Why do job applicants waste everyone's time by...

Kate78

GoodNewmover wrote: »

Why do you waste each others time.

Good point. There's a lot of poor behaviour on both sides. :mad:

Savvy_Sue

Slinky wrote: »

What got to me was when people would say we'll let you know by XX, when what they really meant was we'll let the successful person know by XX and ignore everybody else until the successful person has accepted and we can give you all the shove.

Surely it isn't unreasonable to wait until the first choice has accepted (or not) before contacting everyone else, if there's a plausible second choice?

That's why I always suggest to my interviewers that they tell everyone we'll be in touch within a few days.

It gives the interviewers the chance to think about it if they're unsure, it gives the first choice the chance to think about it if they're unsure, and if the first choice then turns it down we may have a second choice we could offer it to.

The alternative, if you say "we'll be in touch later today" is that if the first choice thinks about it overnight and then turns it down, the second choice KNOWS they are second choice!

We are pretty good about letting the 'Sorry, definitely not' people know ASAP, post interview, if that helps ...

gemma1979

Well, this is all very interesting but if there are any employers on here in the Oldham, Rochdale or Manchester area who are currently looking for office workers please feel free to contact me and I will send my CV!!

Slinky

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Surely it isn't unreasonable to wait until the first choice has accepted (or not) before contacting everyone else, if there's a plausible second choice?

That's why I always suggest to my interviewers that they tell everyone we'll be in touch within a few days.

It gives the interviewers the chance to think about it if they're unsure, it gives the first choice the chance to think about it if they're unsure, and if the first choice then turns it down we may have a second choice we could offer it to.

The alternative, if you say "we'll be in touch later today" is that if the first choice thinks about it overnight and then turns it down, the second choice KNOWS they are second choice!

We are pretty good about letting the 'Sorry, definitely not' people know ASAP, post interview, if that helps ...

No it's not unreasonable to tell people that they'll be told by a particular date, but if you're told that you'll be informed by Friday, when what they mean is we'll tell the successful person by Friday, it's not being honest is it. Far better to do what you suggest, a few days....

Savvy_Sue

Slinky wrote: »

No it's not unreasonable to tell people that they'll be told by a particular date, but if you're told that you'll be informed by Friday, when what they mean is we'll tell the successful person by Friday, it's not being honest is it. Far better to do what you suggest, a few days....

Glad you think so. Actually most of our managers are willing to phone the 'definitely not' people the same day (I hate giving phone feedback!), but my feeling is that you never know when something's going to crop up at the end of the interview day. Generally you can make a decision but we have sometimes had to hold off for a few days before things are finalised.

Actually I remember taking a message for DH when he was job-seeking once: he'd been for interview ages beforehand, and he was convinced they were phoning to say no. But they asked me to ask him to ring back, so I made him do it, and there was a job offer for him! SUCH a relief because it was a local job, and he'd just been for an interview in London which I really really didn't want him to have to accept ...

snowqueen555

I'm not surprised the quality is often poor, there was probably a time where the quality of CVs I sent out were excellent but few, and I got no replies.. Spending what... 20-30mins per application maybe 2-3 a day and hearing nothing?

I got a better call back rate sending out masses of more generic CVs, maybe like 80 a week.

And for people who do not attend interviews... I have done this. I would assume a person would not attend an interview unless they actually called in to confirm that they were.

Savvy_Sue

snowqueen555 wrote: »

And for people who do not attend interviews... I have done this. I would assume a person would not attend an interview unless they actually called in to confirm that they were.

We usually phone people and then confirm in writing, but we do ask people to let us know if they won't be attending. I think you are assuming wrong, to be honest: employer invites you to interview, you let them know if you are not coming!

snowqueen555

Letters should say to confirm if attending. A lot of letters do not

As already said, recruiters are fine with not calling back if we fail an interview, I guess it goes both ways

PasturesNew

One that annoys me is when an employer asks, for each job, how much you were paid. Is it any of their business? Salary does not always equate to ability. As a single person, I've had to financially support myself and have therefore had a lifetime of applying for "any job, just get a job, you need a job to pay the bills, quick, first job that you're offered... apply for everything, take the first thing you're offered" and on a CV this doesn't look too good when the salary was rubbish. I've also been living in an area where the wages are the lowest in the UK, the attitude (you are actually told this at every interview and in every discussion with anybody about jobs/wages) is "people are here for the lifestyle". So 99% of the jobs here pay low wages.... which then doesn't look good on a CV when you're applying for a job elsewhere in the country who pay "proper wages" for jobs.

"any job" here will be about 1/3rd of my peak earnings. The jobs I am applying for are half my peak and about 40% higher than local jobs. So I get hit from the other end of the stick too "how come you were earning so much and are now applying for this job at half that amount?".... "because I want/need a job - THIS job".

PasturesNew

snowqueen555 wrote: »

I'm not surprised the quality is often poor, there was probably a time where the quality of CVs I sent out were excellent but few, and I got no replies.. Spending what... 20-30mins per application maybe 2-3 a day and hearing nothing?

I got a better call back rate sending out masses of more generic CVs, maybe like 80 a week.

I agree. Especially if they have their own 'pack' you have to read through and their own bespoke form to fill out. It can take 3-4 hours to go through it all and fill it in properly.