Opinions please! (HR Related)

Nix

Nix

Nix

Soldato
Joined
26 Dec 2005
Posts
19,841
Okay, I received an automated email this morning informing me that I've been unsuccessful in being invited to an assessment day/interview. This has genuinely baffled me as I had all the experience necessary and answered all questions well (had second opinions from friends too). Indeed, the confusion is also because I was accepted and invited to attend another assessment day with the same company albeit for a slightly different role.

However, the position I was unsuccessful in, is a position I really want (much more than the other position) and know I can do very well. Not being invited to the interview (I really don't know where I went wrong on the application) just feels like I've been told no before I even got a chance to prove myself. I now - as I see it - have two options as I'm simply not prepared to roll over on this yet and intend to keep pushing:

1. I can resubmit another 'improved' application under a different e-mail address and hope I get accepted this time, and sneak in under the radar (although I'm worried I'd be flagged and told to sod off if I did this).

2. I can politely e-mail the HR department, explain the situation, ask for some feedback on the application and maybe try and squeeze an interview out of them.

What do people think is the best course of action here?

Anyone who works in HR is more than welcome to give advice!
 
Ask why you were rejected. Dont need to explain your situation or anything like that or write a big email about how you think you should have been accepted.

Just ask for their reasons and then either:
1- Improve your application for the next job that comes along
2- If you've been rejected by mistake (which you seem to imply?) then maybe they will reconsider.

(i dont work in HR or anything - this is just what i would do)
 
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Second option, if you get caught doing the second it's game over - also it's not hard to for someone to think they've seen the same name, address, etc before and double check.

Just ask politely why you were rejected, and that you thought you were a good candidate with the right experience. Also mention that you really like the job etc and they may give you a 2nd chance.
 
Maybe they just had a host of apps from people who could offer more, and you genuinely didn't meet the criteria.

With so many people being out of work, each position has about a billion people applying. In normal circumstances you'd probably get a shot, but if the field was ridiculously strong, then take it on the chin.

I'd still ask for feedback though, and try to get an interview. Nothing ventured etc.
 
fus said:
Maybe they just had a host of apps from people who could offer more, and you genuinely didn't meet the criteria.

With so many people being out of work, each position has about a billion people applying. In normal circumstances you'd probably get a shot, but if the field was ridiculously strong, then take it on the chin.

I'd still ask for feedback though, and try to get an interview. Nothing ventured etc.
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It's a real possibility fus, and I've definitely considered that as a reason. However, I'm just finding it a little hard to understand why I wasn't at least given a chance to meet them before being turned away. To me, that suggests I mucked up on the application itself.
 
Nix said:
It's a real possibility fus, and I've definitely considered that as a reason. However, I'm just finding it a little hard to understand why I wasn't at least given a chance to meet them before being turned away. To me, that suggests I mucked up on the application itself.
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Not necessarily. Today I was shortlisting for a position - 2 years ago we couldn't get a single applicant, this year over a hundred. Ranging from 6 months experience from Asda to First Class from Cambridge with 3 years direct experience. (The job is to work with children)

Clearly, even though some candidates would have had a chance 2 years ago, they wouldn't this year even if they would be awesome at the job.

That being said, if someone phoned up and asked why they didn't get an interview, I'd likely look over their CV again just to make sure.
 
Nix said:
It's a real possibility fus, and I've definitely considered that as a reason. However, I'm just finding it a little hard to understand why I wasn't at least given a chance to meet them before being turned away. To me, that suggests I mucked up on the application itself.
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Why not put the job spec on here and your qualifications and expeirience.

I am sure you will get some honest opinions. :)
 
Have you considered that they will consider you for both positions after the assessment day but for admin purposes they have 'cancelled' that application so you aren't booked twice for assessments? Especially as it's an automated email I wonder if HR have a system like that.

By all means give them a call, no harm in doing so - explain that you applied for two roles and you wanted to make sure that the assessment is for that specific job in order to prepare properly :)
 
fus, do you have MSN or an e-mail I can reach you on? I'd much rather discuss this off board if at all possible.
 
I wouldn't email them, I'd call them. A persistent yet polite candidate is no bad thing from a recruiters point of view and although it's only happened once to me, I've reconsidered a candidate for a position before (I'd skimmed his application initially and hadn't read it properly).

Try and get hold of the person who you'd be working for. It can make a big difference.
 
Rich_L said:
Have you considered that they will consider you for both positions after the assessment day but for admin purposes they have 'cancelled' that application so you aren't booked twice for assessments? Especially as it's an automated email I wonder if HR have a system like that.

By all means give them a call, no harm in doing so - explain that you applied for two roles and you wanted to make sure that the assessment is for that specific job in order to prepare properly :)
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The first application doesn't conflict with the latter. The company actually encourage multiple applications. It just seems weird to me that I was accepted for one but not the other.

[FnG]magnolia;17623750 said:
I wouldn't email them, I'd call them. A persistent yet polite candidate is no bad thing from a recruiters point of view and although it's only happened once to me, I've reconsidered a candidate for a position before (I'd skimmed his application initially and hadn't read it properly).

Try and get hold of the person who you'd be working for. It can make a big difference.
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I'm currently already in dialog via e-mail with the head of HR over something else (nothing to do with the new application). Would it not make sense to ask her directly via e-mail?
 
Nix said:
fus, do you have MSN or an e-mail I can reach you on? I'd much rather discuss this off board if at all possible.
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In trust buddy.

(In before

-I'm not your friend, buddy
-I'm not your buddy, pal
-I'm not your pal, guy
-I'm not your guy, friend
-I'm not your friend, pal
-I'm not your pal, buddy )
 
Nix said:
The first application doesn't conflict with the latter. The company actually encourage multiple applications. It just seems weird to me that I was accepted for one but not the other.
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Not that weird, perhaps there are different hiring managers if you're looking at two completely separate positions. One of them liked your CV one of them perhaps didn't.

I doubt you'll get any feedback if you've not even had an interview with them - if you're qualified for the role then its likely to be some completely subjective factor or they've had a whole bunch of candidates that have better qualifications than you.
 
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