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?

It seems like hes making a totally wrong assumption that all jobs are like the NHS when you (and the rest of the world) know they aren't

I've always worked in the private sector and haven't come across anyone judging fitness for the job based on date of application, why would they do that?

Obviously there might be a risk of applications closing early but if that hasn't happened for this job it's irrelevant

Good luck

Respectfully, your DH is chatting utter bollocks.
As someone who hires people, there’s enough to be done with assessing suitability to the role. I’m not checking the time stamp on your application. You either applied during the open window, or you did not. If you don’t, I won’t see your application. If you do, you’ll be screened & shortlisted.

By your DH logic, I presume the first to apply gets the job?

From past experience it doesn't make any difference when the application is submitted as long as it is (before the closing date I mean).

If you're starting from scratch it might be taking it up to the wire though.

Good luck 🤞

Not unusual in the NHS for applications to be closed early if there are sufficient applications. It would be highly unlikely to close the advert one day early and on a Sunday. Is your husband unsupportive in other ways?

And it makes no odds when you apply as long as your application is completed by the deadline.

I work in HR and handle recruitment. To be honest, if someone called up wanting to speak about the role I would think they have not read the advert fully. I haven’t the time to speak to all applicants just to have a chat. Also, no one makes a decision on an Application based on the date they applied, they would be pretty thick if they did.

Your DH is wrong in what he is saying. Good luck with the application.

As someone has noted above, it’s likely that the interview panel has no idea what order the applications come in. And even if they did, as long as it’s in before the deadline they wouldn’t care! Go for it! Good luck!

I doubt they'd even look at the date you applied. That doesn't matter one bit

As a recruiter by profession, tell your husband that the closing date isn’t there for people to show eagerness by applying early… it’s there so we can potentially plan when to start the interview process and move into the next steps of onboarding!

Does your husband not want you to work??

I have done a lot of recruitment over the years. In my experience, the very best applications typically come in just before the deadline!

@WildPineapple OMG! is he always this supportive?

You wrote that he has said to you;

"that applying the day before the closing date shows a lack of enthusiasm

I made zero effort with the application as I didn’t phone the company to discuss the position

it looks bad if you don’t check in before sending in your application and it might look like you are not that bothered"

Hopefully, all other areas of your relationship are worth it.

Deffo go for it!

As someone who reviewed applications, as others have said, the day before closing is when the majority come in.

Depending on workload, I would skim applications out of interest before the deadline to get a sense of if we had some good quality people applying - so that if not I'd ask marketing to push it more. In some ways therefore I've spent 'longer' on those people and their names etc will stick in my head more when reviewing properly. I'll have a sense in my head 'oh I thought this one was good' - so perhaps some bias comes in from that.

But - as someone who's applied for a shit tonne of jobs, my last one was through an application portal which closed at midnight. I submitted it about 4 minutes before midnight with zero time to review anything I'd written. I got the job :)

Also - not to pre-empt anything, entry level creative sector jobs can have a shed-load of applicants who are all extremely well suited and qualified etc. I come from that industry. It took me so long to get in, often jobs went to people who volunteer there already in some way - that was my way in to two or three jobs. So don't take it too hard if it doesn't go your way when you're clearly so capable of getting the job, it's just a numbers game. I hope for the best, it's just it can be a toughie. You think 'well it's crap pay and conditions, there can't be too many people who want it' but yep - millions. And when it's a numbers game, the job can actually be done really well by lots of the candidates, they will also consider things like 'who will help balance the team'. Which typically goes against women in the creative industries as it's full of us! BOOO!!!!

In the Civil Service, jobs close on the closing date, and not before. In my branch of thr CS (probably others too) the recruiters won't even see the applications until the job closes and the applications are released to sift.

Good luck!!

I recruit regularly and usually find the last people to apply are the best. I assume because they’ve taken the time to prepare their application? Or they’re busy people? No idea but it’s usually true. I have also almost never heard from anyone before inviting them to interview. Your DH is being ridiculous on both counts. Is he usually quite discouraging?

Your dh doesn't sound very supportive or encouraging, sounds like he is actually trying to knock your confidence and make you second guess yourself.
Closing date is there for a reason and for all the company know you may have only just come across the job not seen it aweek ago and waited till last minute.

The biggest leap I ever made at work I only heard about the job the evening the application closed and rushed to get it in before midnight. Got the job. When I’ve interviewed candidates for jobs the last thing I’ve ever seen is when they applied - the applications are usually printed or collated for the panel to read.

Why do you think your husband is trying to sabotage your job hunt? Are you currently a SAHP and he doesn’t want you to break out of that role?

We had an application in 1hr past the closing date and time- that’s a lack of a lot! The day before- perfectly fine.

Tell him to do one.

I think you're husband is wrong- you may well have only just seen the jobs advertised. I've called jobs after or on the closing date and requested a later submission- and I got the job. So apply and good luck

Sounds like you're paying far too much attention to your rather misinformed husband.

If I had a call from a candidate I'd mark them as a time wasting pain in the arse. I sincerely doubt the NHS would value thousands of calls when they advertise roles.

And the closing date is the closing date. In my org we often see a rush of good apps the day before as people have spent time rather than firing off a chat gpt piece of crap as soon as they see the ad.

Yes, some orgs reserve the right to close early but that would disable the page/link. If you can still apply it's still open.

Exactly, the job won't take issue with you not seeing the advert straight away, not everyone is glued to indeed etc!

Best of luck 🙌💕

No it's absolutely fine

He’s being an idiot. In my sector the recruiting manager isn’t given access to the applications
until after the closing date. And there’s always a last minute flurry

Does your husband often try to undermine your decisions in life?

What's the worst that could happen if he's right? You apply and don't get it, that's it. If you don't apply then you definitely won't get it, so you have nothing to lose by applying.

I was a teacher for 35 years in a range of jobs. Interestingly the (only) one I phoned in advance about was one of the few I didn’t get…