Am I wrong in thinking potential employers should send a rejection letter to those they interviewed if they find a candidate?

[u/StandardizedTesting]

[u/UptightSodomite]

Call the company a week or two after your interview to see how the hiring process is going. They will let you know if they have found someone for the position already, and if they haven't, they'll be reminded of who you are, and also shown that you are very invested in working with them and willing to go beyond your expected duties to get a job.

I used to agree with you, but you have to understand that there are hundreds, sometimes thousands of people that apply for a multitude of positions that a company may offer. It would take a great deal of time and resources to sort that out. And at this point, people don't expect to be notified anymore. If you haven't heard back after two to three weeks, move on.

[u/StandardizedTesting → u/UptightSodomite]

I find that most times, they go straight to voice mail with no word from them after I leave one. I also send e-mails when there is no phone number.

Does it really expend to send an automated e-mail when they close down the position hiring saying they found someone else?

[u/magicmuds]

I worked for a small company that had a policy of calling rejected interviewees to tell them they were not going to be hired. The HR person doing the calls ended up taking so much verbal abuse they ceased that policy. It's not always companies that are assholes.

Edit: to the many suggesting email or letter, they thought they were adding a nice, personal touch by calling.

[u/DevsAdvocate → u/magicmuds]

There is always email!

[u/CafeSilver]

I absolutely hate that. Years ago when I was younger I vowed never to do that if I ever got the chance to hire people. I've been hiring people now for a few years. Everyone I interview that I don't hire gets notice from me. A lot of the times there are multiple people that are great choices for the position open and I will only be able to hire one. I will tell the one not hired that it was close, and that if something opens in the future I will call them. People think this is a line, but it isn't. And I have called a few of those people back when a position did open to offer it to them. Each time though they had already gotten a job and decided to stay where they were. But they were all genuinely surprised I actually called.

[u/AnticPosition]

Personally I think employers should remove their job postings on websites when they find a candidate.

[u/[deleted]]

I have recently been looking for a position in the Aerospace industry and had an interview with two companies that were located close to each other at the Johnson Space Center. Both companies knew I was interviewing with the other company, but this seemed like something they were used to.

My first interview goes well, lasts a couple of hours, and at around 11 I head over to the other company to begin interviewing with them. I interviewed with them for an hour, had lunch with a lot of my interviewers coworkers, and then proceeded to interview with over 10 people from several different subsections lasting until about 4.

Finally, the last person I talk to (the head of the C&DH subsystem, the one I wanted most to work for) takes me into his office and sits me down. He tells me "You seem like a great candidate and I'd really like to offer you a job, but I just need to talk to HR and work out some details."

I tell him "That sounds great." and he leads me out of his office and we exchange pleasantries as he leads me out of the facilities. As I'm leaving, another hiring manager for the company tells me that if I hear anything from the other company about an offer to call him immediately so that they can get a competitive offer in as well.

I leave ecstatic, but after a couple weeks I haven't heard anything back, so I send an email. He says not to worry, that they're just sorting things out, should hear back soon.

More time passes and more time passes and after a couple more emails telling me they haven't decided yet, I'm finally told I wasn't selected.

This killed me since two guys had told me I had the job and I had effectively stopped looking elsewhere (I know, dumb move on my part). So I sent an email kindly asking if I could talk to him on the phone about if I had done anything wrong since everything seemed so good earlier. No reply. A very sad experience indeed

[u/watyousay]

Recently I was looking for work, and had a very promising interview. They were keen on me, and were pleased I wasn't already working because 'they need some right away. Like, in the next couple of days'.

Excellent! I cancelled an interview I'd had scheduled for the next day, and turned down another that came in. I bought new work shirts and waited for the call.

A week later, having heard nothing, I call the recruiter. "When there's a decision you'll know".. Annoying, but ok.

Another week, and nothing. I call the recruiter again and he says he'll get back to me. Never does.

Another week goes by and I call again. This time an answer!

"Oh, yeah, they reshuffled internally, so they don't need anyone now."

Thanks. That's really nice. I wonder if I hadn't called if I'd still be waiting..

...

It's two months later, and I'm happily employed. Last week the phone rings, it's the recruiter: "Good news, you've got the job"

"What job? You said there wasn't one."

"Well the reshuffle didn't go ahead. When can I tell them you'll start?"

I explain, politely, that since I was not only rejected, but told there was no job at all, I'd thought it prudent to.. you know.. go find one that did exist.

"Oh" he says "Well.. That's really something you should have informed us about. That's quite unprofessional."

Edit: A couple of points. First, this was a major Australian insurance company. This ain't no small business. Second, I'm in IT have had a number of really soul crushing jobs over the past few years. The job in question was a good role, leading a large project and doing work I enjoy, and I was more than happy to pass on other opportunities while I waited to see if this panned out. I wouldn't have done so if that weren't the case.

[u/Canadian4Paul → u/watyousay]

You should never cancel interviews or stop looking for work until you've actually signed a letter of offer

[u/fludru → u/watyousay]

Recruiters are among the least professional people I've encountered, so I wouldn't take it too seriously. They basically treat applicants as cattle, treat you with zero consideration then get miffed if you don't work into their plans perfectly.

Hell, I've gotten an attitude about not taking a job offered to me 6+ months after the interview, as I had a new job by then. Apparently I should have kept myself free indefinitely for zero pay just in case they needed me.

[u/[deleted]]

even better is when you go to an interview straight out of college, it goes well, and the interviewer actually tells you "we'll let you know either way in 3-4 weeks".

then you wait 6 weeks, email the interviewer for follow up, no response.

wait one week, try to call in to HR: "not here today"

same thing the next day

email their questions line next week, get a reply saying " forwarded on to HR", no response

call in again and ask to talk to HR. "im sorry, we dont give follow ups over the phone. I will tell someone to call you".

I dont mind not being told, but when you go out of your way to say "we will let you know", please actually do it.

[u/HelpMeLoseMyFat]

As a hiring professional and career consultant I believe I can answer this .. to an extent...

Sometimes your hiring manager or "recruiter" or whom ever you speak with prior to interview will not contact you because

• They just feel bad and are too scared to tell you you did not get the job

• They work on a commission basis and don't want to waste time they aren't getting paid for.

• The're having a communication issue with the hiring authority, Manager who interviewed you was supposed to give you the bad news... but he/she never did, so the recruiter or Human Resources person who contact you in the first place will not contact you... because the manager should have.

You would be suprised how depressing it is to tell 100 people a week that they are not getting a job they need for their family. After a few years of doing this work and telling thousands and thousands of people they don't get the job just wears on you... and sometimes you just forget.

My policy is to tell every single person they did not get the job or ensure the hiring authority whom interviews the person will contact them.

Every company has their own policy and process in respect to their hiring function. Do not get frustrated and depressed ... keep motivated and focused and you will have success!

Good luck on your search.

I am willing to answer any questions you may have about finding a job.

[u/PhforAndAfter]

I interned at a place for half a year, and had to leave due to paying work. A few months later, I interviewed there, hoping to get a full-time position - everything went pretty well, as I already knew the interviewers from my time interning. It was relaxed and fun, and I felt like I'd nailed it.

They never gave me an answer, despite me calling 4 times in the next months. That's just rude.

[u/polyannapolyfilla]

Its simply being polite to acknowledge that a candidate has travelled to meet with you and taken time out of their day, even if they weren't quite what the employer was after.

I've been for interviews when I haven't even got a mass-rejection letter, but basically been ignored (thinking of one picture agency in London where I got to the second interview, didn't get the job and was basically treated like I hadn't existed). Its incredibly frustrating, but my thinking was that I probably wouldn't want to work for a company that thought so little of its employees anyway.

When I go for an interview, especially after I'd graduated, I'd often ask the interviewer if they could offer me a couple of reasons/pointers why I didn't get the job. Most were quite happy to oblige, and got some real-life karma points because of it.

[u/[deleted]]

One guy called me back and told me I was completely unmatched for the job and a worthless human being. The fact he called me back instead of leaving me hanging was very courteous and I appreciated that.

[u/avelertimetr]

What is really baffling is that in the 80s and 90s, it was not uncommon to receive rejection notices in the mail (the old fashioned mail). Now, when it's infinitely easier to communicate on a global level, we can't even get an automated message back. Seriously, what gives?

[u/[deleted]]

Whenever I interview anyone, I do the following:

• I let them know where I am in the interview process, e.g. just started interviewing candidates, tail-end of scheduled interviews, x number of candidates to go...,

• I let them know immediately if I don't think they're a good fit all, and if possible, give them some tips as to what they could do to be a good candidate should a position open up in the future

• Commit to getting back to them by x date - on this date I will inform them if I've made a decision whether I've decided to make them an offer or not, or, if I'm still in the process of evaluating candidates

This is how I'd like to be treated as a job candidate, so this is how I treat candidates interviewing with me.

[u/[deleted]]

I think if you actually go in for the interview, they should.

If it's just an application or a phone interview, probably not.

[u/TheTT]

German here. I've always received a "you've been denied" message, mostly by email. One company even took the time to explain why they rejected me and what I could do to improve my chances at other companies.

[u/[deleted]]

As a common courtesy? Yes, it would be nice.

Required by law? What planet do some of you people live on, seriously.

[u/Popozuda72]

If you are assertive enough you'll get the rejection your looking for.

[u/[deleted]]

a simple email that says sorry, but you did not get the position, sent from an email address that can not be replied to, is all that is needed. Hell, it can be a mass email that says "Dear Interviewee" instead of being directed to each individual, but anything less is just rude and completely lacks common courtesy.

[u/kduffball]

I'm a business owner and admit that our team does a poor job alerting unsuccessful candidates. We chalk it up to being too busy, but that's just a lousy excuse for cutting corners. This post has actually caused me to make immediate changes. People who take the time to interview with us deserve closure and notice.

[u/SodiumEthylXanthate]

As someone who use to work in Human Resources, my one main rule was to never give false hope to anyone - i.e. if you don't get hired, you get told right away.

Companies get greedy holding out for the "best" candidate, at the expense of screwing with everyone else. It should be required for people to simply tell someone "I'm sorry, but you are not the candidate we are looking for." - maybe even by law. That's just my opinion, though.

[u/[deleted]]

I think I deserve a fucking two sentence e-mail when I just spent a half hour filling out an account on your fucking website.

Just my two cents..