To think employers could at the least have the common courtesy to tell you you’ve not been successful?

[AlternativePerspective]

I’ve lost count of the number of jobs I’ve applied (and interviewed) for where I’ve just never heard from them again.

In fact on indeed there is often an update which states how long it will likely be before you hear back, and I’ve seen one or two which state “based on our experience, you’re unlikely to ever hear from this employer again.”

TBH, if we were in the days of paper applications I could see how writing a letter to each applicant could be problematic especially if you have several of them.

But given everything is now done electronically, and there are generallly systems in place to acknowledge your application/invite to interview/confirm the interview time etc, I fail to see why there can’t also be something in place which generates a rejection email when the applicant is rejected on the system.

It would save a lot more angst when people are applying for jobs and just hoping that they will hear back about one of them, only for it to appear that their application has disappeared somewhere.

i interviewed for a job recently and have assumed I wasn’t successful. But it would at least be nice to have been told so I could ask for feedback.

I fully agree with you. It's just plain rude in my opinion. A standard email to say thanks but you have not been successful would hardly take any time and at least the poor applicant would know what was going on.

After going through the misery of job hunting last year I also got very fed up with the ridiculously long application form process. I was applying for pretty basic, part time admin positions and almost all of them had their own ridiculously long, write your life story and answer our very daft questions applications rather than asking for a CV. Each application was at least 2 hours or more to complete and then I'd never hear anything again from most of them. I understand senior positions need a more in depth process but basic wage admin really doesn't.

@fashionablefennel

But it takes seconds to send an "no thanks" email, even to hundreds of applicants - why is that not possible?

because people have a job and other things to do!

You don't realise how time consuming it really is, even for recruitment agencies whose job is literally to manage recruitment.

If ten seconds per vacancy to send a "no thanks" email to all rejected applicants is too much bother - that's an employer I wouldn't want to work for.

The "if you don't hear from us" line shows an arrogance and a feeling that I'm not even entitled to a common courtesy, because I'm just one of hundreds of people you don't give a shit about.

I understand your frustration. I really do. However I had over 200 applicants for a part time admin role. If I let every applicant know they weren’t successful then I get asked for feedback and it takes up so much time when I need to get help because I don’t have enough time.

If ten seconds per vacancy to send a "no thanks" email to all rejected applicants is too much bother - that's an employer I wouldn't want to work for.

I wouldn't work for a company who recruits direct for a start, but that's just me.

Realistically though, if they ARE recruiting people it's because they don't have enough staff in the first place!

it's not 10 seconds to send an email to all rejected candidates, is it..

The "if you don't hear from us" line shows an arrogance and a feeling that I'm not even entitled to a common courtesy, because I'm just one of hundreds of people you don't give a shit about.

If you were that important, you wouldn't be applying, you would have been head hunted

it's not 10 seconds to send an email to all rejected candidates, is it..
It is if you have a proper system and aren't living in the dark ages - how long do you think it would take?

@fashionablefennel

The "if you don't hear from us" line shows an arrogance and a feeling that I'm not even entitled to a common courtesy, because I'm just one of hundreds of people you don't give a shit about.

If you were that important, you wouldn't be applying, you would have been head hunted

Indeed - in fact I don't apply for vacancies that have that line in.

@DynamoKev

it's not 10 seconds to send an email to all rejected candidates, is it.. It is if you have a proper system and aren't living in the dark ages - how long do you think it would take?

You seem to assume that all candidates are rejected at the same time for a start.

You do realise that there's a process don't you? And if we did send rejection emails 3 or 4 weeks after you send your application - basically at the end, people would still be moaning.

If we did send rejection email immediately, people would moan about feeling discriminated!

@DynamoKev

it's not 10 seconds to send an email to all rejected candidates, is it.. It is if you have a proper system and aren't living in the dark ages - how long do you think it would take?

If it's a small to medium business recruiting directly, I am guessing that a "proper system" for their recruitment needs is the last thing on their list.

Agree!!

I think it is good practice to send a response to an application, and especially someone who has attended an interview!

You're right, it doesn't take long with email etc. And if they are a large enough business to be getting shed loads of applications they should have a computer system that can generate an email saying you were unsuccessful.

TBH, if we were in the days of paper applications I could see how writing a letter to each applicant could be problematic especially if you have several of them.

It wasn't. It was the same rejection letter to everyone with just a different name printed on them. I made loads of those. I don't think it took much more time than emailing. **

@fashionablefennel

If ten seconds per vacancy to send a "no thanks" email to all rejected applicants is too much bother - that's an employer I wouldn't want to work for.

I wouldn't work for a company who recruits direct for a start, but that's just me.

Realistically though, if they ARE recruiting people it's because they don't have enough staff in the first place!

it's not 10 seconds to send an email to all rejected candidates, is it..

1 minute to write a couple of lines -> Thanks for your interest, unfortunately on this occassion good luck for the future blah blah.

1 minute to bcc everyone by cut/pasting email addresses.

Done.

I am guessing some posters have never been involved in recruitment, if only it was that quick and easy...

I do agree, I think that every candidate who came for an interview should be contacted, but it's not as straightforward as people think it is either.

A rejection email straight after your application is pointless though.

I just finished a round of recruitment. I had about 80 applicants and it's managed through an applicant tracking system. I have to enter a decision for each person before I can move on to the next stage. It's somewhat tedious but better than sending out individual emails. It is more than 10 seconds and it also requires applicants to create a log in/account for the system.
We don't just accept CVs because I want to know about transferrable skills and need more information than can be given on a couple of lines about your previous roles. You can attach it with your application if you wish but I want to know about your communication skills and your ability to analyse data or influence people etc. It's a niche role. Of the 80 candidates only 1 had actually done the same job before which is why my shortlisting needs more to go on than just a CV.

I always respond to everyone who's applied with a 'thanks for applying, unfortunately...'

It takes less than 5 mins to do a quick email merge.

@fashionablefennel

I am guessing some posters have never been involved in recruitment, if only it was that quick and easy...

I do agree, I think that every candidate who came for an interview should be contacted, but it's not as straightforward as people think it is either.

A rejection email straight after your application is pointless though.

Why is it not straightfoward to send a blanket thanks but no thanks email to any unsuccesful applicants, exactly?

I don’t really care if my application isn’t acknowledged, but I do think it’s poor form for employers not to contact unsuccessful applicants after an interview.

I went for an interview last year - involving a 1 hour interview, 45 min test and a 15 min presentation. The presentation took me a couple of hours to prepare for beforehand. I had to take half-day annual leave, plus rearrange childcare as the interview started at an awkward time. It then cost me £40 in travel costs (central London location).

For all of that the least I expect is someone to send me an email confirming I was unsuccessful at interview, and ideally a couple of sentences of feedback!

Also this was for a relatively small organisation which kept on telling me how friendly and closeknit they are, and how they really value their employees and their time etc

A rejection email straight after your application is pointless though.
Why?

Not getting back to unsuccessful interviewees is unbelievably rude and unprofessional.

I interviewed for a job recently. A few days later they called to tell me I was the preferred candidate. They’ve checked my references and done a criminal record check on me. That was over a week ago and I’ve heard nothing since. I’m assuming they’ve found another candidate they prefer but it would be nice to be told.

I think it's rude to totally ignore people who have taken the time to apply for a position, surely one bog standard email bcc'd to all the unshortlisted applicants will not take too much time and anyone who attends for an interview should either receive a call or email. It just sends the message that your time is not as important theirs.

The funny thing that happened to me and infuriating

Applied for a job at Deloitte. Did a long application and some online tests. Passed the 1st interview. Great. Was told id be contacted to arrange a 2nd interview with the partner.

Didnt hear anything, so emailed after 1 month. Got an email back apologising as the partner was 'busy'.

3 months later got an email asking for my availability to arrange the final interview with the partner.

Told them thanks for taking 3 months, but in the space of the last 1 and a half months I sent an application to another company, did an online test, completed 3 round of interviews. Got an offer, which I have accepted and handed in my notice at my current job.

Again, i agree, if you have an interview you should be contacted. I do contact people personally.

One of the issues is the TIME after your interview! If your application is on the "maybe" pile, someone takes ages to make an actual decision, then there's back and forth with the preferred candidate and the company keeps your application "just in case"... it's embarrassing to finally have a firm NO when so much time has gone through.

Expecting an immediate "no" would not always work in your favour.

Replica99

sadly, it's such a common thing... and it's so difficult to manage for anyone dealing with the process but not being the decision maker!

@fashionablefennel

Again, i agree, if you have an interview you should be contacted. I do contact people personally.

One of the issues is the TIME after your interview! If your application is on the "maybe" pile, someone takes ages to make an actual decision, then there's back and forth with the preferred candidate and the company keeps your application "just in case"... it's embarrassing to finally have a firm NO when so much time has gone through.

Expecting an immediate "no" would not always work in your favour.

That is just about setting realistic expectations with all the candidates. Not bothering to let people know they have been rejected because it's taken ages to make an offer is a piss-weak excuse.