Not even a reply?

Chessala

Hello all, I am wondering if it is normal that companies don't reply to an application that has been made? I moved to Ireland in July 2010 and have applied to so many companies I can't even count them anymore. Thing is, only 2 of them even bothered to give a reply (one was a no-go, the other an interview and afterwards the "we are sorry to inform you..." letter). I find it irritating that people don't even take the time to say that you are not being considered. While I don't wait for a reply from a company to apply somewhere else, it is really frustrating to wait for replies that never come. I'd be more happy to receive a "no" than just being left with my hopes.

In regards to that, I hope I'll find something soon as things are getting frustrating.

Chess

DeadMoney

Chessala wrote: »

Hello all, I am wondering if it is normal that companies don't reply to an application that has been made? I moved to Ireland in July 2010 and have applied to so many companies I can't even count them anymore. Thing is, only 2 of them even bothered to give a reply (one was a no-go, the other an interview and afterwards the "we are sorry to inform you..." letter). I find it irritating that people don't even take the time to say that you are not being considered. While I don't wait for a reply from a company to apply somewhere else, it is really frustrating to wait for replies that never come. I'd be more happy to receive a "no" than just being left with my hopes. In regards to that, I hope I'll find something soon as things are getting frustrating. Chess

Unfortunately yes this is the case. Whats worse I find is when they reply initially telling you they will let you know either way, and then you hear nothing. In my own experience if you don't hear anything withing a day or two, then don't spend much time thinking about it. On to the next.

donkey balls

Of all the jobs that I have applied for over the last two years I have managed to get three PFO two by e-mail the other by leter,Imo it does not take long to send a simple mail back to the applicant wether there sucessfull or not.
Actually some companies that I applied to over a year ago got back to me recently to set up interveiws and tests needless to say I got the job but the $$$$$ was pure crap for the responsibilty and nature of the work,That I'm better off still doing agency work with the hope of getting into the sector that is a closed shop.

DamoNolan

This is the case because there is so many applications nowdays for any position that on the job add it normally says only sucessful persons will here anything.Its quite annoying but you cant really do anything about it..

Chessala

I understand that the flood of applicants must be difficult to handle but I don't think it would be too much hassle to set up a standard response mail and tick the people that receive them? I think most applications are handed in via email or other electronic means...it's not like they still have to post a letter to anyone. Imo it is kind of disrespectful for the applicant too....

Oh also, does anyone have experience with Call Center work? I am currently applying to firms that are looking for German Customer Support...figuring that will be my best shot as I studied English and have customer care experience....

tenchi-fan

I agree it's disrespectful when a company doesn't bother to send a rejection letter, or even an acknowledgement letter when they receive your application.

As they receive cvs all they have to do is capture the email address in an excel spreadsheet and then either mailmerge or bcc the entire list of people who were unsuccessful.

The best thing you can do is simply not use the services of anyone who didn't bother to send a rejection letter.. mobile phone companies, printer manufacturers, banks, corner shops, etc.

Denerick

tenchi-fan wrote: »

I agree it's disrespectful when a company doesn't bother to send a rejection letter, or even an acknowledgement letter when they receive your application.

As they receive cvs all they have to do is capture the email address in an excel spreadsheet and then either mailmerge or bcc the entire list of people who were unsuccessful.

The best thing you can do is simply not use the services of anyone who didn't bother to send a rejection letter.. mobile phone companies, printer manufacturers, banks, corner shops, etc.

I detect a hint of sarcasm...

tenchi-fan

Denerick wrote: »

I detect a hint of sarcasm...

wrong. There's no sarcasm.

Fair enough, you can't stop using every product and service. But if I had a bad experience with a company at recruitment stage i'd think twice about using their products.

Denerick

If I were to follow your advice (Boycott every organisation that didn't even bother to send me a PFO) I would literally never leave the house. Even that would be problematic as I'm still waiting to hear back from a local timber frame housing company (Who built the house I live in) I sent a CV to five years ago.

Mrs OBumble

tenchi-fan wrote: »

Fair enough, you can't stop using every product and service. But if I had a bad experience with a company at recruitment stage i'd think twice about using their products.

I took the post as serious.

I had a particularly bad experience with a certain well-known three star hotel chain, who didn't bother to get back to unsuccessful people who they'd interviewed (about 5 of us, I believe).

I expect that the economy will get better and I will be richer again - and I won't be be staying with them ever!

CoolGirl101

Applied for I'd say over one hundred jobs at this stage (no exaggeration) and of all of them, about one reply...maybe two, if I'm lucky.
It's disgraceful.

Mr. Loverman

To all the people who aren't even getting a PFO... are you tailoring your cover letter and CV for every job you apply for, or are you just sending everyone the same standard copy&paste application?

Chessala

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

To all the people who aren't even getting a PFO... are you tailoring your cover letter and CV for every job you apply for, or are you just sending everyone the same standard copy&paste application?

Whenever I apply to a job I take the time to tailor my CV and especially the cover letter. Especially because of that it is frustrating to not get any kind of reply. I sometimes take hours to tailor my CV and the company doesn't even bother to take a few seconds to send me a "no thank you" mail back.... I don't expects long letters...a simple "We are not interested" is enough...

Irish_Elect_Eng

While some companies behavior towards applicants is indefensible, you must remember while your application may be very important to you it is less important to the company to whom you are applying.

1. Don't expect any response if the company is not actively advertising a position. (Why should the company waste HR resources on unsolicited CVs)
   
2. Don't expect any response if you do not meet all the criteria posted in the job description. (If you cannot read the add or you are chancing your arm then you cannot waste HR resources on replying)
   
3. Don't expect a response if you have not bothered to put a cover letter with your CV. (You cannot expect the company to care more about your application than you do)
   
4. Don't expect a response if your CV is very poor. (In particular if your contact details incorrect or are not up to date, it happe

ns)

To Maximize your chances of having your CV actually being read by the hiring manager rather than being binned by the HR Dept:

1. Review your CV for each position or type of position, place focus on the key skills that you have that are mentioned in the job specification.
   
2. Write a covering letter addressed to a person not a position, simply ringing the company and asking the name of the HR manager or HR professional handling the position and addressing your communication to them.
   
3. Apply directly to the company rather than through an agency as then their hiring costs are lower.
   
4. Follow up your application with a phone call to get confirmation that they have received your application, confirm that they have all the info then need for a complete application and find out the timescale that they will be interviewing offering the job etc. (This can be 1 week to 6 months)
   
5. Follow up with a call based on the time frame given at your last call, offer to bring in any more info that they might need and inquire if they are ready to begin interviewing, let them know that you really want to work for them.
   
6. If you get an interview great. If possible get the contact details of the interviewer(s)
   
7. Follow up a day or two after the interview thanking them for their time and asking them if you can help, perhaps by providing references, of following up on something discussed at the interview, etc.

Good Luck.w

twowheelsonly

I employ people on a part-time casual basis in an event based business that I am a Partner in.

Whenever we do advertise (Rarely nowadays) we get HUNDREDS of replies - so much so that we do not have the capacity to reply to all of them. Replies can still be coming in two to three months after we advertise and we also get unsolicited applications every single day. We're a small Company and simply do not have the time or the resources to reply to all of them unfortunately. Quite often we don't even get around to reading all of them. If we're looking for 10 or 20 staff for instance I will normally check maybe 80 of them or the first 2/3 days worth and find what I'm looking for from that. It's unfortunate but that's the way it is.

Speaking to others in the same line of business I know that they are all in the same boat.

The ones that really annoy me are the unsolicited ones from people that would die for my Company, telling me how invaluable they would be to me and have loads of experience, education and public service skills to die for. Then they don't even bother to BCC it so I can see a list of 30 other companies that just got the same mail.
I genuinely feel for the OP and others in the same boat and would love to be able to reply to everybody but it's just not possible.

To increase your chances of a reply make your email stand out - Put your basic details on the covering mail in a short, sweet, easy to read message and don't make me have to go looking for them in an attachment/cv. I can check the finer details later if I need to but right now I just need to know for example that you're a male, 27, interested in sports and music, living in Dublin City and a small resumé of your work/education experience to date. NO EMBELLISMENTS!! such as "this job taught me how important it is to xyz......and gave me a good understanding of xyz...."
Secondly, get your reply in early. We date all of our ads and have a closing date but will still get 100 replies after that. I appreciate that some people might not see it in time but at least read it and check the publishing date !!

Incidentally, on a side note.... I once got an email (rant!!) from a guy that had sent in an unsolicited application a week before to tell me how unprofessional we were not to reply to his mail - basically ranted about companies ignoring what could be a chance to hire an exemplary employee etc.. and then offered me another chance to reply to his application!!! So I did..... A two letter reply..... No!! Never heard back from him strangely enough :-(

BTW, Best of luck to the OP and others in your search. All you can do is keep trying to get the foot in the door somewhere - my advice would be to take literally anything that's offered anywhere. There's always a chance of progression in any job. I've never turned down work of any description and I'd like to think that it stood to me over the years, and I left school in 1981 at the start of the last major recession but was never a day out of work since.

Sorry for rambling!!!

hatful

I applied for a position last year and got an email back saying that they would be in touch shortly to let me know if I was called for interview or not.

Two months later I found out the position had been filled when I met an acquaintance in the pub. I still contacted them to force them to reply, manners cost nothing!

Dudess

I appreciate companies must be absolutely snowed under with CVs at the moment, but yeah, a generic email would be more professional, especially if a person has done an interview. Whatever about a company letting an applicant know their CV is not being shortlisted - I can understand smaller companies not doing this (although ideally they should). An acknowledgement email when you apply with a "If you do not hear from us within x number of days/weeks" caveat is handy for covering all bases.
Something I experienced during these times was a company actually changing the closing date for applications to an earlier date. The role was advertised two weeks before the closing date - I endeavoured to send my application a week before the closing date (maybe I should have been on the ball as soon as it was advertised but I was still within plenty of time and had wanted to do a good bit of CV prep) only to discover the job had been removed from the website, and not a word re it on the page. I know I'm just a number - no doubt it was because they couldn't handle the volume of applications, but it's still sh1tty form.
I certainly don't think a company should be expected to respond to speculative applications though.

Some good tips here though from twowheelsonly and Irish_Elect_Eng.

OP, there are tons of bilingual customer service jobs. Call centres are very controlled, structured environments - money is not good and the hours can be anti-social. They're not for everyone, but a job's a job and there are far worse places to work in. It depends on the organisation too - a multinational might pay a bit better.

Mrs OBumble

twowheelsonly wrote: »

I employ people on a part-time casual basis in an event based business that I am a Partner in.

....
To increase your chances of a reply make your email stand out - Put your basic details on the covering mail in a short, sweet, easy to read message and don't make me have to go looking for them in an attachment/cv. I can check the finer details later if I need to but right now I just need to know for example that you're a male, 27, interested in sports and music, living in Dublin City and a small resumé of your work/education experience to date.

I though this was an excellent post ... until I spotted the bold part!

twowheelsonly, can you give any explanation for needing to know someone age and gender???


Grrr ...

Chessala

Thank you all for the replies. I kind of cheered me up to know that it's not just my fault that I didn't get a reply.

While I really feel for small firms and understand that it can be difficult, I really think that setting up a standard e-mail is not too much work. All it would take you is to check a few boxes and send it to everyone. Or as was mentioned, set up an auto-response that informs the applicant that if you don't reply within a certain time frame, the application was not successful. Sitting at home and waiting for replies can be extremely frustrating.

@hatful: I find that behavior even worse. They told you they would be in touch, which was obviously a lie.

@Dudess: My main problem is that I do not have much experience apart from 2 years in retail in Germany (part-time work during University). I was hoping to find something else than a call center job but as you said, job is job and 20-25k is fine for me at the beginning. I moved to Ireland with my car for a reason and since my lease runs out in August I could relocate close to the job then too. I am fortunately very stress resistant and organised in my work...applied to a number of CS jobs yesterday and hope to get some kind of reply.

Dudess

JustMary wrote: »

I though this was an excellent post ... until I spotted the bold part!

twowheelsonly, can you give any explanation for needing to know someone age and gender???


Grrr ...

Yeah, I thought employers were actually NOT supposed to ask these things.

Chessala wrote: »

Sitting at home and waiting for replies can be extremely frustrating.

Don't ever sit around waiting - keep soldiering on with the applications, and when you're sick of doing that, go out for a walk or something. Sitting waiting is the easier option, but with the more difficult outcome.

@Dudess: My main problem is that I do not have much experience apart from 2 years in retail in Germany (part-time work during University). I was hoping to find something else than a call center job but as you said, job is job and 20-25k is fine for me at the beginning. I moved to Ireland with my car for a reason and since my lease runs out in August I could relocate close to the job then too. I am fortunately very stress resistant and organised in my work...applied to a number of CS jobs yesterday and hope to get some kind of reply.

If you were to consider Cork, try Apple/Siemens.

Chessala

Dudess wrote: »

Don't ever sit around waiting - keep soldiering on with the applications, and when you're sick of doing that, go out for a walk or something. Sitting waiting is the easier option, but with the more difficult outcome.

Oh I don't sit and wait. I make trips through towns and see if I can get in somewhere and keep checking job pages for new possibilities.

Dudess wrote: »

If you were to consider Cork, try Apple/Siemens.

I currently live around 170km away from cork but I'd do that and try to relocate in August. I have applied to blizzard and adecco there so far...bit worried about Apple as I don't use their products and haven't worked in a call center before but I will still try today I think. I know all the jobs are from friday but heck, I take what I can get.

Oh and I have one question. In Germany it's common to put a picture on your CV, just wondering if that is standard here too as I read somewhere that it's better to not put it? I still do it as I think a nice picture can enhance your chances but just wondering....

Dudess

No, it's not advisable to do so. Best of luck with it anyway. Actually if you've retail experience, what about Lidl/Aldi?

Chessala

Dudess wrote: »

No, it's not advisable to do so. Best of luck with it anyway. Actually if you've retail experience, what about Lidl/Aldi?

I tried that but they only had manager positions, so I got an immediate no basically. None of the ones I went to were recruiting either.

Why is it that a picture is not advisable? Just out of curiosity

tenchi-fan

Chessala wrote: »

Why is it that a picture is not advisable? Just out of curiosity

It's not considered professional & it might appear you are trying to use your looks to get a job.

A better option is to include the url of your linked-in profile, and put your photo on linked in.

For certain jobs (sales, design, etc) it might be permissible to include a photo. I have no idea.

IIRC when I was 17 or so I applied for a supermarket job that asked for a passport photo (possibly tesco). It makes sense as it's a customer-facing role, but they probably don't do it any more.

Chessala

tenchi-fan wrote: »

It's not considered professional & it might appear you are trying to use your looks to get a job.

A better option is to include the url of your linked-in profile, and put your photo on linked in.

For certain jobs (sales, design, etc) it might be permissible to include a photo. I have no idea.

IIRC when I was 17 or so I applied for a supermarket job that asked for a passport photo (possibly tesco). It makes sense as it's a customer-facing role, but they probably don't do it any more.

Hmm I see, I never thought about it that way. In Germany it is in a way mandatory to have a picture included in your application. At least it used to be....not having one was almost certainly a no.

Will remove the picture from my CV, thanks a lot for the info!

Irish_Elect_Eng

A lot of companies do not ask for a picture because it can be seen as a way of discriminating based on:

• Age
• Sex
• Race

All of which can "obviously be determined from a photo.

BTW: it is not illegal to discriminate based on "good looks" :-)

DeadMoney

twowheelsonly wrote: »

I just need to know for example that you're a male, 27

I don't think you mean this in a discriminatory way and that you are just using it as an example to describe an applicants profile. I always inculde my gender and age in cover letter emails. I don't think too much about it.

twowheelsonly

JustMary wrote: »

I though this was an excellent post ... until I spotted the bold part!

twowheelsonly, can you give any explanation for needing to know someone age and gender???


Grrr ...

Dudess wrote: »

Yeah, I thought employers were actually NOT supposed to ask these things.

You're both right, but if anybody says they don't consider them then they're liars!!!

We actually employ both genders from 17 to our currently oldest around 52(ish) - She'll kill me for saying that!!

However, our work covers a number of different tasks, some more suited to a big strapping lad of 22, others to a more genteel lady of 35 and many more in between. Obviously we can't say that in an ad and our ads tend to be fairly generic (You work for us you can end up doing just about any of our tasks!!). Quite often, even though we're looking for the genteel lady we'll come across a strapping lad that will appeal to us as well and vice versa.
If I'm being fairly specific in the people that I am actually looking for in my own mind then there's no point in telling me that you're 'A person of indisciminate age'. How do I then know that you're not a 55 year old, 4'11" woman ?? If I have to wait for an interview to discover that then I've wasted both of our times if the job involves carrying a 15-20kg bag around for up to 4 hours. Unfortunately I've seen it countless times where people say that they can do X job but turn out to be incapable. Nobody turns up to an interview and says "I don't think that I could do that" so I just have to go on my own past experience.

IMO If companies were allowed a little scope to discriminate (slightly) in their ads then people wouldn't be wasting so much time sending out CVs and applications to jobs that they were never going to get. e.g - "We need a big strong young fella to lift steel plates out of a machine" instead of "General Operatives required" will eliminate 70% of the replies and increase your chance of getting a reply/interview.

hatful

twowheelsonly you may have done something like this already, if not why don't you put a notice in the jobs section on your website-

'Thank your for your interest in working at the XMedia group. Unfortunately due to the high volume of applications we receive we are unable to contact all candidates individually. If your application is successful, we will contact you to provide further details.'

ongarboy

Some companies or recruitment agencies will advise upfront that only shortlisted or successful candidates will be responded to so at least that set's an expectation so not hearing back should not be taken with offence.

While it would be nice to receive a response for all jobs you applied to, a lack of one isn't meant as a personal insult to you or your capability. As someone else posted, the sheer volumes of both solicited and unsolicited applications means a company cannot accommodate the workload of responding. When Burger King or KFC adverstised for 50 or so jobs in their new restaurants in Galway, they got 1000s of applications. You could hardly expect the manager or assistant manager at those restaurants to respond to every single one of the 1000s of applicants while also trying to run a restaurant?

Boycotting every company that doesn't respond to you in a recession is an extreme reaction and is doing yourself no favours. If you applied for a job in every supermarket in a town and no-one responded, where would you shop?

IrishJobs.ie

Sorry to hear about the poor response OP. It's a complaint we hear a lot from job seekers. That's why we have redesigned the recruiter section of IrishJobs.ie to help companies manage the large numbers of applications they receive and get back to everyone easily.

We'll keep talking to our clients and try to impress on them how important it is to respond to every application. We know how disheartening it is to apply and hear nothing bacl. Best of luck with your job hunt OP. Hope you get good news soon.

The IrishJobs.ie Team

verywell

I got a phone call last week for an interview. I was delighted - first one in ages.

The girl on the phone asked could I come at 12.55pm but as I work till 1, I could not get out of it. So she asked me when would suit and I said anytime after that. She told me that she would speak with the interviewer and call me back.

Nope no phone call and no number to call them (private number). That to me is the height of rudeness. I was so annoyed at her.

I think she was a bit ditzy as she had rang me a minute previous to say 'sorry am after hitting redial' and I was thinking 'eh no you didn't, never spoke to you before'. One min later same private number, can I speak to xx pls?'

Silly girl. Prob have a black mark against my name now with that company. :mad:

murphthesmurf

Glad i'm not the only one having this problem, I was beggining to feel paranoid that no one wanted to reply to the 'Blighty'
I've applied for a few jobs that i'd thought i'd have a very very good chance with, only to get nothing, no email reply, no phone call, no interview, absolutely nothing. The experience and qualifications I have suited almost perfect for what they were looking for,but, nothing :mad:

reeta

murphthesmurf wrote: »

Glad i'm not the only one having this problem, I was beggining to feel paranoid that no one wanted to reply to the 'Blighty'
I've applied for a few jobs that i'd thought i'd have a very very good chance with, only to get nothing, no email reply, no phone call, no interview, absolutely nothing. The experience and qualifications I have suited almost perfect for what they were looking for,but, nothing :mad:

In the last year I had two interviews with PC World,(change of managers) and on both occassions, heard absolutely nothing back after interview. I rang one to ask if I was successful and he said he would ring me back, NOTHING... Now that is appalling, but typical of PC World....

tweedledee

Some companies are advertising for staff they dont actually need.Its true,CV's are being kept on file for a rainy day.

Chessala

Thanks for all the replies. I've been having some success the last days as I send out some CVs (admittedly to recruitment agencies) and got a call back within 30 minutes, another one the next day.

It's a small hope but I am hanging on to it, at least the girls keep me up to date.

@Irishjobs.ie: I think it's great what you're doing.

Also, a warning that says "if you do not hear back your application has not been successful" is enough for me already. Unfortunately most of the time you don't even see that...