Hi all,
I recently ran an ad on craigslist and another in the local paper for a position at our hospital. I usually get 10-15 applications and call them all back when I have filled the position. However, this is the first time I used the online forum so I was literally innudated with resumes- it made our fax machine melt down LOL!
So… I ended up doing about 10 interviews and filled two positions. What obligation do I have to do anything but call back the ones I interviewed or who have inquired about the status of their application? If you apply for a job, do you automatically expect to be called about the position? It seems to me that I"d rather not hear in that manner- I’d get excited when they told me who called (if I really wanted the job) and then just to be told I didn’t make the interview process would be a downer. If you call and check the status of your application, you are already a little primed for the rejection part right?
Actually, I probably won’t have to call them myself- so its really not just trying to get out of it but wondering if you all feel the way I do about preferring to call and check on the status than be called and told I didn’t even make the first cut.
Would it be possible to send letters to the ones you interviewed but didn’t pick? I got one of those recently and while it sucked that I didn’t get the job, I appreciated hearing about it from them, rather than the other way around. It made “we’ll keep your application on file” seem more believable, somehow.
I’d contact them, not expect them to contact you. Like Ron said, I feel like I’m annoying somebody when I call under these circumstances.
What whiterabbit said. Most companies will send out a form letter to applicants who are not hired. Something to the effect of, “Thank you for you interest in XYZ Corp. Unfortunately we are not able to use you at this time, but we will keep your application on file in case another opportunity arises.”
It would be very rude and unprofessional to not contact them at all.
As an applicant, I would appreciate at least an email informing me that the position was filled. Unfortunately, I no longer expect it. Way to many employers don’t send out anything.
I think it’s the employer’s responsibility to contact the rejected employee, but it doesn’t have to be a call. Letters are the way to go if you don’t want to falsely raise people’s hopes for those few seconds – I think everyone knows that the envelope in the mail can only mean bad news – but e-mail is fine.
By the way, I work in a field where contacting a prospective employer after the interview to ask about the status of your application is frowned upon, to put it mildly, so I wouldn’t expect rejected applicants to call.
I usually expect to hear something if I have gotten as far as a phone interview. I also appreciate a mass emailing to say that a position has been filled or that I didn’t really fit the criteria or whatever. For an in-person interview I’d expect a personal email, letter or call. If I wasn’t contacted at all after I submitted a resume, I would assume the position was filled.
I rarely follow up on a resume unless I’ve heard something back from the employer.
Everyone who applies and is rejected should receive a letter or email saying so. I don’t recall ever being called to be told I was rejected, but I have been told so when I called in to inquire. That system works ok AFAIC.
Everywhere I’ve ever applied, they only contacted those who were rejected after an interview. If you didn’t get an interview, they never contacted you at all.
I think it would be very considerate of you to send an email saying “thank you for your interest, yadda, yadda” to all the applicants, as well as a letter or phone call to those who had interviews.
I only expect to hear from you to discuss the job or interview. If I never hear, I don’t feel one way or another. BUT if I have had contact to discuss the job, and it was left as a potential thing, I do expect to hear a rejection. It sounds like you will do that part regardless and that’s good!
Applying and never getting farther is not a rejection IMHO and doesn’t need any contact.
If I actually go for an in-person interview, then I expect a call, email or letter. If no interview then I expect nothing- but an automated reply is still nice.