No feedback from job application - could they have got it wrong

[Cheeseandlobster]

I applied for a job through the NHS recently for a role I really wanted. I am a qualified hcp and it was for a generic band 5 role. I took my time over the application, ensured I demonstrated that I met the essential and desirable criteria and got 2 friends who are also qualified hcp's but in a different profession to check my application over too. I was certain I would get an interview

I then got a generic unsuccessful notification from nhs jobs stating I could seek feedback if I wanted it. I sent an email asking for feedback. The manager responded immediately asking for my reference number ( in the NHS you now apply anonymously) so she could provide feedback. Then radio silence.

I have chased this twice by email and still nothing. The manager is not off sick or anything as I chased once by phone too. Its now been nearly 6 weeks so I accept the feedback is not coming.

My friends who checked the application think they got it wrong. They cannot think of one reason why I would not have been invited to interview. And I can't either.

Aibu to think this may be the case and to think offering feedback then failing to provide it is just poor form.

I recruit in the NHS and receive 50 plus applications for each post, the generic ones are most popular and I might get over 100 applicants. Often meeting the criteria just isn't enough to beat the competition.

That's understandable. I do believe I exceeded the criteria in many parts of the specification though of course others may have done too. I actually secured an interview for a band 6 job a few weeks before so maybe that gave me false confidence. The feedback could have said what you said @traintraveller. I would have been happy with 1 sentence stating just that. But to offer feedback and then to ignore me is a bit off in my book.

Within the NHS and other areas positions are often advertised to meet the rules however the post has already been unofficially filled internally, maybe this is what happened here and they just picked a couple of random candidates to 'interview'? Maybe they didn't pick you as they would have had to justify not employing you if you met and surpassed the criteria?

Most people who apply have got the basics, you need to standout from the crowd. As has been said, they may have had somebody already earmarked for the job and simply advertised it to to stay legal. I worked for a large government agency and people would ask to visit and be shown round so that they could get a better feel for the job which would happen. However, the final selection would sometimes leave you looking and thinking.

I think it's unfortunate that they haven't given you anything, even if just one sentence of generic feedback. I'm on the other side, the band 4 and 5 posts I shortlist for in the NHS aren't HCP roles but we often get 200+ applicants per role so have had to cap them for shortlisting. All of them could meet the criteria (and most often do), so then it's about who comes across well in writing and whether people have had relevant experience before. (Sorry OP as I might have missed this- have you worked as an HCP before as if not it may be that the people who were shortlisted had experience as an HCP or had relevant previous experience with that patient group?) I'm sorry you weren't shortlisted though, I know it's disappointing.

Sorry, just seen you are a qualified HCP! I'd stick with my other comments though 😊

I don't know the legalities but it's crap when you spend so much time on an application when they actually already know who it is going to.

Meeting the basic requirements for a job does not guarantee you an interview, they could have 50 applicants who meet this threshold. E.g. if it says 5 years experience, but 5 people have 10 years experience, that might be you gone. Or they want 2:1 on a course, but there are 5 people with better academics.

I thought you generally didn’t get feedback unless you had a interview?. Perhaps the feedback email is generic I wouldn’t expect feedback with a application but if it’s different with the nhs then yes it’s crap but like others say they get so many applications it’s not possible to give feedback to everyone.