Disabled box ticked - still no invite to interview

[PaulaTrilloe]

Hi there, I applied for a internal role recently as my current fixed term contract is coming to an end. I have a positive working relationship with the hiring manager which I thought was a bonus. Had a pre-application convo and was encouraged to apply given my specific skills, qualifications and industry experience. Spent a whole day tailoring my answers based on the role requirements. I have a iong term disability so I checked the Disability box. The Employer is a member of Disability Confident scheme. Role was externally advertised as well as internal. Hiring manager had advertised internally previously and didn't get strong enough candidates. I have a master's degree and relevant professional qualifications pertinent to the role. I received a rejection staying I lacked qualifications experience and skills which I have in spades!
How do I challenge this without burning a bridge with this employer?

Did you mention all the essential criteria on your application?

Oh no! I was coming to this thread to say maybe you didn’t meet the minimum criteria but it sounds like you did.

I’d contact the hiring manager you previously spoke to and politely ask if there’s been a mistake.

I've had this before but with a new employer. I even tried to ring up about it but their HR department didn't answer the phone. In the end I gave up on the basis that I didn't want to work for someone like that. Given you already work for them I see that's not massively helpful!

Look through your application again, against the essential criteria, and mark each of the criteria you have demonstrated as you go.

If you’ve marked them all off ask manager for feedback on which of the essential criteria you didn’t meet and take it from there.

One possibility is that they didn't notice you ticked the box? Sounds silly but if as a hiring manager I've had to sift through dozens of applications it can be easy to miss the tiny box. I'd feel very embarrassed and apologetic when you pointed it out - and go out of my way to ensure the rest of the process was extra fair.

I've only ever said once that someone with a disability didn't meet the basic criteria as it's something you want to be 110% certain of to avoid challenge/accidental discrimination.

Wow thanks for the rapid replies. There were 5 essential criteria and 3 desirable which I verbally answered during the pre application convo, which was why I was encouraged to apply. I clearly labelled and laid out my answers for easy checking in the sift. I am also well thought of internally for my contribution to that teams activity in the organisation. (Subject matter expert)

It might have been a mistake. I'd ask them,

I think as a first step op ask for a meeting with hr and the hiring manager to explain the decision

I would ask for feedback initially in a fairly open way. And then have a short think and build your response from there - perhaps with a follow up meeting, then sending a written summary. Do you have a copy of your application form you can use to show how it demonstrates you meet the criteria?

The criteria you explained how you met verbally, did you also include this written in the application?

It could be that the hiring manager forgot/got mixed up.

I would approach them informally before going to HR, and give them a chance to correct their error.

Did you write the information i the application?

I say this as a friend of mine part of her role is interviewing- however will say people assume she knows because she knows them but can't score them on them because they don't mention them

Yes I have a copy of my application form and notes of my conversation. I will reach out to the Hiring Manager for feedback. I really don't think there would be many viable applicants. The role requires internal systems knowledge and external industry know how. Most applicants fall into one domain not both, which is why I wanted to apply as that was my advantage and differentiator.

It sounds like you counted some criteria as having being met during the conversation and didn't cover these on the form. Is this correct? If so they have marked purely on the form. Apologies if I mis-read the post.

I had this with the civil service twice last month. I met minimum criteria.

All written down. Ticked the disability box due to MS and was refused an interview for both

🚩 quite worrying that there are "disability confident" employers who clearly discriminate.

In fact I met the essential criteria and desirable too!

The 5 essential and 3 desirable, did you cover those in your written application?

What do you mean by “I have notes of my conversation”? You don’t expect them to remember that conversation when sifting do you? (I hope). Everything needs to go on the form.

I would ask for feedback, it may be that you were the right “fit” for whatever reason or that other candidates were simply better qualified or more experienced than you.

Definitely flag it to the hiring manager as in some organisations it is HR that select who goes through to interview stage so there may have been an issue with your application not being clear enough that it met the criteria for hr to pick up on it

The conversation won't count against the application marking, they mark the application not the conversation. If you haven't written in the application how you meet the criteria then you are likely to have not hit the marks.
I've had this with internal candidates that have barely written anything on an application because they assume that because I know them they don't need to. It doesn't work like that, I have to show I have marked fairly based on the application content alone.

Have they hired someone for the role? Who got it?

Sadly, I think no matter how positive a hiring manager or team is, no role is a dead cert, I say that as someone disappointed in a similar way before.

I was just going to say, did you cover the essential criteria information in the form? I work in the public sector and even if the recruiting officer knows you, you still need to write all the relevant info in the application and also reiterate it at interview because of scoring.

Although, sorry my mistake, it should be a guaranteed interview if you meet the sift criteria and have a disability.

Posting before my cup of tea sorry op, not awake.

I wonder how they could say you lacked qualifications if you hit the sift criteria? I think I agree with pp, can you request an informal chat with the hiring manager and ask for feedback on which qualifications you are missing?

I think if you're already in the organisation, it's perfectly normal to ask for a feedback conversation. Position it in terms of your development 'Jennifer, would love to grab half an hour to talk through my application, because this is very much the kind of role I see myself in in the future I'd love to focus on my skills and experience gaps so I can make sure I'm developing in the right ways through the right projects.

I'd also make sure to slip the disability confident thing into the conversation, but i wouldn't lead with that right now.