to get in there first. Sorry you’ve missed out this time. In hindsight is there anything you could have done to make sure you don’t miss out again?

goodbyelenin · 09/03/2021 16:10

@RavingAnnie

I agree with you OP. It's discriminates defiant against disabled people who may need longer to apply and possible against women. I think you are right to raise and challenge as until people raise these points, people don't realise how they are putting certain groups at a disadvantage.
but do you realise how damaging these comments against WOMEN are?!

I am not talking about disability (which are completely gender neutral) and are a protected characteristic

but making it sound like WOMEN need more time to apply for a job, would find it harder .. you are just saying that women are less able to do the job itself! Enough!

A full time working mother will find it as hard as a full time working father to apply, but most parents manage, so let's not use that as an excuse, or worst, make us sound like inferiors.

Original poster
CockatooZoo · 09/03/2021 16:20

but making it sound like WOMEN need more time to apply for a job, would find it harder .. you are just saying that women are less able to do the job itself! Enough!

What is being said is that women who are doing the bulk of the caring work, with children at home at the moment, need more time.

Not "women". Women with a shit lot of other things going on (including having to work, whether it be paid or unpaid).

OP posts:
Rockdown2020 · 09/03/2021 16:21

I think it’s really bad to have placed an end date on an application and then pulled it early. It’s a contract with those that are applying. I’m quite shocked at how many people think it’s ok to state a date and not follow through until that date.

goodbyelenin · 09/03/2021 16:27

What is being said is that women who are doing the bulk of the caring work, with children at home at the moment, need more time.

well, duh, but so are men who are doing the bulk of the caring work Hmm

How do think the husbands of female nurses, doctors, pharmacists, policewomen, supermarket cashiers and all the jobs where WOMEN couldn't work from home, how do you think the husbands cope?

Why are we not earring men complaining to HR that it's too hard to apply when the schools are closed?

If YOU decided to go into a situation where you are home, and your husband is working out of the house, don't turn it into a gender issue. Some of us would like to kept being seriously.

Devlesko · 09/03/2021 16:28

They can close for entries as soon as they have enough applicants.
It would have been good for them to mention this though.