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So many companies are dreadful at getting back to you after interviews.....surely they must realise how bad it makes them look?

11 replies

IsidoraTheFool · 14/02/2024 16:06

My son is looking for a job at the moment. 2 large companies he's had to do multiple stage interviews. One of them he had to write a 2 hour test. Only those who passed went onto the next stage. Next stage was 2 1 hour online interviews and the final stage was an in person interview.

Despite apparently passing all of this, they've not said a word to him for a month. He chased up, politely, and they have not responded. Why do firms do this? The closing date was long gone and the job is no longer advertised so I expect they gave it to someone else.

Second one, he did a test, passed the test then did 2 interviews over the course of a week. The first one, the woman didn't turn up and 10 mins into it, someone came in and said 'oh sorry, she's not here today'. He had to go home and chase her to reschedule which she did and the 2nd time, she turned up 15 mins late with no excuse. He said the interview went well but who knows.

My daughter's partner tells me this is normal these days in recruitment. When he got his latest job, he applied to 70 job adverts most of which never responded to him. I sort of get not responding if all you have is a CV and you think they aren't suitable but you'd think if you'd invested the time to make a kid write a test, do many hours of interviews and meet them in person that at least you'd have the manners to tell them no rather than leave them hanging!

OP posts:
Phineyj · 14/02/2024 17:00

I agree.

I'm a teacher - there's a shortage anyway but particularly in some subjects including mine.

Has this made schools more efficient at recruiting and interviewing? Has it heckers!!!

IsidoraTheFool · 14/02/2024 19:28

Oh no!

I did see a lot of job adverts for teachers when I went through the vacancies!

OP posts:
Neriah · 14/02/2024 19:39

We state that if you haven't heard by a specific date, then your application wasn't successful. Interviewed candidates always get a response. Public sector.

DuesToTheDirt · 14/02/2024 19:41

OP, that's disgraceful. I was expecting your post to be about companies not responding to applications (which I also think is awful, but I realise it's par for the course these days), but your son's experience is inexcusable.

Uncooperativefingers · 14/02/2024 19:46

My company does respond to every application.

Cvs come into a central system and hr does a first pass (eg filtering out those without right to work in the uk). Hiring manager then selects for interview. After that, an automated message goes out to those unsuccessful.

Likewise after the interview, although HR do also try to get in touch with candidates with a verbal "no" first.

It is so easy to have an automated system, there really is no excuse for no response anymore

DuesToTheDirt · 14/02/2024 20:07

Glad to hear that @Uncooperativefingers. I wish all companies would get their arses into gear on this.

IsidoraTheFool · 14/02/2024 20:15

Yes I agree. It's really not hard is it. My son has special needs so I'm probably being a bit oversensitive but it's just so horrible seeing him put in so much effort and then them not bothering to say anything back to him after in person interviews!

Glad to hear not all companies are like this!

OP posts:
Phineyj · 14/02/2024 20:24

@Neriah I once applied to a public sector organisation with that policy. The date came and went, so of course I'd assumed I'd been rejected.... took a week's holiday abroad. Came back to a letter offering an interview (sent after the "rejection" date and scheduled for the week I'd been away) and they'd contacted my boss for a reference despite my having ticked a large box saying "do not contact my employer in advance of interview".

They claimed to have not seen the form and to be unaware of the "rejected if not heard by X date"...

And they wouldn't rearrange the interview "because it wouldn't be fair to the other candidates".

So I wouldn't be too sure these systems are foolproof.

😂 that was a fun experience.

EarringsandLipstick · 14/02/2024 20:29

Our HR (university) is not as efficient as I would like, but a long shot. But this tends to affect us internally, not the candidates!

Everyone gets a response.

There's a strict timeline for interviews so everyone approximately the same time to prepare, minimum 10 working days.

Regrets for those unappointable are sent promptly, and offers made in the timeline of the university (ie once the President or nominee approves). Interview scores are sent immediately on request and if a candidate requests feedback, I will arrange that promptly too.

So - no, it's not all organisations or sectors.

EarringsandLipstick · 14/02/2024 20:30

*by a long shot

itsmyp4rty · 14/02/2024 21:17

My son had an interview for a degree apprenticeship, it was a shit show. Applied, did their online tests then had a 70 minute interview over Zoom that he had to miss a mock for. They refused his reasonable adjustments, the interviewer was late, then didn't put her camera on, he kept having to ask her to repeat the questions, and she didn't seem to know the answer to his questions at the end. He was supposed to be notified after 5 days whether he had a place or not. Two weeks later he got an email saying the process was on hold - whatever that means.
He also applied to another company though and they have been amazing. Said his reasonable adjustments were given as standard, supported him and answered his questions every step of the way, were well organised and professional and he ended each stage feeling really positive - he should hear back in a couple of days.

Both companies in finance but two very different experiences.

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