Previously turned down a job in favour of another. Previous applicants need not apply?

Adamc

I turned down a job offer for another 6 years ago. The job has come back up and I would like to apply (my situation has changed - I didn't achieve what I set out to and I now would like more flexibility and convenience in my role). It says prev applicants NNA. I sent an email to the contact on the posting but they did not reply. They replied to a colleague also interested. 

Within my field I've always tried to see what's out there. I've had managers be almost offended if I've gone for an informal visit and asked questions but then not applied due to it not being right for me. 

Are bridges burnt if you exercise the option to turn down a job? For instance, I stated at interview what my ambitions are and they said they I would not achieve them in this role and I turned it down (despite the add sounding promising). Does either party have the right to be offended at the others choice? 

oldernonethewiser

People can and do get offended for all sorts of reasons. 

If you have contacted the company and they haven't got back to you then move on.  They possibly don't want to waste their and your time. 

prowla

I guess their question is if they weren't good enough for you then, why would they be now?

Grumpy_chap

Just apply.  If it was 6 years ago, they may not even have a record of the previous application.  Lots will have changed at both sides.  If they don't respond, you've not lost much, not will you know whether it was the previous application or another reason that meant unsuccessful.

I always think that "no previous applicants" is only really for the same role within 6-12 months.

strawb_shortcake

After 6 years it's quite possible that you'd be dealing with completely new people, that interviewed you before and the company would have no recollection or record of you at this point. 

Personally I'd have just applied, but as you've sent an email highlighting the fact you'd previously applied the they may now choose not to take any application further

Undervalued

Adamc said:

I turned down a job offer for another 6 years ago. The job has come back up and I would like to apply (my situation has changed - I didn't achieve what I set out to and I now would like more flexibility and convenience in my role). It says prev applicants NNA. I sent an email to the contact on the posting but they did not reply. They replied to a colleague also interested. 

Within my field I've always tried to see what's out there. I've had managers be almost offended if I've gone for an informal visit and asked questions but then not applied due to it not being right for me. 

Are bridges burnt if you exercise the option to turn down a job? For instance, I stated at interview what my ambitions are and they said they I would not achieve them in this role and I turned it down (despite the add sounding promising). Does either party have the right to be offended at the others choice? 

There is no yes / no answer to this. 

Yes, of course they have the "right" to be offended. However that doesn't mean the have to be offended!!

If you want the job all you can do is apply and see if you are offered it.

There really is nothing to be gained by speculating!

DullGreyGuy

Previous applicants need not apply isn't a lifetime ban... realistically I'd say in the last 6 months, 12 months at a push. At the end of the day you can only apply and see what they say. 

I'd say its fairly pointless to mention having previously applied for the role at all in the application, just opens you to the broad brushstroke being rejected for saying you are reapplying... most jobs get vastly more applicants than they can reasonably deal with and so filtering has to be done in a fairly crude way to make it manageable. Last job I directly advertised we had over 1,000 applicants before we closed the ad (early). If you take the average CV to be 4 pages I have no hope of reading 4,000 pages as well as doing my own job and having to do some of the job of the person I am recruiting for. 

CKhalvashi

I also would have just applied in this case.

We keep recruitment records for 6 months, 12 if requested to keep updated on any new roles.

TELLIT01

'Previous applicants need not apply' can mean that this is a readvertisement of a job and that they will revisit applications received to the original advert.  I would simply apply and see what happens.

TBagpuss

I'd apply.

They may not still have any record of your previous application but even if they do, you may well not be excluded. I would not see you as a previous applicant - you haven't applied for *this* job before ( you may have applied for a similar job 6 years ago)

I'd guess that they may be advertising so they don't want people who were rejected to apply again, and/or may be going to contact previous applicants direct if they are interested. 

It's possible that they have an attitude that if you've ever been rejected or ever turned don a job with them that you wouldn't be considered again, but it would be unusual

Wyndham

I think there are limits under GDPR for how long you can keep records for people who applied but you didn't employ. I'm not sure how long it is, but would be surprised if it was 6 years (I'd think somewhere around the 12 month mark would be right?)

You emailed and didn't get a reply. It could have got lost, or they are not sure how to reply and it's sitting with someone who hasn't got round to it yet. Don't read too much into it.

'Previous applicants need not apply' would say to me that it had been previously advertised, within the last few months. As others have said, it's not a lifetime ban!

Apply, don't mention that you applied 6 years ago, just treat it like a new application. Good luck!