Can I complain about not being shortlisted?

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

The problem you have here is that there are TOO many people unemployed and employers can now be picky (just ask my boss!) Something about your C.V/you just wasn’t right for this job. Move on, find another. there's no point complaining! What will it achieve? They aren't going to suddenly turn round and say "Hey! Sorry - Lets interview you!" If they wanted to interview you in the first place they would of done.

Why are you so hung up on this? Ok I get your house is under threat but wasting your time on one job and moping that you didn’t get interviewed isn’t the answer. Pull your boots up, brush yourself down and carry on.

I must admit, we've been hiring, and if someone rang me to complain that I didn’t interview them then I wouldn’t give them the time of day. It comes across as a little immature IMHO and I would be glad that I didn’t waste my time with that application.

Remember also - Someone in that school MAY go to another role, you MAY by chance apply for a role within the new company, The person from the school MAY remember you and offer their opinion and it won’t be "oh they're fab – you should give them a shot" - It'll be "oh, they kicked up a fuss and complained we didn’t interview them when they wasn’t right for the job" - Doesn’t really give a good impression of you and that is not what you want.

Have a look at your C.V – Are there grammar mistakes? Is it detailed enough (sometimes TOO much detail is a big no no) I’m 26, my C.V is 3 pages long, This is: address and school information and CURRENT job on first page. Second page is previous jobs (with appropriate detailing – Job role etc) and third page is Driving status, non-smoker/1 dependant/hobbies and references. I have an unusual name so people tend to remember me. What is you C.V like? If it doesnt stand out then you wont be remembered

As for nasty comments – You’ve been given some negative criticism, guess what, employer’s do this to. Take it, use it, learn from it or wallow in self pity. If you feel you should complain you wasnt intereviewed and it will make you feel better - go for it. But dont expect anything from it. you might get feedback but chances are you wont get much feed back from just your C.V

Jeff_Bridges_hair

mommyme wrote: »

Have a look at your C.V – Are there grammar mistakes? Is it detailed enough (sometimes TOO much detail is a big no no) I’m 26, my C.V is 3 pages long, This is: address and school information and CURRENT job on first page. Second page is previous jobs (with appropriate detailing – Job role etc) and third page is Driving status, non-smoker/1 dependant/hobbies and references. I have an unusual name so people tend to remember me. What is you C.V like? If it doesnt stand out then you wont be remembered

As an employer myself id say even 3 pages is too much for a CV - not that we would discard that CV as such but theres probably to omuch info on there.

Op whilst this is annoying for you bite the bullet and work out something with your CV. Go to the job centre and find out who your local surestart or similar are and get them to do one - they have people there dedicated to making really good CVs.

And dont complain about being shortlisted - as has been said there are too many people out of work who now realise the end of the benefits systems as we know it is pushing more people into looking for work..

Good luck in the future though

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

As an employer myself id say even 3 pages is too much for a CV - not that we would discard that CV as such but theres probably to omuch info on there.

Op whilst this is annoying for you bite the bullet and work out something with your CV. Go to the job centre and find out who your local surestart or similar are and get them to do one - they have people there dedicated to making really good CVs.

And dont complain about being shortlisted - as has been said there are too many people out of work who now realise the end of the benefits systems as we know it is pushing more people into looking for work..

Good luck in the future though

Probably but then I'm not going for entry level jobs and my CV is aimed at roles within Electrogmagnetic test area's so in my case, more detail is required. For an admin job, yes, 3 pages will be too much (and if there is a lot of jobs within those pages then it will suggest they dont stick around in a company) OP didnt suggest how long / short their C.V is which might be a key factor here. If OP is say 20 years old and has 15 jobs - its not going to look too good for them.

OP - look at it this way - The more jobs you go for the more experiened you are at interviews and the BETTER you will become and the right job will be yours as you'll be ready for it

EDIT: OP - Are you customising your CV for each job or are you just sending the same one out over and over again? Look at the job you are applying for, what skill set will it need? do you have those skills? Are you pointed them out in your cv??

viktory

Fluffi wrote: »

The first x number of job applications received that meet the criteria might be the only ones shortlisted.

After all if you receive 100 applicants and just 50 meet the experience/skills criteria you're still not going to interview all 50 people - its just not practical. At least when companies shortlist in order of return its relatively fair, unlike when hiring managers shortlist x number from a randomly sorted applicant list.

It is possible but I doubt it. I work in the public sector and ALL applicartions are scrutinised to see if they meet the criteria for shortlisting. On the other hand, my husband works in a warehouse and they generally only accept applications for one or to days - therefore, it is safe to assume that they also shortlist all applications received, albeit in a very short time frame.

Really, we have no idea why the OP is not getting anywhere with her application - but the one things that is certain is that the OP is not meeting the criteria of the employers - whether that be something in her CV, too much information, not enough, too little experience, not enough...Could be spelling and grammar mistakes. Until the OP asks for feedback she will be none the wiser and will continue getting rejected time and again.

heretolearn_2

'It's no use saying "I have the right experience" or "I've done this exact same job before": you have to demonstrate WHAT your experience is and how it matches what they are asking for. '

This is the best advice on here. We get a lot of applications where people tell us their previous job titles and expect us to decide just from those that they meet our requirements. We can't make those asssumptions. You need to use your CV and the cover letter to spell out exactly how you meet what they ask for, don't think 'well it's obvious' as it isn't. i.e. if they ask for typing speed of 50wpm, you have to state somewhere that your typing speed is Xwpm. If they ask for certain software experience, don't think 'well of course I have used that' state 'proficient in X, X and X.'

SevenOfNine

Think the OP has actually been completing APPLICATION FORMS, carefully from what she's said, so we should assume she's checking them thoroughly before sending - though that would be more obvious and subject to less assumption and criticism if her posts were as near perfectly typed as she could get. Not sure readers here can be blamed for assuming her applications may be riddled with errors!

To be constructive, after all, constant rejection when jobs seem to be tailor made for her must be depressing, it isn't the OP who needs to check, check, and check again once an application is complete. She needs SOMEONE ELSE to have a look at it.

Perhaps I could suggest OP take a copy of a previous application, along with the job description to NextStep (the Job Centre or a quick google will give enough info to find the nearest). They may be able to give constructive criticism which could help enormously with the next application.
https://nextstep.direct.gov.uk/Pages/Home.aspx freephone telephone number - don't ask, don't get!

NextStep gave my completed CV a quick 'once over' and came up with a few very useful suggestions (so did a couple of other local organisations I found). I reckon they'd do the same for an application, if only the 'supporting statement' part. I will say that I do that part of my applications on the PC, roughly 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 pages long, all of it competency based. What tasks I do, with examples of how and what skills/PC packages I use to do it.

I have not been failing to be shortlisted on the strength of application forms (admin/secretarial/financial jobs), it's been my interview skills that are sh!te - & I've been getting help with those too now. It's not about 'what's the problem with the prospective employer for not recognising you're perfect for the job', it's about 'why aren't I projecting my suitability to my best advantage on the form'. Look to yourself for the problem, not the employers.

Good luck

Savvy_Sue

heretolearn wrote: »

'It's no use saying "I have the right experience" or "I've done this exact same job before": you have to demonstrate WHAT your experience is and how it matches what they are asking for. '

This is the best advice on here. We get a lot of applications where people tell us their previous job titles and expect us to decide just from those that they meet our requirements. We can't make those asssumptions. You need to use your CV and the cover letter to spell out exactly how you meet what they ask for, don't think 'well it's obvious' as it isn't. i.e. if they ask for typing speed of 50wpm, you have to state somewhere that your typing speed is Xwpm. If they ask for certain software experience, don't think 'well of course I have used that' state 'proficient in X, X and X.'

This reminds me, one of my colleagues was only borderline for being shortlisted, because their recent job history was client facing, and we wanted a behind the scenes person, NOT someone who wanted to be out there helping the clients.

But their experience within those client facing roles appeared to be OK, so we added them to the interview list, and face to face I was just blown away! NOT, I might add, by their interview manner (very nervous, and it showed), but by the fact that they knew their stuff, and were very clear that they'd had enough of client facing work!

SevenOfNine wrote: »

I have not been failing to be shortlisted on the strength of application forms (admin/secretarial/financial jobs), it's been my interview skills that are sh!te - & I've been getting help with those too now. It's not about 'what's the problem with the prospective employer for not recognising you're perfect for the job', it's about 'why aren't I projecting my suitability to my best advantage on the form'. Look to yourself for the problem, not the employers.

More excellent advice. Even before you get an interview, it's worth making sure your interview skills are as good as you can get them!

Jeff_Bridges_hair

There was a good bit in the Telegraph yesterday about keeping your CV concise. i cant find it but here is another one saying the same thing

http://my.telegraph.co.uk/jobsandcareers/gillianhibberd/36/keep-cvs-concise-and-targeted/

frankingmachine4u

There are some factors to be considered when hiring an employee. Even if you think you are suitable enough or should i say you are the perfect candidate for the job, HR manager knows who to choose according to their requirements. Ofcourse in most cases, it would be very awkward to seek feedback from the HR dept. about why you are not getting shortlisted. My point is, maybe there are other applicants who are more experienced or skilled than you. Its not always the reason but It could be in some cases. Don't feel bad about it. Try to find other jobs in the other companies and I'm sure there are many companies out there who need your services.So cheer up! I wish you all the success in your future venture.