Can I complain about not being shortlisted?

stellaforstar

but why? why prepare to get slated? do you realise how ridiculous this sounds? yes, its a public forum but my point is ive been ducking and diving around this forum for a few years now and seen it get steadily worse and worse from the point of view of people replying just to be nasty. If you think im an idiot then just ignore me. But when did coming on here and asking for help mean Its open season? Its not just on this board - try posting on the house selling and property board and see if you come out alive.

I have been applying for all sorts of jobs - Marks and Spencer, Boots - apparently im over qualified. Tried to get a job in a pub - no experience. The jobs I am going for are about £10 k less in salary than I get currently but thats fine. but i dont have enough experience for those or they think im over qualified and will leave quickly.

my mortgage payments are frozen at the moment but that runs out after xmas. As do my options.

williacg

stellaforstar wrote: »

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.

My reply to your post was in no way intended to upset you or laugh at your current situation, I was simply trying to point out that times are extremely difficult for many, as I'm sure you're aware, and in this ccurrent climate, you will find job hunters with an abundance of experience and qualifications applying for jobs they may have once thought beneath them, just to keep the wolves from the door.

I really cannot see what benefit you will get out of taking matters further with HR / the Council, other than to frustrate you further when you don't get the answers you want, to get more indepth feedback and sharpening up your applications, would be more constructive, and can only benefit you in your job search.

stellaforstar

But that was my point - maybe I just wasnt being clear. I am one of those candidates that has an abundance of experience and qualifications that is going for a job that in any other world would be seen as 'beneath them' just so I have got a job full stop. Thats why im getting so frustrated. I have years and years of admin experience in schools and children's centres but I seem to be ignore because, well I just dont know. I know there are lots more people looking for jobs nowadays and you have to really try and stand out. Thats why I take a day to fill in each application, a day to do the supporting statement, check it and double check it, check my spelling, my grammar, everything.

I just think that people on these forums need to think a little before replying their acidic replies that they think are so funny, witty and clever. You dont know anything about the OP and what they are going through, all you see if a chance to belittle. I just dont get it. Ive seen it so many times recently, and not just for me, but others.

Frogletina

stellaforstar wrote: »

I have down the exact same job at least four times before

You have made spelling and grammatical errors in your posts on here; did you proof read your application? Putting your first post through the spell checker on Word showed 32 errors. However even a spell checker cannot always be relied upon to be 100% correct.

I remember many years ago reading how someone sorted out who to interview from the vast number of application letters he had received. Firstly, out went those written on anything other than white writing paper, then those not written in black ink. Then any with spelling or grammatical errors were discarded. Only then were the rest sorted by qualifications and experience.

Finally, he then had a small enough pile of application forms to sift through more carefully to decide who to interview.

Have you even considered that the people invited to be interviewed may have had more experience than you?

Frogletina

Stellaforstar

I started writing my post before you posted again, so I am pleased that you do take care of spelling and your grammar in your appplications. I hope you are successful another time.

Uncertain

stellaforstar wrote: »

You dont know anything about the OP and what they are going through.........

Exactly!

You asked a question under the heading "Can I complain about not being shortlisted?"

I gave you a concise but reasoned answer saying no.

It may not have been what you wanted to hear..............

stellaforstar

well of course - i know there is lots of errors and spelling typos in my first posts because im trying to type whilst also attending to a baby so im trying to do it quickly. Its also not that important that my spelling is correct on a forum wbsite, but believe me, when im sending out documents like application forms i make sure EVERYTHING is 100% accurate. I have also been responsible for recruitment of admin staff in previous posts and i know how bad it looks when people cant spell.

I know people may have had more experience than me but we are talking about a very basic entry level admin post here. Again, i just dont see why i wouldnt even get an interview. I have asked for more feedback but they wont give it to me.

heretolearn_2

You may be caught in the middle there.

For some jobs, other people may well have more experience.
for some jobs, if you are applying for work under your usual level, employers may think you are over-qualified/experienced. I know you think that won't make a difference, but employers worry about people taking jobs as a short-term 'take anything for now' place, and that you'll be looking to move on quite quickly.

We regularly get over 70 applicants and from that we normally shortlist 8 to interiew. All applications get a very quick scan through on receipt and that is enough for us to decide shortlist/no/maybe. If we get 8 on the shortlist at that stage, we won't go back and look at the others. If we don't get 8, we'll go through the maybes for the best few to make up the numbers. It can be some very minor things that get an applicant in the 'no' pile, or stop them being moved up to 'yes' from 'maybe'. all the good applicants tend to be extremely similar on paper, so you have to really nitpick to get the numbers down.
'More experience/better candidates' is quite vague for feedback and it may not be the real reason. It's hard to give honest feedback without offending people/causing problems/sounding unfair, so most companies will only give you a vague answer. It's worth ringing and asking if it is possible to give more detailed feedback, if you ask nicely and don't make it sound as though you are annoyed about not being shortlisted, but firms don't have to do it. It could simply be a time issue for them.

stellaforstar

Uncertain - I have made it quite clear that it's not that Im bothered that people will tell me what i dont want to hear - im not a 5 year old, I can take it when people disagree with me or tell me im wrong. If people think im wrong thats fine, its the way people reply to posts on this website that is bang out of order. There is no need for such vitriolic posts made with such glee. Just tell me you think im being unreasonable, thats fine, my point is that people should bear in mind they know nothing about the people you are slagging off for no reason.

An actually your reply wasnt unpleasent - i took no offence to your reply at all.

Loanranger

Stella,
You are being unreasonable.
The job probably had 100 applicants or perhaps more.
99 people, or more, will be very disappointed.
There is simply no point getting cross with the employer nor with people on this forum, nor with yourself.
Time to move on and apply for the next job.