Why Companies Don't Respond to Job Seekers

If pressed for a logistical reason, these companies will say don't use automatic e-mail because they don't want "tens of thousands" of rejection letters to applicants clogging their servers. Of course, they'll gladly take every bit of your personal information (information that they don't need until they actually want to hire you) and have it sitting in their database somewhere, just waiting --begging-- for somebody to take it and steal your identity.

The truth about it, though, is that every potential contact with anybody is just another way to get sued by someone. That's how these places think. All the hoops you have to jump through, and there are more and more hoops every year, are not designed for any convenience or consideration of the applicant. Companies form these policies with the fundamental approach of considering any applicant not as a person, but as a potential asset. If 500 people apply for a job, they're 500 units of human capital that haven't happened yet. It's about the same as choosing between 500 kinds of copiers to use at the office.

A lot of things like "Would you fit into the corporate culture here?" are questions that really only apply to the 1% to 5% of applicants who actually get the interview. The rest are eliminated so quickly based on arbitrary and obscure automated database parameters that they don't even have a chance for their cover letter or interviewing skills to get them the position.

The kind of place that considers you so little but a number at first, will never consider you worth sending a courtesy note to tell you that you aren't continuing in the running to get the job. But of course, you'd better send them thank you notes and follow-up notes at every step of the process... that's just best practice.

While I personally know how to walk the walk and talk the talk in job applications, my real feelings is that the whole ordeal is truly adversarial in nature. Their job --their purpose-- is to ignore and exclude you, not to acknowledge and include. Don't expect kindness of any sort. If you get it, that's nice, but primarily the people who craft these policies and do the hiring are thinking at their core "Will hiring this person get me a bonus/raise/promotion?" It's all about making that man or woman behind the desk feel like they're personally losing something if they don't hire you -- quite the daunting task compared to the old days when you could just walk into a store or mill or factory, demonstrate in five minutes that you were of able body and mind, and start work the next day.

SAG of SC 6:37AM June 22, 2010

I am soooooo gl;ad this was addressed. Times are so tough right now and with all the interviews folks are going through, not to mention the stress, anxiety, etc of it all, it is absolutley NOT too much to ask for a response one way or another. Typically htis is one of the questions I ask during the interview, "Will I be hearing back from someone regarding the filling of the position even if I am not selected?

And I've gotten the same song and dance, "Well, we just had soooo many applicants we can't possibly contact each and every one of them....." Well, to that I say the same thing Alison did.....if they're employment application receiving base is that enormous, they must use a database. And I in fact entered a polite discussion with an interviewer about this very thing. She quickly got downright nasty about it and I took the cobblestone path and I unfortunately painted her into a corner until she admitted that she didn't think it was really necessary since she chose one person out of 200 and it would've taken too much of her time. To which I responded, "Well, letting candidates know that they are out of consideration will free them up for being considered for other opportunities. Yours is not the only company hiring. And email is free. A simple form-letter email to all rejected applicants would only be the considerate thing to do. Afterall they each took the time to come to meet with you. Think of how you'd like to be treated if you were the one searching for a job and then treat your applicants the same way."

I sure hope this responding after an interview thing turns around.

Lisa of CA 4:50PM June 21, 2010

if you have an applicant no where near the requirements, that is one thing. but the people who are qualified do not hear back either. internal politics, etc. why do not all hiring people and etc just move to india or china and get out of out hair? seriously, if that's what this is about then say this and move along. quit all this stupid advertising on American job sites that you do not have any intention of hiring in the U.S.A. at all?? We, the American job seeker, are not fooled. it is an insult. You should cut these hr people who, in a pathetic manner, try to make things appear as something that it is not.

In summation: do not advertise in the United States if you do not want to hire here. Quit f---ing with us. please

jason lockhrt of WI 3:56AM December 23, 2009

Lest we forget about all the crazy people who apply to jobs they're completely unqualified for. If you don't meet the qualifications, that I've spent the time to outline and paid money to post, I refuse to further waste my time to tell an applicant that they didn't read the job post, or that the job does not allow for telecommuting, or that their request for a six figure salary as an admin is insane. If I have personal contact with a candidate (phone screen, interview, etc) I'll always follow up. Why? Well, those are generally the candidates who met the minimum requirements.

But on the occasional instances that I have contacted applicants to tell them that they are not a match for our current needs, they tend to write back asking for specifics (How can I not be!!). Do you really want to hear that you mispelled my company's name in your cover letter, or perhaps, forgot to follow the application instructions? I simply don't have time for that kind of ignorance. Perhaps that makes me a "meanie," but if you weren't contacted at all, it's generally because you didn't meet the minimums. Perhaps you forgot a cover letter, maybe it's because you made no mention of the position you were applying for...who knows, the list is endless. But to expect a company to respond to thousands of applicants (90% of whom are not qualified) is ridiculous.

Frustrated recruiter. of NY 4:35PM November 11, 2008