Telling someone they didn't get the job - phone or email?

[TomaytoTomaato]

I'm recruiting to my team over the next few days - first time I've led recruitment (I'm not HR - we're a very small company).

I'll call the preferred candidate to offer them the job (followed up by an emailed offer letter), but what's the best way to turn down unsuccessful candidates - phone or email?

If I call and they don't answer, is it ok to leave a voicemail to say I'm following up after their interview and say I'll drop them an email. Then put the news in the email but say I'm happy for them to call me if they would like feedback?

How would you prefer to get the news?

Email always. It’s so rare to get a call about anything now and certainly I’d expect good news!

feedback is only useful if personalised - advice on what to work on and what went well.

Phone call for offer, email for not. DH is actually waiting on a job tomorrow for a management position and they said they'd call either way, I am so praying it's good news!

Probably best by email if unsuccessful. Personally I’ve never had a productive unsuccessful telephone call yet and part of me is left scratching my head in a wonder why they done that.

I’d only want to be contacted by phone if I were successful.

I remember a Christmas few years back, when at a low ebb one of the smaller business couriers left a v.m under a withheld number delivering the bad news I’d actually been unsuccessful and I couldn’t respond as no communication had ever been by email and their first name could be spelt in at least two different ways.

I have worked for a small company in past who did everything by email - invites to interview and then offer, because in their own words they hated being on the phone.

Always an email. Keeps things official, avoids any awkwardness or potential misunderstandings of a phone call, and keeps a written record.

If the candidate is interested in feedback they can ask for it, but in my experience sending rejection emails they generally don’t reply at all.

I think in this day and age with smart phones, WiFi and people having access to their emails on their phone, most applicants would baulk at a phone call telling them “Thanks but no thanks.”

This is the way.

I went for a job interview last year and was left a voicemail saying they were phoning following my interview and to phone back. So I phoned back shortly after (probs within 30mins of VM) and left my own message as the person wasn't available and had to wait until 5pm for him to to phone me, only to tell me I had been unsuccessful. I was walking home after picking my child up from nursery so not the best timing either! At least DS distracted me by finding some snails for me 😂
I was so hopeful all day. Email.

Senior jobs, especially those requiring multiple interviews should always be over the phone. However for a junior admin position I'd imagine an email with a direct contact and telephone number for feedback would be sufficient. As a teacher I've heard by phone in the various schools I applied to for my training year.

Agree with others. Definitely email.

I've only ever had emails with rejections.

I recently applied for a job, had an interview and they phoned me a few hours later. It had gone really well, and as they called, I was so sure I'd been successful. Well, I wasn't. I was shocked and really upset. It was really hard trying to stay cool and calm. I'd have much preferred an email so I could deal with any proceeding emotions by myself. I'd never had a rejection call before, only email, so it really caught me off gaurd.

I'm waiting to hear back about another job tomorrow. I so hope they email for rejection and phone for success.

Another vote for email. Having to react to bad news live over the phone is awful. I once received a rejection call in a supermarket and wanted to fall to my knees in the cheese aisle

Maybe ask people at interview? It’s a few seconds. I’d much prefer phone call. Email seems to be cowardly way to give bad news.

Definitely email. Would hate a call for this.

I am in HR and we do this . Much kinder and more dignified

Where I work it's an email and they can ask for emailed feedback. You have to be very careful that someone can't say that you've been unfair so a phone call could be unwise.

Oh god, email with an offer to call them with feedback! I interviewed six people for a position last year, I decided to call the unsuccessful applicants and swiftly moved to email after the first one I called proceeded to argue with me over why she should’ve got the job. She didn’t answer any of the questions properly!

Yes this .

My last interview I was dreading them phoning to offer me the job as I really didn't want it . Thankfully it was a 'sorry but try again another time' call . Hard to give the correct reaction really. And could be quite upsetting if it was a role you really wanted .

So yes - email .

Email.

Though hearing back at all puts you a step above many other recruiters...

Yeah, this. It shows a consideration for candidates that is vanishingly rare these days.

I'd want an email

Email definitely. I got a rejection phone call once - knew the interviewer and I think they were trying to be kind - and it was excruciating as you assume you've got the job if they're phoning you, then have to manage your emotions on the phone.

Plus they could be anywhere when the phone rings - supermarket, caring for small child, on hands free doing 70 on the motorway...

I'd prefer the email. Allows me to take the news in private. I would appreciate a call or email with feedback, it is rare you get that these days.

I had a call once telling me I didn't get a job and then they started telling me why without me asking. I gesticulated a lot and this was a big negative apparently, I just wanted to put the phone down.