Dear Urban Diplomat: Am I entitled to an email telling me that I didn’t get the job?
Dear Urban Diplomat,
As part of a recent job application, I had to go through three interviews, submit a 1,000-word proposal and take a half-day, in-office test. After waiting weeks without word, I found out through an acquaintance that the job went to someone else. I was furious. Am I not entitled to an email at the very least? I’m tempted to phone and ask what happened—and dole out a lesson in manners while I’m at it. Should I?
—Overworked and unemployed,
MISSISSAUGA
The potential employer demonstrated abysmal HR etiquette by not calling you back, but—for the sake of your career—do not call to complain. You’ll only get placating promises about keeping your application on file, which really means you’ve been placed on the no-fly list for eternity. And, if your name ever comes up among the employer’s job-giving industry friends, you’ll be known as the whiny unemployed avenger. Try to think of that 1,000-word proposal as good practice, keep at the job hunt and exact your revenge by landing a killer gig. Who knows, maybe the roles will be reversed one day, and after putting the candidate through the wringer, you can call to offer your most heartfelt rejection.
Send your questions to the Urban Diplomat at urbandiplomat@torontolife.com
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Dear Urban Diplomat,
As part of a recent job application, I had to go through three interviews, submit a 1,000-word proposal and take a half-day, in-office test. After waiting weeks without word, I found out through an acquaintance that the job went to someone else. I was furious. Am I not entitled to an email at the very least? I’m tempted to phone and ask what happened—and dole out a lesson in manners while I’m at it. Should I?
—Overworked and unemployed,
MISSISSAUGA
The potential employer demonstrated abysmal HR etiquette by not calling you back, but—for the sake of your career—do not call to complain. You’ll only get placating promises about keeping your application on file, which really means you’ve been placed on the no-fly list for eternity. And, if your name ever comes up among the employer’s job-giving industry friends, you’ll be known as the whiny unemployed avenger. Try to think of that 1,000-word proposal as good practice, keep at the job hunt and exact your revenge by landing a killer gig. Who knows, maybe the roles will be reversed one day, and after putting the candidate through the wringer, you can call to offer your most heartfelt rejection.
Send your questions to the Urban Diplomat at urbandiplomat@torontolife.com){kind=link}
Ugh this makes me sick! 2 years ago (in the depths of the recession) I was invited to interview for a position, I went through 6 people including the president of the US office. Everyone loved me.
Then I was invited to spend the day on the job, then I had a lovely breakfast with the team….and then I never heard from them again, until I called about 3 months later at a last ditch effort, in case the HR person was let go or this hiring was put on hold…. they decided that they were going to hire from within…. no phone call or email letting me know….what are you gonna do, I eventually found a great job. But these people owe me about 20 hours and $100 worh of gas for my efforts. dicks.
I just want to say don’t get discouraged. I have been through the same routine several times. The jobs that I thought was well qualified for, did great interviews but never got them. I also had an interview at one of the financial institution 3 years back to which I never got a reply back or a return call on my message I left on the voice mail (so much for the technology employed by companies). But I did land a job and that too within 3 days after having two interviews. I am happy with the position and the manager and the supervisor consider me a valuable employee. Hope this will keep your spirit up.