‘Unfortunately, after reviewing all candidates, we will not be progressing your application to the final stage.’
That’s the email I received in June this year informing me that I’d been ‘unsuccessful’ in securing a full-time job. And I was furious.
Not only had I endured six weeks of pre-interviews and written tasks for this position, but I’d already been invited for a final interview. That invite had now been rescinded and it was clear I’d been misled.
But why did it take me following up with the recruiter for an update on when exactly that interview would be for the truth to come out? Where was the open and honest communication? Where was the respect?
Sadly, my recent experience with the current job market suggests that this is not an uncommon practice. There seems to be a general lack of care for job seekers, which makes the whole process nothing short of brutal and soul-destroying if you’re the one hunting.
That’s why, at least for a little while, I’ve given up on searching for content work completely. It’s just not worth the aggravation.
I’d like to think that I have developed a reasonably thick skin in my eight-year career as a freelance writer – dealing with rejection, regular ghosting, lack of feedback, and fierce competition is part of the job description after all – but it’s been harder than usual for me to find work lately.
So, in a bid for some stability and security, I started looking for some permanent content writing and journalism positions in March.
After applying for at least 10 earlier this year, I successfully secured three interviews for three different roles.
I was feeling really positive and excited about the prospect of a new role and company.
However, after spending time on interview preparation, taking psychometric tests for one role, and two video interviews, I was ghosted by two of the companies I’d applied for jobs with. No feedback, no rejection, just complete silence.
While I didn’t expect specific interview feedback, I felt I did deserve some kind of explanation or at least confirmation that I hadn’t been successful.
I chased and after a week, I received two disinterested replies…
One was a standard ‘thanks but no thanks’. It lacked any kind of emotion or personalisation.
The other simply told me they’d been busy and filled the role.
And then there was the company that cancelled my final interview without warning.
At first, things with this organisation had looked promising: I had a video interview with the in-house recruiter and was then swiftly asked to complete several (time-consuming) written tests to prove my writing and content creation abilities.
I had to give up a day’s paid work in order to complete it properly.
‘It’ll all be worth it if I get the job,’ I thought, which, as I was then invited to a final in-person interview, didn’t seem implausible.
I then did everything I could from my side to accommodate them: I made arrangements for my husband to work from home so I could attend the interview and still ensure our two children were taken care of and planned my train route in advance.
It may not sound like a lot, but managing schedules takes a lot of preplanning.
Then, less than a week before the interview, they emailed to say they were postponing it without any explanation, but would reschedule.
Two weeks soon passed though and I’d heard nothing else from them. At this point, my gut feeling kicked in, and I knew it wasn’t good news.
Sure enough, only after I chased them did I learn they were not moving me forward to the final interview. It was insulting that they didn’t proactively contact me and it was embarrassing having to tell friends that not only had I not got the job, but that I didn’t really understand why.
My confidence was completely knocked.
Whether or not I was the right candidate for the jobs I interviewed for, basic courtesy is essential during the recruitment process.
I understand that recruiters are busy, and job applicants are high, but it’s vital to communicate effectively with candidates and to treat them with respect.
Personally, I’m thinking twice about applying for more jobs at the moment. I’ve lost faith in recruitment processes and am taking some time to decide what to do next.
Freelance work is still hard to come by, but it’s got to be less soul-destroying than this.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk.
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