To call a company that turned me down?

[Eyesonthesize]

There was my perfect job. Increase in salary. I could DO the job. And we need the extra money badly - we are running out of savings as more is going out than coming in.

I spent so long researching, I read everything that the CEO and directors have ever said about anything. I did about 5 drafts of the cover letter. II have never tried harder for a job.

Turned down without an interview. It was a really well paid job for what they were looking for - as they said they've been surprised at the huge number of quality applications - but i wasn't as it was v well paid for the job and sector.

I was fully imagining my job there. My commute, what I would do there. I keep daydreaming about receiving a email inviting me to interview and letting myself imagine myself doing the job.

That sounds crazy right. I just nearly called the company to ask them to re-consider - that's a stupid idea right?

Can someone give me some stern words and help me get a grip.

Well at least they got back to you - many don't.
I think it unlikely that they'd "reconsider" or give feedback, particularly if they've already stated that there was a high volume of applicants.

Good luck with the ongoing job search.

If you didn’t even get called for an interview it’s a very stupid idea. You weren’t even close. They will think you’re beyond weird.

I wonder is the position went to an internal applicant?

The job most likely went to someone who was already lined up for it internally.
They legally still have to advertise.

I wouldn't ring/email them if you never got an interview.

No I wouldn't regardless but also there could be another opportunity you could apply for in the future? So would not also for that reason

I used to do a lot of recruitment. The reason I usually had to reject an application was because the potential candidate hadn't fulfilled the essential criteria. If you get lots of applications you need to be fairly formulaic in your approach. Also, if I was asking for someone with good literacy skills and attention to detail, and you displayed neither, than I'd also be rejecting that.

By all means ask for feedback but be prepared for them to say no.

Unfortunately they almost certainly had an internal candidate lined up but have to go through the motions of advertising so they can say no one else was more suitable.It’s horrible for jobseekers but it’s the reality.

The feedback is that they've had a huge number of quality applications, and they've already given it to you in their rejection letter. They won't reconsider and they won't be able to tell you anything different if you ring them. The work you've put in won't be wasted, though, as some of it can be recycled next time a good opportunity comes up in your field.

Try to imagine it this way.

You call, manage to get through to whoever’s decision is and ask them to reconsider. When they ask why they should, what’s going to be your response?

Because you can’t say ‘because I spent ages day dreaming about it and planned my commute’

So what will you say ‘I think you didn’t give my application a fair shot’, ‘I think you missed that I have done XYZ’ etc. They are all you saying ‘you did a poor job and rejected me because you are bad at your job’

Saying something like ‘I am sure I am better than the people interviewing’ would make no sense because you have no clue.

Theres no real way, that you come out of this looking good.

They legally still have to advertise.

No, they don’t.

Honestly if you haven’t even made it to interview then phoning them is highly unlikely to make them reconsider.

I have faced this exact situation today (but internally). It's shit. I don't know how to keep my composure. Help!!!!!

I don't think you have anything to lose by phoning them, OP, if you really feel compelled to, but if they haven't shortlisted you, it is presumably because they had plenty of candidates who better fitted their criteria.

Why do people always seem to believe this?

If I have an internal candidate lined up for a job already, why would I waste time and money advertising for the role? I don't have to.

I might advertise for the role externally if I wasn't sure about whether any internal candidates might be the right fit, and I wanted to cast the net wider. It would then be for the internal candidates to prove themselves through the selection process. But if I already knew that I wanted to slot an internal candidate into the role, why would I bother with all that time wasting?

You have a lot to lose

Eg
Being blacklisted as a weirdo by the company and excluded if any other roles come up
The HR person telling their also-works-in-HR-mate over a glass of wine that they had the most bizarre call at work today and two companies blacklisting you if other roles come up

I think it’s a bit disingenuous to say it’s gone to an internal candidate and that’s why. Even where there is a high chance of a job going internally most often companies will still interview the best external candidates too. The op sadly wasn’t selected as that either.
More likely is that they are up against better candidates.
OP it wasn’t meant for you and something better will come in it’s place

Go for it. You have nothing to lose.

Happened to me a few years ago. It was through an agency but I just knew the job was for me. However, I was turned down.

My gut told me my application didn’t get any further than HR who probably aren’t the best place to decide if I’m right for the role, so I emailed the head of the department directly explaining how keen I am to work there. I got the job in the end!

Fair enough. My organisation is obviously a bit more generous than others then. We wouldn't blacklist someone simply because they really wanted to work for us. Unless the OP is planning to go in with some sort of complaint or weird harassment campaign, we would just politely encourage her to try again next time.

As a Chief Executive, I would take a very dim view of our HR people sharing personal data about candidates with external contacts. I expect my staff to be more professional.

You expect HR people to show discretion?!

Have you ever met anyone who works in HR..? 😂

This happened a good few years ago

The Company I work for was advertising for a Director. Lots of applications so, as others have said, they had to be brutal

Three days after sending out the ‘sorry but you haven’t got an interview’ letters, an envelope came in the post addressed to the owner of the Company, sent by Special Delivery. I wasn’t allowed to open his post, and knew he wouldn’t be in for a few days so I put it in his tray

Half an hour after I signed for the letter, I had a phone call asking what his response had been to the letter. I explained that he wasn’t in and wouldn’t be for a few days, cue rant about it being very important etc.

When the owner came in, the letter was asking him to reconsider his decision not to interview him, he knew he was perfect for the job and could outperform any other candidate (yes really!). It went straight in the bin. We still talk about it now

Definitely don’t ring them OP

Personally I think if you’ve got the guts to do it then go for it. I was desperate for a particular role/company once and the agency talked them into giving me an interview. Maybe you were borderline and just didn’t make the cut based on something trivial, who knows? I think it matters who you speak to though and I guess you have no control over that. Obviously you’d have to be extremely professional and non-desperate and plan how you’ll sell it very carefully. Give it a shot I say!

Funny how there are such different experiences. I did the similar (although sent an email and didn’t chase up with phone calls going on about how important I am). But I did get the job and am often referred to as one of their best hires

My understanding under Equal ops is that ALL applications that meet ALL the essential criteria are called for interview. As an employer, they have now met the lawful requirement of giving the opportunity to everyone capable equally )
As much as you researched & as much as you tried, you clearly did not meet ALL of the essential criteria.
You could only contact them on the basis you missed an essential criteria and then ask if the applicants interviewed were not successful, you could be considered for an interview.

What you could do is email and ask if they will keep for CV for consideration if another job comes up.

I once did this OP. I won't explain the exact circumstances, but it wasn't for a permanent job, and there were a few places available, so this might differ from your situation.

I was surprised to have been rejected without even an invite to interview so I called them and asked if they could provide feedback on why, after looking again at my application they said there was no reason and offered me an interview slot.
I went on to gain one of the available places.