Can I complain about not being shortlisted?

stellaforstar

Hi all - wonder if anyone could give some advice. I have been applying for several jobs that really match my skillset and experience but am failing to even get shortlisted for interviews.

They are basically admin jobs in schools or childrens centres and I have been doing these jobs for years so have plenty of experince. I spend plenty of time filling out the application forms and doing the supporting statements, making sure i match all the criteria but they keep turning me down. when i ask for feedback they simply say not enough expereince!

I recently applied for an admin job at a school that i matched the criertia perfectly. however, they have still turned me down for an interview. i asked them why and they said not enough expereince! but my application form clearly states I have down the exact same job at least four times before and i was very clear in my supporting statement that i met their criertia. I am very upset, i was very keen on the job and just dont understand what more i could have done.

i would like, on this occasion, to take it further. its not like I want to FORCE them to interview me, but I want to compalin about this - there is no valid reason why with my previous expereince i wouldnt even get an interview.

Has anyone done this before ? Should I approach the Council HR department (where the job was advertised) or the School (who did the shortlisting)

Hammyman

ROFL...this brightened up my day. When there's loads of people unemployed there's going to be many with far more experience and more qualifications than you applying for the post, especially as most jobs seem to have treble figure applications. The fact you've done a job four times before means diddly squat. End point is that there will always be someone with more experience and better qualified than you unless you're acknowledged as the best in your field.

Get over it.

Tankrizzo_2

OP, I wouldn't complain to HR as it's hardly constructive and will serve no purpose. They're not exactly going to say, "Oh, sorry, you're right, we should have given you an interview."

What might be better is asking for more precise feedback - "could you be a little more specific please, in which area did you feel that I lacked experience?"

That is the sort of thing which might help you in your next application.

tiff

In primary schools the job will often go to someone known to them, whether they are better qualified or not. Thats the way it is in my DD's school anyway.

iamana1ias

stellaforstar wrote: »

Hi all - wonder if anyone could give some advice. I have been applying for several jobs that really match my skillset and experience but am failing to even get shortlisted for interviews.

They are basically admin jobs in schools or childrens centres and I have been doing these jobs for years so have plenty of experince. I spend plenty of time filling out the application forms and doing the supporting statements, making sure i match all the criteria but they keep turning me down. when i ask for feedback they simply say not enough expereince!

I recently applied for an admin job at a school that i matched the criertia perfectly. however, they have still turned me down for an interview. i asked them why and they said not enough expereince! but my application form clearly states I have down the exact same job at least four times before and i was very clear in my supporting statement that i met their criertia. I am very upset, i was very keen on the job and just dont understand what more i could have done.

i would like, on this occasion, to take it further. its not like I want to FORCE them to interview me, but I want to compalin about this - there is no valid reason why with my previous expereince i wouldnt even get an interview.

Has anyone done this before ? Should I approach the Council HR department (where the job was advertised) or the School (who did the shortlisting)

a) Your application clearly wasn't clear enough about your experience
b) If you paid as much attention to your application as you did this post I can see why they didn't shortlist you!

scooby088

You could always ring and ask for feedback from the interview if not short listed, but to actually complain about not being short listed is actually very laughable.

Uncertain

Unless in involves one of the prohibited forms of discrimination an employer can shortlist / interview / appoint who it pleases.

So, unless you have good reason to believe you are being discriminated against in the legal sense then there is very little to gain.

williacg

It can be soul destroying when you spend so much time on your application and not be shortlisted, but such is life.

Short of asking for feedback on your application, which you have already done, I'm not sure what else you can do, as although you feel that you possess the relevant skills for the roles you are applying for, the competition in this current climate is huge, and there are clearly other candidates who are more experienced and suited to the role(s) than you.

To take matters further? That of course is your choice, but surely, if the powers that be thought that you were the perfect candidate for the role, they would have shortlisted you, they simply want the right person in the right role.

Why not use the time to reassess your application style / content / format, preferably with somebody in the same industry, they may give you a different insight into things.

Good luck with your job search.

stellaforstar

thanks for taking the time to laugh at my situation. im glad it gave you a big laugh.

thank you to the one helpful comment, i know i sound daft but the word soul destroying doesnt even come close, especially when you are unemployed and clsoe to losing your home cos you cant afford the rent.

jesus, just when i think its safe to come on this board and ask for advice, it reminds me why this used to a nice place to come to, but is no longer.

Tankrizzo_2

Stella, if you are that close to losing your home, have you considered work outside your normal sphere? You sound like you've been applying for jobs which exactly marry up to what you've done before, but if you're that desperate then perhaps it might be better to look for other sorts of work.

Sorry if you are already doing this, I have no way of knowing.

scooby088

have you got any housing benefit or if you got mortgage interest payment? if you are unemployed then you should be getting either one.

And if you post on here be prepared to get slated too..