Feedback after job rejection

[Ducksinthegardens]

Trying to find a new job at them moment, and the market is tough. It seems every job on LinkedIn is saying 100+ candidates, and it is difficult to stand out from the crowd. Fine.

Every rejection is the same generic response-candidates that more closely fit our requirements. Fine.

But when you are getting a generic response and the company send you an email asking YOU for feedback when they haven’t had the courtesy to offer you the same, that is taking the piss in my book.

I spent time on an application, that you took 15 seconds to scan and decide wasn’t for you. Don’t give me feedback, but then have the nerve to ask for it yourselves?

Almost as annoying as the one that sent me a rejection letter and a 20% discount code so I could give them a little extra business on my way out the door.

Even worse when you realise that your email you use for your job applications is all of a sudden getting more junk mail, your phone number more spam calls and texts - your data harvested?

I concluded that half the job posts weren't even real unless I could find them on official employee sites. I became a lot more guarded with what I was applying too

The 100+ applications is misleading. Linkedin counts every click as an application. So, if you click into the apply bit 7 times whilst doing your research for your application or if you click and decide not to apply, it will be counted as an application. Don't let the numbers put you off, there won't be anywhere near that number.

I would ask the question in the legal section about the discount they offered you. That appears to be misuse of personal information and is appalling! To me it should be illegal although I have no idea if it is. I suppose it's possible you ticked a box without realising as part of the application.

It's an utter pisstake, especially the discount.

I spent three hours on an application yesterday trying to work out how to answer 'What made you apply for this job?' with something more appealing than 'I know it has nothing to do with my qualifications or previous experience but I can't get a job in my field and I'm now fucking desperate'.

I know of an organisation that doesn’t read CVs, only the answers to their recruitment questions. 3 250 word answers required, took probably 45 minutes, got the receipt for the application, and then nothing. No invite to interview, no rejection (from an automated system), nothing. Thing is I have been a member for years…not anymore though.

These recruitment practices are so damaging. I don’t see why they can’t see how you treat people on one side of the business, will affect the other. I am never going to buy those loo rolls for example, because the timing of the discount (and flippant poem when you click the link) is so poorly timed and delivered.

The discount one is unbelievably cheeky - hurray, we've found an unexploited marketing channel!
The one asking for feedback is not so bad - you can say if the application process was too slow or too convoluted, or not say anything if you don't want to. I only give feedback to candidates I've interviewed, there's not much to say to people who haven't been shortlisted, really - plus last role I recruited for had more than 200 applicants, no time to write personalised replies to all of them.

Worst is no feedback after rejection following a 5 stage process including an assessment centre day! Just the bog standard reject email. So rude. Hours spent on that application just in the time taken to do the online tests and interviews is over 20.

Did you ask for feedback? If they've gone through that many rounds, there will be a lot of candidates to feed back to. Most companies will give feedback but if you haven't bothered to ask, they won't bother to provide it as it's a waste of time if people aren't keen to genuinely learn from a process. You'd be surprised how many people don't want feedback. I actually do offer it to all candidates I have spoken to but most ignore my offer.