No interview - Should I contact HR directly as to why?

Smi1er

I was sounded out about a job recently, it was an ideal role and my CV was sent to them. When it was sent I established that the HR Director is someone I used to work with, and got on well with, 10-15 years ago. Shortly after I left that firm I met them socially 3-4 times.

I have now found out that my application won't be progressed to interview stage but the agent has had no feedback as to why.

Now I'm in two minds as to whether I should contact the HR Director directly and ask them for feedback as to why my application wasn't progressed. I would make it very plain that I wasn't seeking to change there mind because I know them, but merely asking for feedback off the record for future applications elsewhere.

So. Should I contact them? Or not?

Sambucus_Nigra

Was it the HR director that sounded you out in the first place?

phill99

It would put the HR director (your acquaintance) in a difficult position. It may well have been your potential line manager that discarded you.

I would just let it lie.

You have to ask yourself this: "would I call the HR Director if I didn't know him?" The answer is probably "No", so ou shouldn't do it her either.

InsideInsurance

If hes a mate then I would, if he is just someone I vaguely knew then I wouldnt.

By the sounds of it he is something between the two and so in the grey area

At the end of the day at the moment you dont even really know if the agency even sent your CV to them or that the job exists or if the agency is on the PSL for them etc.

heretolearn_2

I wouldn't. While it's normal to ask for feedback on a failed interview, it's not normal to ask for feedback on why you weren't interviewed. It could place that person in a difficult position and even if not be a pain in the butt for them - if somewhere is big enough to have an HR Director you can bet it's not them sifting through every application received to shortlist. So they'll have to go and find the person who did/dig through the records.

And honestly, they'd be idiots to say anything beyond 'other candidates met the job description and person specification better'. So I would think it's unlikely you'll find out anything useful.

If you do feel able to ask this person for a favour, you'd be better off just asking them to give you some general feedback and advice on your CV to help you with your job hunt - without mentioning you applied for a job there. (They probably don't even know you applied for a job there). But if you haven't had any contact with them for donkey's years, then I wouldn't.

Smi1er

They're not a close mate, nor someone I just worked with. We worked closely together for 2-3 years and got on well. We then just drifted apart and haven't had any contact for years.

If I did make contact then I would make it very clear that it would be unfair to review my application but was merely after feedback to help other applications elsewhere.

BTW, I do know that the agency sent my CV directly to them, although I don't know if they reviewed them.

McKneff

He may have had nothing to do with the selection of interviewees.

Honestly, if you do contact them, no matter what yu say, they will think you are trying to get in through the back door.

Which, I have to say is coming over in your post.