Whats the response rate to applications these days?

paulsad

I've applied for 30 odd in the last few weeks - had 1 interview which I thought went well but didn't get the job - stock email response. Had 1 polite email from a local firm - vacancy filled. Still waiting on the rest. It is hard and despite what 1 "perfect" employer on here touts - ageism is alive and well. Seems also if you are a one legged lesbian with tourettes and iq of 10 you have a lot better chance than me at getting a job at one of the bigger employers.

AP007

falko89 wrote: »

Well I suppose we'd like to think we are an exception to the norm but the short and narrow of it is, unless you have something that makes you different or stand out from the crowd its not gonna happen. It is damn hard out there, I thought I might of had a decent enough chance getting in with my fathers firm, he's worked their 20+ years, for 1 job over 100 applicants, I didn't even get to the interview stage.

You can only stand out if you have all those things and the recruiter reads ALL CV's which they do not.

piglet25

My response rate is really good, there is only one application form I have filled in and sent which I have not been contacted for to say I haven't made the shortlist. I have had responses off all the others, and I would say 70% of those responses were offers of an interview. Which I am terrible at, which is why I am still looking! Maybe its a regional thing? My area is renowned for its friendliness - could it be true?

pompeyrich

Seen it from both ends, my 2 lads were desperate for work, supermarket type part time to fit in with college/Uni, very little response, despite spending hours filling out application forms, hardly an acknowledgement. Although both got what they wanted in the end, it was really distressing that employers couldn't fire off, even a generic e-mail to recognise the effort they had put in.

Totally different for myself, made redundant at the ripe old age of 54, found myself an agency that dealt with recruiting for my line of work, rejected the first interview opportunity, bad reputation firm, nearly turned down the next one, a bit too far, 30 miles, my initial limit was 20. Went along for the "experience" and got offered the job.

Didn't know what to do, having read the doom and gloom on sites like this, I took it, lovely job but the travelling is an issue.

So I think it is what you can offer and clearly a regional thing too.

an9i77

I worked for a short time in the recruitment department of a well-known high street retailer. For part time cashier roles there would typically be around 30 applications per post (these roles were min wage, around 15 hours per week but very popular with working mums and students). For the slightly better paid manager's assistant roles on 25 hours per week there'd be around 15 applications per post. I'd hate to think how many applicants there would be if the posts were full time and paying a decent wage.

Daedalus

Either the level of roles I am applying for are different, or I am special. Applied for around 10 jobs last week, and received 2 stock rejections, 2 phone calls to 'chat about my application'.

princessdon

Just keep on at this OP, you are running a marathon not a sprint. You are doing an OU degree which will count. It's luck of the draw but experience, job history and qualifications all count.

Don't look short term but long term, take each job - ask why you were refused and address this. it really is the only way to be successful in life.

Brassedoff

The big problem is the poor quality of CV's. I have a method when I look for a new employee. I give or take away marks on experience, relevance, knowledge, reading stats and finally qualifications.

One poster pointed out going to a CV Prep company, this could be money well invested. The Personal Statement or Executive Summary is 25% of my points, but a large part of the impression of the applicant. One final thing you may not think of is email addresses. If someone has a silly email address, don't give it to a potential employer, it says a lot about you.

No matter how many you see, you will never cease to be amazed at how poor they are written, spelling mistakes and an appalling ramble about how well people are liked in their last role.

I do ask for an email address so I can respond to each and everyone who applies. Not many people will reply via conventional letters.

princessdon

Some are diabolical

Page 3 or 4 before anything of interest and full of spelling and grammatical errors.

Not to mention app forms that don't use the PS and JD as a guide.

AP007

Brassedoff you are a hiring manager? Say you got 400 CV's for a job you would read them all and the cover letters?