Can an employer bring forward a job application closing date?

Golden_Anemone

My son applied for a job last week with a major NI public service organisation - I work for the same organisation so am not naming them. I had downloaded the application form from the Internet several weeks ago and the closing date was clearly marked as being the end of March. He dillied and dallied completing it and eventually filled it in and submitted it last week. He then received a letter telling him it wouldn't be considered as it had been received after the closing date. I phoned this morning and was told they had brought forward the closing date to the week before, removed the application form from their site and written to anyone who had requested the form from them. I explained that we had not requested the form but had printed it from their Internet site and was told - you should have checked the site for updated information.

I just don't think it's good enough to close a competition early and expect people to work this out. Has anyone experience of this?

SomeBozo

Yes, its quite common.

Most adverts say now "The listing will be closed as soon as sufficient applicants have been received".

I never understand why people dilly dally about with job applications.

If you are not sure, just put an application in and worry about it when you get shortlisted / offered.

Bozo

Golden_Anemone

I never understand why people dilly dally about with job applications.

Ah, you too have forgotten what it is to be a teenager!

And neither the adverts or any where on this employers site mention this is possible. I would accept the practice would be more reasonable if it did.

onlyforboards_2

SomeBozo wrote: »

I never understand why people dilly dally about with job applications.

If you are not sure, just put an application in and worry about it when you get shortlisted / offered.

Bozo

Depends what kind of job you are gong for. I've never submitted an application straight away. Some job applications require a fair bit of thinking first and when I look for jobs I tend to apply for a lot at once so one is always at the back of the queue. Then of course there is work and all the other things that can make a job application deadline difficult to meet.

Sharon87

There's this one site I use where jobs can be listed at 1pm and be gone at 2pm! I get email notifications and when I receive them I click on it and sometimes it's already been filled! I guess that's just TV work.

Natti_A

That is commonplace in the healthcare sector where i work. My employer recently put up 2 job adverts looking to fill 4 vacancies in the dept. The advert originally was supposed to be up for 2 weeks. After 3 days they had over 60 applications, and closed the advert. Uve gotta move quick on these things!