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Original poster

job application error - please help!

76 replies

kickingmyself321 · 15/08/2024 15:23

Absolutely kicking myself right now. I've been freelance for a while and now desperately looking to get back into full time work. My career background/skills are pretty niche, it's not like I can easily find roles out there.

Anyway, after months of looking, my dream job came up. Without meaning to boast, I have everything they are looking for (I'm hardly ever in this position!). I spent a whole day yesterday delicately crafting what I thought was the perfect application and submitting it onto the company's online career portal.

The ad didn't give the name of who I'd be reporting to, but after some sleuthing around I found the name of the woman who would be my boss, if I got the job. To make my cover letter personal, I addressed it to her, except...

I've just looked at it again, and I wrote the wrong name - think 'Dear Hannah' instead of 'Dear Helen'.

I'm so angry with myself. It's within an industry where a way with words is massively important, so it really doesn't look good.

Thoughts on what I should do? It's on their online careers portal, so I could withdraw the application and resend it - though that would be visible to them I think. I could drop HR a line. Or I could just leave it.

I'd love some advice. I can't believe I made such a silly mistake 😫

OP posts:
LiterallyOnFire · 15/08/2024 15:25

Leave it. Don't draw attention to it. Even addressing it to a line manager was odd in the first place. Recruitment doesn't work like that. Just leave it and hopefully they will barely notice.

Original poster
kickingmyself321 · 15/08/2024 15:29

@LiterallyOnFire - thanks. I thought it might be a little better than the awful 'Dear Sir/Madam' or 'Dear nameofcompany'...

If I withdraw and resubmit then the HR dept would see that. But wouldn't that be better than the application being forwarded onto the potential poss who sees the wrong name glaring out at her?!

OP posts:
Original poster
kickingmyself321 · 15/08/2024 15:53

anyone else have any thoughts? Really can't work out whether to withdraw and resubmit, or just leave it...

OP posts:
Amti6 · 15/08/2024 15:56

If it were me I'd withdraw and resubmit, especially given that accuracy is important in your field. Good luck!

PandyMoanyMum · 15/08/2024 15:57

I’d withdraw and resubmit.

Sunset54 · 15/08/2024 15:57

I agree with @Amti6. Quickly withdraw and resubmit.

strawberry12345 · 15/08/2024 15:58

I also agree withdraw and resubmit

Original poster
kickingmyself321 · 15/08/2024 16:12

Oh god - I just went in and there's a whole 'please give your reason for withdrawing' drop down menu etc. Now worried it just looks disorganised and flappy to submit/withdraw/submit.

Shall I just leave it?! I'm in a right old tizz over it 😖

OP posts:
FawnFrenchieMum · 15/08/2024 16:14

Can you withdraw and resubmit? I’ve found portals just say ‘sorry, you’ve applied for this role before’

Tarantella6 · 15/08/2024 16:14

My colleague confidently said nice to meet you James at the end of his interview... my boss is not called James. Sometimes being memorable for the wrong reason isn't the end of the world!

If you want to withdraw is there an option that says something like 'need to add additional information' or similar?

ASwimADay · 15/08/2024 16:16

Withdraw and just select the nearest thing to "incorrect information"

teenmaw · 15/08/2024 16:17

I'm a recruiting manager and if the person for the job I'd merely laugh at this error with my colleagues and still interview you. I'd probably use it as an icebreaker at said interview. You're massively over thinking this.

Anamechangeisnotjustforchristmas · 15/08/2024 16:17

I cringed for you! Poor you!

I would send her a quick email, apologise for the mistake, and reiterate how much you are interested in the position.

They will definitely notice and it will be driving them batty trying to work out who Hannah is 😂😂😂

By sending this email it shows that you are the type of person that checks your work and corrects your mistakes.

Original poster
kickingmyself321 · 15/08/2024 16:21

@FawnFrenchieMum - that's a very good point, I don't know what the portal system might do if I resubmitted!

@teenmaw - well that's encouraging 😘 According to linkedin they've had a lot of interest in the role so I don't know if it's the sort of thing that gives them reason to cull though...

@Anamechangeisnotjustforchristmas - it would have to be to the HR department, rather than the woman herself. I don't know if I am just majorly flagging myself as a total ditz if I point it out to them, or if it's actually a chance to re-iterate how interested I am 😝

OP posts:
Sunset54 · 15/08/2024 16:28

I once submitted a CV which contained all the tracked changes highlighted. I didn’t find out until the interview and I was mortified- they thought it was funny and I got the job.

I suggested you resubmit but if that’s causing you stress I’d just leave it. The wrong name isn’t too big a deal and I’d be more focussed on the rest of your application if it was me interviewing.

mitogoshi · 15/08/2024 16:29

Withdraw and resubmit with no name on it, really inappropriate to put a name as generally there's a panel deciding

LiterallyOnFire · 15/08/2024 16:30

kickingmyself321 · 15/08/2024 16:12

Oh god - I just went in and there's a whole 'please give your reason for withdrawing' drop down menu etc. Now worried it just looks disorganised and flappy to submit/withdraw/submit.

Shall I just leave it?! I'm in a right old tizz over it 😖

That's why I said leave it.

As it is, they might not even pick up on it.

UpUpUpU · 15/08/2024 16:33

I’d leave it. If there was no name stated I’d just wonder who Helen was and move on with reading the application.

Good luck!

TokyoSushi · 15/08/2024 16:33

Just leave it, you might end up being locked out of the system or something.

Perhaps a bit unusual to address it to a specific person, that you don't know, if they are not advertised as the recruiter. But don't do anything else with it now.

Don't worry about the number of applicants for a job, I advertised one recently and had 147 applicants, about 4 were suitable.

ASwimADay · 15/08/2024 16:37

UpUpUpU · 15/08/2024 16:33

I’d leave it. If there was no name stated I’d just wonder who Helen was and move on with reading the application.

Good luck!

I would assume it's been copy and pasted from a previous job application 100%

LiterallyOnFire · 15/08/2024 16:38

What made you dig out a line manager's details and address it to her anyway?

Dora33 · 15/08/2024 16:41

Withdraw and take name off. As unless stated that applications should be addresses to a specific person, I would include name.
Best of luck with your application

teenmaw · 15/08/2024 16:44

They would never cull a top applicant over something so trivial. I can never imagine a time I'd not shortlist over something like that. Remember they're just deciding who they want to speak to, not looking for carol vorderman or any form of perfection. There will be a specific competency checklist to score against and putting the right name on that wasn't even asked for I guarantee will not be in it! 😂 They'll probably not even read half of it and just go to the key result areas they're looking for. It's really not a big deal.

cleaning925 · 15/08/2024 16:52

I'd be worried about withdrawing and then it won't submit for a second time. I'd leave well alone.

Blink282 · 15/08/2024 16:55

You’d have to be pretty amazing for me to overlook that, but I hire in an industry where attention to detail in the written word is particularly important. Is there an HR contact? I’d email and ask to resend the cover letter. If you withdraw do you know for sure you can reapply?

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