Have you recently attended an interview for a role you really wanted and come away thinking - "that went reasonably well". Then receive in your inbox the next day a "dear john" email.

Subject line: sorry we don't want you!!!...

Having been working as a recruiter in a consultancy, in organisations and as an independent contractor for the past 10 years this should be no surprise to me, but it is!

Many of you feel a huge amount of disappointment when you receive an email to say "sorry you are not on the shortlist for an interview".  Especially if you really wanted the job.  However, just receiving the acknowledgement can be an achievement in itself.

The number of organisations out there who do not respond to their applicants is on the rise again.  They do not see the value in informing people that they do not have the skills they are looking for.

What has suprised me is the number of people who have been for an interview with an organisation and then receive an email to say they are not being progressed further.

This is due to the fact that many hiring managers and in some cases HR professionals do not have the confidence to provide someone with bad news.  To offer them some feedback on how they could improve in their next interview. 

if you receive an email after an interview, do follow up with the person you have been liasing with.  Ask them for specific feedback on what let you down at the interview?  Where are the gaps in your skills / experience?  Would they consider an application from you in the future?

It is best to wait until you are feeling ok with the fact you are not being progressed further rather than reacting immediately to the news.  You want to come across as professional, rational and positive.

All the best with your job search!

About the author

With Tracy you can be sure that your career goals, whether you're changing jobs mid career or later in life, will be met with a customised career coaching programme. Coaching opens the mind to alternatives, new thinking, solutions and different ways of approaching situations. It is also a time of reflection, self-evaluation and big picture thinking.