To expect potential employers to reply to job applications.

[bogwobbit]

Not for me. For dd2 who is looking for a summer / part-time job. She has applied for loads of them, waitressing, McDonalds, shops etc, etc and had one or two interviews. However only one company (and that was a local video shop that interviewed her) has actually had the courtesy to get back to her and tell her she is unsuccesful. I mean how fecking difficult or expensive is it to send someone a standard email to tell them they haven't got the job! It's not even as if they have to pay for postage now.
And, while I'm on a roll here, how come employers whinge and moan about British people not being prepared to work in their pathetically underpaid jobs (so that they have to bring in Polish workers) and then when my dd actually does want to work, they can't even give her a job.
Anyway rant over . I know there's nothing I can do but it makes me flippin' to see her sad, brave litle face when yet another day passes without successs

I always write to my rejectees - especially if they came for interview

It's so rude not to

I agree KM. It's really rude. I could sort of understand it if they had to pay postage (although interviewees can often fork out a fortune to attend interviews) but in these days of electronic communication there just isn't any excuse imho.

In my defence I once didn't, I couldn't read the address - actually I couldn't read most of the CV tbh

& the number of replies I get from hair dressers (I have nothing against hair dressers) but when you are advertising a childcare job to get 11 - "I'm a really good hair dresser/beauty therapist but I really want to work with children" replies?

Can understand you being a bit about that.
But honestly dd has not applied to anything that she is totally unqualified for. tbh most of them are jobs that most people could do with a wee bit training. Also, because she couldn't get a job last summer, she has spent months of Saturdays working in a charity shop to get experience and still has no luck

Poor sausage

How old is she?

Have you thought about just writing to bigger employers to ask if they have any thing rather than waiting for ads?

She's just turned 17.
She has sent a few speculative CVs off to employers (without success I hasten to add) but in view of the lack of response from company that actually do have jobs, doesn't see the point in sending off more.
She also advertised in the local newspaper to do babysitting but apart from one prank call had no replies to that.

Sorry- I had 156 applications for the last post I advertised. I'm in local government- do you want me to waste your council tax money spending the time to write to 150 who didn't even get shortlisted?
Even if I used email (most didn't give an email address) I would have to waste resources getting someone to type them all in.

I am applying for jobs at the moment and its horrid waiting for a reply that may never come, but usually 2 weeks after applying I just assume nothing has come of it.

Its rude not to reply after interview IMO.

I would maybe look at her application forms with her if she is getting no interviews.

Well I still think its common courtesey to reply.
I have looked at some of the application forms she's sent and at her CV and they look okay to me, but tbh not being an employer or an HR person I don't really know what they would look for apart from obvious things like spelling mistakes etc.

Do you know someone who can have a look? Someitmes a fresh eye helps?

Not really smurfgirl.

If I haven't heard after sending in application/cv then I assume it's not got through. But I do expect a note if I had an interview.
I understand what you mean each peach, which is why I try to let it go and not expect anything, but it's a tough lesson for any youngster joining the workforce to learn.
Poor lass

I don't think you can reasonably expect a reply to a speculative CV, or even an application form.

Certainly after an interview she should get a response.

My work do keep speculative CV's on file though, and when a vacancy comes up trawl through them. So if there's somewhere she really wants to work it's worthwhile to send one every few weeks. I've interviewed people just to get them to stop sending CV's. Then they turned out to be good and got the job! Persistence can pay off.

We don't respond to applicants, indeed we specifically sate this on all our HR material. But we always ring all applicants that we interview to offer feedback and then send a standard sorry letter. I'm in the NHS but I think this is standard accross the public sector (and for senior as well as junior posts). So YABU about applications, but not contacting someone after interview is pretty out of order.

I understand your frustration, but a lot of jobs these days specifically say that if you haven't heard within X amount of time you can assume that you are not successful. I think, unfortunately, that most people now go by this whether or not they have actually put it in the ad. Very annoying though.

I take the point about speculative CVs I suppose. DaDaDa I like your idea about persisitence. Dh says the same thing and tells her that she should be like the guy in the Shawshank Redemption sending off weekly letters to get books for his library
Actually she got a reply to an application this morning saying she has an interview for a job. So she's pleased about that. Fingers crossed she gets it.

This is what I hate most about applying for jobs. I think it is so rude to not reply even if saying thanks but no thanks.

It's soul destroying isn't it CoN. I remember it well from when I was young and unemployed and desparate to get a job. It seems even worse seeing one of your kids go through it.