The Most Honest, System-Generated Rejection Letter to Candidates Ever
March 18, 2011
Dear Stan:
We're dropping you this system-generated note because we wanted you to have closure. You didn't get the job you applied online for with our company. We could give you some standard line about your background being impressive, but that's obviously not true for the hundreds of applicants receiving this automatic note, so we won't.
Good luck with your job search, come back to check on other openings with us and remember - if the only thing you do is apply online hundreds of times, you're playing the lottery, not looking for a job.
The ACME Recruiting Team
Thanks KD, I just updated our ATS disposition/rejected templates with this! j/k - Lots of truth in that last line man.
Posted by: AC | March 18, 2011 at 10:23 AM
Well, there it is. Thanks for this letter.
Posted by: Maryanneglynn | March 18, 2011 at 11:41 AM
So sad, but true
Posted by: Bill Kutik | March 18, 2011 at 04:58 PM
Bravo
Posted by: Debbie Brown | March 19, 2011 at 09:10 AM
I keep trying to convince my friend who has been out of work for more than a year that just applying for job on job boards is why he's still looking. I've invited him to networking luncheons (even as my paid guest) and other events not marked as networking, suggested that he print up business cards so he has something to give people and tell everyone he knows that he's looking for a job. He's done the latter only via Facebook. He's on Linked In -- suggested that he change his summary to something about job seeking so people don't assume that he just hasn't changed his experience summary lately.
I suggest that he calls people he knows. Even if they don't have anything, they may know someone who does. He says that he doesn't want to bother people. It's not bothersome to most and it may help him get a job.
Oh, and he paid $8000 to a firm to teach him how to find jobs. Didn't do a thing for him.
I'm frustrated for him because he's so passive. Too many other Marketing people out there to compete online. Yes, he's in Marketing. *v-8 smack to the forehead*
Posted by: Beth | March 19, 2011 at 10:29 AM
If candidates actually received letters like this - they might be able to work on the reasons they were not chosen & eventually become better candidates. At least in a perfect recruiting world.
Posted by: Gina | March 21, 2011 at 09:24 AM
I love this letter, especially this part:
"We could give you some standard line about your background being impressive, but that's obviously not true for the hundreds of applicants receiving this automatic note, so we won't."
I think a lot of folks don't realize how problematic that throwaway line is can be.
http://www.transparencyrevolution.com/2011/03/youre-not-the-one-were-hiring/
Posted by: Phil Bowermaster | March 21, 2011 at 01:56 PM
what you want to do is what you want to do now!
Posted by: Religion Outlet Jeans | April 02, 2011 at 03:18 AM