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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think this is a bit dodgy (job application related)

79 replies

CrumpledCrumpet · 30/11/2021 20:49

I applied for a job over the weekend (fairly senior, semi-specialist role). CV and covering letter. I didn’t think I would get the job, it was a bit of a punt, but I did meet all the criteria they had set out.

Deadline for applications was midnight on Sunday, my application went in about 11pm. By 9:30 on Monday morning I had a rejection email (after careful consideration, high volume of applicants etc…).

I don’t think I have ever been informed of the outcome of a job application less than 2-3 days after the closing date - how have they completed the sifting before many people have even poured their morning coffee? What’s going on here?

OP posts:

GiltEdges · 30/11/2021 22:25

@WheresMyCycle

Ah just because you're email left your end at 11pm doesn't mean it reached their inbox by midnight. All sorts of delays etc happen, especially when inboxes are full...

Feel like you might have completely misunderstood the point of the OP...

Deliaskis · 30/11/2021 22:28

This really shows how sector dependent the process is. In my industry, it's a very competitive recruitment picture (far more jobs than candidates, salary outbidding is common etc.), and if we get someone good through the door we interview and hire as quickly as possible. I don't even think we have closing dates on our vacancies.

Crinkle77 · 30/11/2021 22:34

In my workplace we have an online application system and you can score the applications as they come in. You don't have to wait until the closing date so if they had a system like this and kept on top of the applications as they were submitted they could have quickly scored the last few entries. The system tots up the scores and then you invite the top few candidates for interview. So it is feasible I guess.

gin32 · 30/11/2021 22:36

I am a recruiter. Takes me seconds to scan and decide if someone fits just the criteria.

The amount of people we have apply for jobs that they are by no means qualified to do is unbelievable.

Original poster

CrumpledCrumpet · 30/11/2021 22:38

Yes definitely sounds like I am used to quite a different way of working. We’re not public sector but really hot on diversity and fair interviewing processes. We’re not allowed to use the term “good fit” in relation to candidates as that suggests we want people who are ‘like us’ rather than people who are capable of performing in the role but are not an obvious ‘fit’. All scoring very transparent, interviewing process designed to give candidates best chance to demonstrate their competencies…etc etc.

It is annoying when we’ve lost our preferred candidate because they’ve got another role before we have offered.

OP posts:

ThePlumVan · 30/11/2021 22:47

Given that good candidates invest their precious time & efforts into a bespoke, carefully crafted application, and a company can’t even be bothered to match that time and effort in properly evaluating it, and opt for a screening software program instead, I would say you’ve dodged a bullet !

(And that was just 1 sentence I could say more !)

HunterHearstHelmsley · 30/11/2021 22:55

I echo some previous posters.

I shortlist once a week or so. On the morning after the closing date, I usually only have a couple of applications waiting. It doesn't take me long at all to go through those. Once I've checked them then I'll advance or reject immediately. I don't send "not shortlisted" emails until after the closing date.

We advertise and interview internal applicants before the vacancy is advertised externally so in my organisation, it wouldn't be the case of having being ring fenced for an internal applicant.

SarahDippity · 30/11/2021 22:58

Recruitment is so unfathomable to me, it’s like a dark art I don’t understand. I applied for a role today for which I met the exact (quite niche) requirements and got an automated email to say that the ‘deadline for application’s has past’ (sic). The role was only uploaded on Friday, I applied on Tuesday

Blinky21 · 30/11/2021 23:03

I once went on a day assessment for a job, left the assessment at 5pm to travel home. I got a rejection letter in the morning post the next day, they must have posted it while I was still in the building

SarahDippity · 30/11/2021 23:17

I’m also baffled by companies who have an ‘if you don’t hear from us within one week of the closing date, we will not be progressing your application.’ How hard can it be to bcc an email to the unsuccessful candidates? Particularly those companies that use standardised portals for applications.

JaceLancs · 30/11/2021 23:26

I do not look at applications until the closing date/time has passed - but do do shortlisting ASAP so in the example you gave - I could easily have started work at 7.30am if having a busy Monday and have scored applications and chosen for interview by 9.00
I would then email those selected for interview - we don’t always let unsuccessful applicants know - it depends how many there were

SusannaQueen · 30/11/2021 23:33

The amount of people we have apply for jobs that they are by no means qualified to do is unbelievable.

The amount of times I've not applied for a job because I don't fit the criteria, only to find I know the person who was given the job and they don't meet the criteria either.

ThePlumVan · 30/11/2021 23:48

I was told it’s a gender thing !
If a man sees a job description that he only meets half the criteria of, then he’ll apply and throw his hat in the ring because you never know right?
Whereas as woman will meet 99% of the JD and not apply because she doesn’t meet that 1%.

Very generalised but I wonder how much truth is in it.

imnotacelebritygetmeoutofhere · 01/12/2021 00:30

At my work it's not allowed to interview before the closing date, to make sure every application is considered, but I will still review and shortlist throughout the advertisement period. In your case you sent it very last minute so it could be that they've already reviewed all of the others and only had yours to read on Monday morning.
FWIW, when recruiting I do judge those sent in the last hour or so quite harshly because I feel it shows poor time management. Aim to send it sooner!

JeffThePilot · 01/12/2021 00:54

@SusannaQueen

The amount of people we have apply for jobs that they are by no means qualified to do is unbelievable.

The amount of times I've not applied for a job because I don't fit the criteria, only to find I know the person who was given the job and they don't meet the criteria either.

Yep, I applied for a job even though I didn’t meet the essential criteria. Got the job. Was unexpected but rather life changing.

halloweenie13 · 01/12/2021 01:05

@wheresmymojo

TBH whenever I've been recruiting (for even quite senior roles) we've waited for 6-8 weeks to get the bloody thing signed off and live as a vacancy.

That means we're really extremely keen to find someone and interview as and when CVs come through that meet the criteria.

If one of those is a great fit I would offer, not wait until the closing date.

I don't think I've worked anywhere that waits until the closing date to look at applications and interview as by that time you may have missed out on good candidates.

Definitely all the roles I've had I've been offered before closing date.

That isn't very fair or equal for applicants and should really be outlined on your adverts then.

ThinWomansBrain · 01/12/2021 01:20

in my experience, charities and public secialctor are most likely to wait until the deadline, shortlist, have set panel dates and stick to a process.

Commercial cos more likely to review applications as they come in.

DontBeCatty · 01/12/2021 01:33

@wheresmymojo

TBH whenever I've been recruiting (for even quite senior roles) we've waited for 6-8 weeks to get the bloody thing signed off and live as a vacancy.

That means we're really extremely keen to find someone and interview as and when CVs come through that meet the criteria.

If one of those is a great fit I would offer, not wait until the closing date.

I don't think I've worked anywhere that waits until the closing date to look at applications and interview as by that time you may have missed out on good candidates.

Definitely all the roles I've had I've been offered before closing date.

I think that’s a really shitty way for companies to behave. If there is a possibility that job offers might be made before the closing date then the company should make that clear in any adverts. Job applications can take hours and wasting people’s time like that is a dick move.

chuntersalot · 01/12/2021 01:57

Been on both sides of this fence. Got a rejection email before the closing date and sent at something like 4.30 am. So either an automated thingy running through the night or a recruitment team working in a different time zone.

I was also contacted with offer of interview the morning after I drafted an application on a company website. Had left the application at draft because I had intended to upload a couple of extra supporting documents, so didn't press the submit button! Had the interview and was offered the role well before the closing date and before I submitted my application.

mumtoallbhoys · 01/12/2021 08:11

Was there a salary expectation question? That one is often a killer question if there is a limited budget or they want someone st a specific price point.

Maybe there was an internal candidate but they had to advertise.... so it was always a done deal but a process had to be followed

Lemonlemon88 · 01/12/2021 08:21

I read CVs as they come in so often only have 2 or 3 to read that have come in on the day the job closed and can then shortlist pretty quickly.

MaggieFS · 01/12/2021 08:24

It could also have been that the screening is outsourced and done by people in a different time zone so they would have gone through them through the night.

It's how our initial applications are managed.

AlfonsoTheUnrepentant · 01/12/2021 09:03

I'm impressed that you got a rejection to an application! Recently, I've applied for jobs, had interviews - in some cases, three interviews for the same role - and then been ghosted by the companies.

Yes, I can guess that I've not been successful but it would be nice for the company to take the time to actually let me know.

Original poster

CrumpledCrumpet · 01/12/2021 09:04

@AlfonsoTheUnrepentant

I'm impressed that you got a rejection to an application! Recently, I've applied for jobs, had interviews - in some cases, three interviews for the same role - and then been ghosted by the companies.

Yes, I can guess that I've not been successful but it would be nice for the company to take the time to actually let me know.

Oof that’s shitty!

OP posts:

HalfShrunkMoreToGo · 01/12/2021 09:06

I tend to check my emails and do work in the evenings and before breakfast as I work from home and can set my own hours, plus I have too much work to fit into a standard day. If I read a CV and it doesn't meet the criteria I reject it there and then. There's no point putting it in a pile to reject on another day.

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