To apply for a job the day before the closing date

[WildPineapple]

I’m applying for a job and the closing date is tomorrow. Chatting to DH and he thinks that applying the day before the closing date shows a lack of enthusiasm for the job and that in a lot of cases they close the post early due to having enough applicants. I’m freaking out now!

I also applied recently for another position and DH said I made zero effort with the application as I didn’t phone the company to discuss the position? He said it looks bad if you don’t check in before sending in your application and it might look like you are not that bothered? I made a huge effort with that application but didn’t phone the company to ask questions?

The closing date is the closing date: whilst some companies review applications as and when they’re submitted, and may close early if they feel they have enough candidates, most wait until the application period is closed and then carry out review and first sift, and the people doing this will have no idea whose application was submitted when. Employees are generally looking for the best candidate for the role, not discarding people based on esoteric criteria. I’ve submitted my application within 48 hours of close on several occasions, sometimes with just hours to spare, and almost always gotten an interview.

Ignore him! I sent my application in a day late for my current job. I’ve now been there 25 years 😊. Now we look at all applications received by closing date and it doesn’t matter one but when they were sent. Also it doesn’t matter if you have phoned them or not. Reading about the company on the website so you knew some things to say at interview would be a good idea though. Good luck!

Of course it's fine to apply the day before the closing date! Not everyone sees the advert at the same time, that's got nothing to do with how enthusiastic you feel about the job.
I've never once called a company before applying to discuss a job in 30 years of being in the workforce and have a very good strike rate of being offered jobs, so that wouldn't bother me at all either!

We get most applications at our place the night before the job closes.

Are the jobs you’re applying for more senior or well paid than your husband’s by any chance…

I've never phoned the company when applying or before to discuss. Imagine every person did this how much if their time it would take . Also your still applying before it closes go for it

Most of the time you don’t even see when the application came in so I don’t see why it matters at all.

Surely the time to ask questions about the role is during the interview, I can't imagine many employers would welcome being pestered with phone calls from potential interviewees.

My experience in doing recruitment is that the best candidates tend to apply nearer the deadline.

Do you think he's trying to sabotage your confidence?

Ignore him he’s talking nonsense. Most companies wait until the closing date then look at all the applications, when they were submitted makes no difference at all.

The only time I’ve ever chatted informally to anyone before applying it’s been an internal role where I knew the person, or someone has specifically said they’re open to chatting in a LinkedIn post.

I’d never call up a company randomly and ask to talk about a role, that’s not a usual thing to do.

Good luck with your applications!

As a pp said the closing date is the closing date. You won't know unless you try.

As for asking questions- I have been told in the past that it doesn't look good not to make contact before applying- but that was for teaching posts and their recruitment system was always a bit archaic. It probably won't apply to every job.

What’s he on about? When I’ve reviewed application, nowhere does it say the date that someone applied. So I wouldn’t even know when someone applied.

Your dh is being an idiot. Please stop listening to him.

You should get your DH on Mumsnet - with his penchant for confidently talking bollocks and claiming it as fact he'd fit right in!

He's completely wrong.

Firstly, most applications go to HR and the interview panel don't even know the order they can in.

Secondly, it's wise to wait until near the deadline in any case anything changes that might be worth referencing in the application.

Ask him if he thinks people who submit early are desperate or over eager!

Any chance his "concern" indicates he doesn't want you to apply?

No, this is an entry level position in the creative sector but a company I really want to work for and the hours/development opportunities would be ideal as I would like to progress in this sector.

Ignore dh, apply for it! ✨️

So he works for the NHS and has interviewed/selected candidates and apparently some job adverts can close early he said when they have enough applicants? What I’m applying for is completely different though as it’s in the creative sector.

Some people will only find a job advert the day before...
Some people will want to take the time to make sure their application is perfect so will not submit until the last minute as they revise it
Some people will be anxious and delay clicking send

None of that shows lack of enthusiasm

And ringing beforehand is more likely to annoy the company

Thanks! I’m going for it! A different thing I know but I’m a writer and many times I’ve sent off a story to a writing competition one hour before the deadline and won 😀 I wouldn’t necessarily believe that an application arriving the day before wasn’t bothered. The closing date is there for a reason?

He’s right that a lot of job postings close early. We recently had two postings which closed two days after they opened (they were meant to be up for 2 weeks) as we got a ridiculous number of applications. Anyone who wanted to apply after we closed it early missed out. So if you see a post you like, don’t delay.

He is incorrect to say that applying just before closing date or not calling to discuss the job shows lack of enthusiasm. It’s very unusual for hiring managers to discuss the job postings with people who haven’t even applied. Nobody looks at the date of the application, only at the quality of the applicant so I wouldn’t worry about that.

If you don't apply then you won't get it anyway. Its worth the risk! You have 0% chance if you don't apply at all. A late application, a bad application, an application without calling are all far more likely to be successful then no application at all.

I've done nhs recruitment
Absolutely we do close early sometimes, we simply shut off the apply function. However if it's open, then it's open. Normally I'd advise people to apply incase it shuts early, but this one clearly hasn't.

I've never looked at the date we recieved an application to be honest

Sometimes it is better to call, but I would also not think badly of anyone who didn't. Most people don't need to and ask their questions at the interview

You can also call pre interview if needed if you want real specifics to help in interview prep

Well obviously the NHS works very differently to the Civil Service. Most people use the time up to the deadline to further hone and refine their application.
And Covil Service never close early - very occasionally they are withdrawn - usually due to changing government policy.

He’s a pillock