job applications

[maitre d']

After 30 years in work, now find myself looking for a new career.  I applied 4 a position, applications closed on Friday 18/3, then a paper sift of candidates & shortlisting for interview on Thurs 24th. Despite them having both home, work and mobile phone nos. I'd heard nothing.  I rang on Thursday [not wishing to spend the entire day waiting] only to be told I wasn't being considered.  Not got a problem with that, but is it the norm now not to bother notifying applicants either way?   If it was a question of cost/time, then as everyone had to have an e-mail address, surely one blanket "sorry" could've gone out to the unsuccessfuls?  am I just out of touch?

[Scarlett]

Nope, I think this is pretty standard. If they don't want to interview they won't write to you at all.

[OBonio]

This is exactly what happens nowadays.

[simple]

Good practice says that unsuccessful applicants/candidates should be informed - and with current technology this can be by letter, email or sms.

Its worth having a look at some of the better agencies like Tellus Employment Agency (www.ukpraca.co.uk) as they always communicate and their preferred method is email.

To be honest, no response is a measure of poor performance and is bad for the agency's client profile.

[Octavius]

The prioroty when recruiting would be to find out who you want to interview.  Those that don't get a look in I am sure would receive a letter eventually.

It is true though, most often you might receive an acknowledgement to say, if you are successful we will be in touch with you in due course (i.e. don't call us, we'll call you).  

[Eastender]

What a good question, yes you are right as the previous statement said its a sad sad reflection on companies these days. What can be said for ignorance and bad manners!!!!!

[morg_monster]

They should tell you when you apply that if you don't hear from then within x weeks of the deadline to assume you haven't got the job. I'm applying for some pretty decent jobs at pretty decent firms and they all say that. At least they tell you beforehand though!!!

[maitre d']

Thanks one and all.  Just a bit of a surprise that some wannabe employers can treat potential staff so rudely.  Guess it's a measure of the company itself.  I'll know for the future.  

[smudge]

I always used to reply to applicants, albeit second class post. If they were good enough to offer our company their services, then the least I could do was acknowlegedge them. It always made me feel better replying anyway.

[Hermia]

The company I work for often gets over 100 applications for a position (400 in one case!). It would take a member of staff hours to ring/email all the unsuccessful candidates.

[Famous5]

Maybe the employers need to look at how they advertise. They could include a line in their ad to the effect that if you haven't heard by a date then you have been unsuccessful.

On the other hand, this would reduce their options in the event of shortlisted candidates being unsatisfactory, or them even turning down a job offer because they have got another job (from the 100s of applications they have made) in the meantime. The employer then couldn't really look at their 'B List' in this case

[Gilli]

I agree with the several others who suggest that if an organisation really can't be bothered to send an actual communication of some sort, they should at least provide candidates with a deadline so they are not kept waiting in vain.

Similarly - my partner has attended several interviews recently - taking time off, making an effort and so forth - even getting positive feedback as a result ..... only to be told some 1-2 weeks later that the position has been withdrawn, that the job responsibilities will be shared out amongst existing staff or that there's been a hiring "freeze" !!!

Is this now also common practice ? .... or could it be white lies from a co. to save them from actually saying no ?

It seems very bizarre to me to go to the time, effort and expense of advertising a position, employing an agency and then interviewing people if there's the slightest doubt that the role is needed and/or affordable. Surely throwing money down the drain like this isn't good business prcatice ?

Worse though, for me, and going back to the topic of business manners, I think it a very contemptuous way to treat people who have invested a lot of time and emotion in preparing for an interview (or even interviews).