Ever wonder what went on behind the scenes when you receive a job rejection? Or whether a human even looked at your resume before you got rejected? Or why employers sometimes send cringe-worthy rejection emails? Here are answers to these and more questions about job rejections.
1. “Is this a form letter?” Yes, probably. When an employer needs to communicate the same information to hundreds of people, a form letter is the most efficient way to do it. And even if you were one of only a few finalists for the job, there are only so many ways to say “We enjoyed talking with you, but we decided to go with someone else.” Assume that job rejections will always come via form letter, and let it be a pleasant surprise if you ever receive one that’s more personalized.
[See: 8 Important Questions to Ask a Job Interviewer — And Yourself.]
2. “I keep getting rejection letters that praise my qualifications.” You may be wondering, if you’re so great, why you keep getting rejected. See above; it’s almost certainly a form letter. Most employers include some vague praise in rejection form letters, in an attempt to be kind. It might be a misguided attempt, but people also complain if rejections are too blunt or utilitarian. It’s hard, if not impossible, to write a rejection letter that will please everyone.
3. “I took the time to meet with them and they rejected me with a three-sentence email. Shouldn’t they at least call me to tell me they’re hiring someone else?” The problem with doing rejections by phone is that it can put candidates on the spot; just seconds after getting the news, they have to respond professionally and graciously to rejection while they might be feeling deeply upset. It can also create false hope, especially if the employer and candidate end up playing phone tag before they can connect. And many employers have learned that some candidates will argue the decision when it’s not up for debate.
4. “I received a rejection the same day I applied. Did anyone even read my resume?” If you applied using an online application system (as opposed to simply emailing your resume and cover letter), it’s possible that you didn’t have a particular qualification that the system is programmed to screen for, or that there’s some other reason for the quick rejection, like that you’re marked ineligible because you applied previously. But it’s also possible that a human did review your materials; resume screening tends to be a very quick process, and human screens will usually know in a minute or two if they’re going to reject you. That might sound like you’re not getting much consideration, but people who look at hundreds of resumes get pretty fast at processing them accurately.
[See: 25 Best Business Jobs for 2017.]
5. “I was rejected but they encouraged me to apply for other openings. Do they really mean it?” They might! Sometimes that’s part of a form letter and the employer is saying it to everyone, but sometimes it’s a personalized request to you. There’s no harm in taking them at their word and trying again.
6. “They said they’d keep my resume on file. Does that mean they’ll contact me if another job opens up that I might be a fit for?” Maybe, but don’t count on it. This is often language the company includes in form letter rejections as a matter of course, and it doesn’t necessarily mean anything. It could mean they think you’re great and they plan to actively keep you in mind for future openings, but it’s just as likely to be fluff. Either way, your best bet is to proactively apply if you see another opening there that interests you.
7. “I was really qualified for the job but got rejected anyway. Can I ask them to reconsider?” No. It will come across as thinking that you know better than they do about what qualifications they’re looking for. It’s possible that your qualifications aren’t as strong as you think they are — or maybe they are, but other candidates were stronger, since employers often get dozens or even hundreds of highly qualified applicants for a single position. Even if you think the employer made the wrong call, challenging it will make you look a little naive and out of touch.
[See: 7 Ways to Crush a Phone Interview.]
8. “I was rejected for a job a few months ago but I see they haven’t filled it yet. Can I reapply?” If it’s only been a few months, probably not. They’ve considered your application and rendered a decision on it and they’re not likely to reverse that now with a job offer.
9. “Why don’t employers tell you the real reason they’re rejecting you?” Often it’s simply because they don’t have time. Providing thoughtful feedback takes time and energy, and employers usually have hundreds, if not thousands, of applicants to get back to. Plus, the reason for the rejection may be hard to convey diplomatically, and few hiring managers want to take on the awkwardness of explaining, for example, that you didn’t seem sharp enough. And some employers even have companywide policies not to give feedback to rejected candidates, out of concern it could cause legal problems if it’s misinterpreted.
10. “So is it ever worth asking for feedback?” Yes, it’s still worth asking! While many hiring managers won’t give you useful feedback, some will — and you don’t know who will until you ask. That said, you have the best chances of feedback from hiring managers who interviewed you and might feel some rapport with you. You’re less likely to get useful feedback from jobs where you didn’t make it past the screening stage.
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Everything You Want to Know About Job Rejections originally appeared on usnews.com
