Someone applied for a position and a week later, (when no response is given), followed-up with a call.

Someone applied for a position and a week later, (when no response is given), followed-up with a call. The company replied that they were in the process of evaluating the application. A week later, this person called again,, annonomously asking if the position was still open. Company said yes. After a sufficient ammount of time, (2 months?), might this job seeker inquire as to why his/her application is not accepted? -Yes-asking for a friend.

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14 Comments

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  1. Anonymous

    Yes, you can ask for feedback, if in their rejection letter they were not specific or it was not enough details.

    The next time perhaps it is best to leave a message to speak to a Recruiter or hiring manager for this feedback and keep in mind, they may not provide it. They may be too busy.

  2. Anonymous

    Sure. It doesn't hurt to ask.

  3. Anonymous

    I hope your friend is not hanging everything on this one opportunity. A job search should be a multi-tasking activity where you have several applications out at the same time. Waiting for one answer before moving on to the next only prolongs the process. It can get a little unwieldy if you get more than one offer or if the "favorite" offers after you have accepted another one. That actually becomes a benefit, because it gives you bargaining power.

  4. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist

    The application was accepted. If it wasn't accepted, they could not have been evaluating it.

  5. Anonymous

    Wait - she applied, or she interviewed? If she applied and hasn’t heard anything, they are doing one of two things: they haven’t started setting up interviews, or, they are interviewing other people, and your friend isn’t in the running.

    If she just applied and hasn’t heard anything, she should move on and keep applying elsewhere. Continually calling isn’t going to do anything but annoy people. If she interviewed, she should probably, give it a week or two before following up.

    Either way, a company is unlikely to give feedback unless this person was in the very last stages of the process…and likely not even then. I’ve only ever received it once.

  6. Julie

    Just because you apply doesn’t mean they want to see you. Go look for another job elsewhere.

  7. Valerie Rieger

    If she only applied tell your friend to move on. Submitting an application does not necessitate a response. If your friend was interviewed, the company should reach out.

  8. Anonymous

    No. A company could have 100 reasons for not accepting an application, and if they didn't invite you for an interview they definitely don't owe you any feedback.

  9. Anonymous

    As the manager of hiring and retention for the company I work for, we send an email letter of decline thanking for the application and that another candidate was hired, or we bring them in for an interview. If the person is then not hired, after the interview, we send an email to inform them that they aren't a fit for us at this time - but to try again. We work within a conscious leadership profile but in all honesty, we are not most companies. We have over 100,000 employees globally so we understand treating people with extreme respect is critical. Move on, get more experience and if you feel this is the company you HAVE to work for, apply again at a later date. (note: I applied 3 times over four years to my current company as I continued to get more experience to be able to 'qualify'. Eventually, they hired me, as a top manager, for amazing pay. It was well worth setting my sights on the prize.)

  10. Jennifer Taylor

    Nope, let it go. Out of the 300+ resumes/applications I sent over the course of two years, I probably got a phone screen from 5%. It's not that my resume and background didn't align with the open position, it's because, for every job, there are literally hundreds of candidates. Someone else's resume was seen before mine or stood out more.

  11. Mary Skaggs

    Totally agree. I got about 1 call for every 10 applications I put in. It’s a numbers thing.

  12. Anonymous

    No, do not call again! Let it go. There could be a thousand reasons they didn’t reply to your application, as they probably receive tons of other applications and there could be so many reasons the position hasn’t been filled yet. Continuous calling to check on application is beyond annoying. As a hiring manager, I would not see that as persistent, and someone whose application I should fast track. I would see continuous calls as obnoxious and note that on the applicants file so future applications would be rejected as well. Keep applying elsewhere and good luck.

  13. Krystin Morgan

    I would not. If they send a formal rejection, it would be reasonable to reply back asking for any feedback they're willing to share -- but it isn't likely they'll get much, given that they were only at the application stage. Just move on to the next!

  14. Liz Milne

    After 2 months? Yes, I would ask - 'Should I keep waiting for a response from you or should I assume I have not been chosen on this occasion?'

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