Job application question

manhattan

Hi,
I have a question regarding a job i recently applied for.

In the job description i matched all the relevant details that they were looking for but received an email today stating.


"We have reviewed your application regarding the above vacancy in our
company and thank you for expressing an interest in working for **********. Unfortunately we are unable to take your application
forward at this stage."


Now the question is is it acceptable to ask them the reasons why i was not put forward?

Also, can a previous employer state on a reference the reasons why i left their company? As i have applied for lots of interviews and not getting anywhere at all. The only thing i can think of is that my previous company are not giving a very positive reference due to me leaving because of ill health. :undecided

dmg24

It is acceptable to ask for feedback, however the potential employer does not have to give it. If you do get feedback, it may be quite vague, as they will not want to enter into discussion about the reasons, and they do not want to open themselves up to any possible legal claim.

A previous employer can state reasons for leaving, as long as they are accurate.

Oldernotwiser

manhattan wrote: »

Hi,
I have a question regarding a job i recently applied for.

In the job description i matched all the relevant details that they were looking for but received an email today stating.


"We have reviewed your application regarding the above vacancy in our
company and thank you for expressing an interest in working for **********. Unfortunately we are unable to take your application
forward at this stage."


Now the question is is it acceptable to ask them the reasons why i was not put forward?

Also, can a previous employer state on a reference the reasons why i left their company? As i have applied for lots of interviews and not getting anywhere at all. The only thing i can think of is that my previous company are not giving a very positive reference due to me leaving because of ill health. :undecided

I would get your applications (I hope you've kept copies) looked over by an independent adviser, such as somebody from Nextstep. Sometimes it needs an outsider to look at things and tell you where you're going wrong and how you could improve things. Have you checked with your ex employer as to whether they have been asked to provide references for any applications?

honeypop

Is it the kind of position where your references would be checked at the application stage?

I would think most jobs would have the references checked at the offer stage later on, so your former employer might not have even been asked to give a reference yet, so it's not likely they are causing a problem.

You can ask for feedback on an application but as someone else said, it is likely to be vague, along the lines of "we received applications from people more suited to the role/with more relevant experience" etc... and won't tell you much about if there was anything wrong with your application.

amandada

Depending on the response to the job, it may be that you've just been unlucky in an initial "sift" of the applications and there is not deep meaning to you being unsuccessful. It's not nice, but it does happen.

To be honest, at this stage, I'd be wary of asking for feedback when you've not even got to interview stage, as it could jeapordise any future application you may make to that employer.

Oldernotwiser's post is spot on-independant eyes can possibly spot something in your applications

Savvy_Sue

Agree with the above, plus from another post of yours you may be applying for jobs with fierce competition - part-time term-time only! Plus look at what we said there about showing how you meet ALL the requirements of the job description and person spec.

slick-chic85

Hi, Ive had the same problem, my previous employer keeps giving a bad reference due to leaving because of ill health & i was moving out of the city, the companys i apply to declines to take the application any further. Now Im not using them as a reference any more and Im finally getting somewhere.

manhattan

Thank you for your advice everyone.

I received a reply saying that the job had been filled before they received my application,apparently.

Savvy_Sue

Well, was there a closing date, and did you submit your application before it? Because for some jobs, that deadline is fixed - we tend to make it 1 pm on a particular day, and we'll be shortlisting that afternoon. If your application turns up at 1.30 pm, sorry, but you've missed the boat. If you're close to the deadline, never trust the post - hand deliver it!

Iamthesmartestmanalive

slick-chic85 wrote: »

Hi, Ive had the same problem, my previous employer keeps giving a bad reference due to leaving because of ill health & i was moving out of the city, the companys i apply to declines to take the application any further. Now Im not using them as a reference any more and Im finally getting somewhere.

No wonder you didnt get shortlisted much

If your giving a reference you know is bad you clearly arent endowned with the best of intelligence

mr_pickles_2

Surely the above post was not necessary....positive responses are helpful in this members position...negative just for the sake of it help no.one