# Online job application rejection email **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 28, 2021, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-job-application-rejection-email/931705 "2021-01-28T19:09:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-job-application-rejection-email/931705/1 "2021-01-28T19:09:18Z")
I applied for a job, didn’t have an interiew but got an email - _Although your skills and qualifications are impressive, we have identified other candidates whose experience more closely fit the specifications of the position._ - - _To view additional opportunities with us…_ Is this just a response they send to everyone, or did they really look at my resume and think I might be considered for another job? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-job-application-rejection-email/931705/2 "2021-01-28T22:24:55Z")
It’s standard boilerplate. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-job-application-rejection-email/931705/3 "2021-01-28T22:30:01Z")
Standard boilerplate. When they dispositioned you from the requisition it likely generated an email automatically. Job hunting sucks and I wish you luck. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-job-application-rejection-email/931705/4 "2021-01-28T22:56:00Z")
Chances are someone looked at your resume for about five seconds. And it’s standard boilerplate which long predates the Internet. The alternative is that “we wouldn’t hire you if you were the last person on Earth” which they’re not going to say. Or even mean. ETA: And they are especially responsive in that they sent you anything back. Most people never hear unless they do at least a phone screen. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-job-application-rejection-email/931705/5 "2021-01-28T23:41:11Z")
I’ve gotten rejections in the form of emails, phone calls, and once even a nice paper letter. And they’ve all said basically the same thing as yours. And yeah, just saying nothing at all is far more common. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-job-application-rejection-email/931705/6 "2021-01-29T19:07:49Z")
After leaving the Navy, I applied for a job with the FAA. It was an entry level position and had 3 basic requirements. 1. Knowledge of basic electronics and troubleshooting. Check. Was an electronic tech in the Navy. 2. Knowledge of preventative maintenance procedures and schedules. Check. Basically what I did in the Navy on a wide range of equipment. 3. Must obtain required FCC radio-operator licenses within a specified time period. Check. Already had my first class license. A month later got the same response as the OP. I would guess a family member of an employee got the position based on the simplified job requirements for what should have been a fairly technical position. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-job-application-rejection-email/931705/7 "2021-01-29T19:51:48Z")
At least you got a response. I applied to quite a few jobs early in my career and never heard boo. Rude, and very aggravating. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2021, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-job-application-rejection-email/931705/8 "2021-01-31T09:37:05Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > A month later got the same response as the OP. I would guess a family member of an employee got the position based on the simplified job requirements for what should have been a fairly technical position. Or someone with the same skills as you got an application in first and got hired. Or they threw ten resumes with the same qualifications down the stairs and yours didn’t hit bottom. One job opening and lots of qualified resumes means that lots of qualified people don’t get the job, even without nepotism or favoritism. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2021, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-job-application-rejection-email/931705/9 "2021-01-31T12:07:39Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And yeah, just saying nothing at all is far more common. I’d like to add that the “saying nothing” variant is not necessarily meanness on the part of the recruiters. More likely than not, it’s a strategy to reduce litigation risk by not saying anything that the recipient might construe as a rejection on grounds of a protected trait within the meaning of antidiscrimination legislation. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2021, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-job-application-rejection-email/931705/10 "2021-01-31T18:17:17Z")
Mrs Cad interviewed for a company that just wanted free consulting for their internal candidate. He was promoted which opened his old job. Mrs Cad got that same email the OP did. She did not apply. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2021, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-job-application-rejection-email/931705/11 "2021-02-01T22:05:40Z")
> [@Schnitte](#): > > I’d like to add that the “saying nothing” variant is not necessarily meanness on the part of the recruiters. More likely than not, it’s a strategy to reduce litigation risk by not saying anything that the recipient might construe as a rejection on grounds of a protected trait within the meaning of antidiscrimination legislation. There are some people who are very insistent. If you give a reason why you rejected them, no matter how mild, they will be there with tons of documentation about how this isn’t really a weakness and how you misunderstood and why they really deserve the job. Much safer to say nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2021, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-job-application-rejection-email/931705/12 "2021-02-01T23:37:50Z")
There’s not giving a reason for rejecting someone, and then there’s not telling them you rejected them at all. An email that just says “We have chosen someone else” doesn’t contain anything actionable, but it at least lets the candidate know to cross that one off their list. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2021, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-job-application-rejection-email/931705/13 "2021-02-01T23:44:51Z")
They have already moved or promoted another internal employee into the spot. The posting of the job opening is just a required formality. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2021, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-job-application-rejection-email/931705/14 "2021-02-01T23:58:02Z")
Especially when the candidate has been interviewed. I’ve heard this happen. The excuse I’ve seen is that they don’t want to reject the second place candidate just in case the first one, who has accepted the job, backs out at the last second. As for not responding at all, the rule not the exception, I think the reason is that HR departments got hollowed out by waves of layoffs, and the mass of resumes they get from online applications. 40 years ago the level of services I got from our Bell System HR department was much greater than before I retired. And no contractors who were often short term. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2021, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-job-application-rejection-email/931705/15 "2021-02-02T00:00:03Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > They have already moved or promoted another internal employee into the spot. > > The posting of the job opening is just a required formality. Not always. I’ve seen the same thing happen when an outsider was hired. Now, if the job post never gets taken down, you might be applying for a job that was filled six months ago.