Which Job Rejection Message Would You Rather Receive?

[Barkeep49]

I have to send a rejection letter to someone I had a phone interview with this morning and can take it in one of two directions.

1. "We are pursuing candidates who are farther along in the process"
The position has been open for 6 weeks and so we have brought a couple of candidates to campus, one of whom we are likely to make an offer to.

2. "We are pursuing candidates who have more experience"
She thought a softball question was a hard one which was the final nail in her coffin.

The candidates we brought to campus have limitations and so if this person had been a standout I'd have wanted to pursue her over them. She wasn't and I don't, but as we talked she got audibly more and more excited about the position so I want to be nice in my rejection.

[Butter]

I wouldn't say either. We have decided to pursue other candidates at this time. Thanks for your interest. You will be kept on file, etc. etc. The end.

[NobodyHere]

If you feel compelled to give an actual reason, just tell her the truth. If she flubbed a question, it might be better for her to know that so she'll be better prepared for her next interview.

[albionmoonlight]

If you feel compelled to give an actual reason, just tell her the truth. If she flubbed a question, it might be better for her to know that so she'll be better prepared for her next interview.

I would probably just go general. But, if you do give a reason, I agree with this. Give the real reason. That can help her going forward.

[jeff061]

I wouldn't say either. We have decided to pursue other candidates at this time. Thanks for your interest. You will be kept on file, etc. etc. The end.

This, if you like you can give a reason if they respond asking for one.

I have in the past given responses similar to what's in the poll and they start trying to argue with me over the validity of that high level generic feedback. Not worth it.

[bob]

Just be careful what you say so you don't get sued. Sadly these days, the less you say the better.

[jeff061]

Just be careful what you say so you don't get sued. Sadly these days, the less you say the better.

Yeah, this too. I've worked at places where you weren't allowed to even serve as a reference because of the chance to get sued.

[Logan]

I think I'd be more offended by how quickly the letter was sent.

[Chief Rum]

I think I'd be more offended by how quickly the letter was sent.

I would have my secretary hand out form rejection letters to interviewees as they walked out the door.

[Logan]

I would have my secretary hand out form rejection letters to interviewees as they walked out the door.

Cold blooded. What types of jobs are we talking here?

[Chief Rum]

Cold blooded. What types of jobs are we talking here?

Haha it was just a joke in poor taste. Fortunately, corporate America has yet to be stupid enough to put me in control of the jobs of others.

[Logan]

Ah, I probably should have gotten that. I read "would have" as "in the past I'd have her do this" not future-looking.

[cartman]

Tell her your hands are tied, as the voters selected a Kansas City Royal for the position.

[albionmoonlight]

I think I'd be more offended by how quickly the letter was sent.

In my job search, the not knowing was difficult. I can see how people's views would differ, but if a company makes a decision on me--whether it be "yes" "no" or "we want a follow up interview"--I would like to know that as soon as they make that decision.

It is a blow to the ego to realize that you got rejected at the interview, but knowing that lets you put it behind you and mentally focus on finding new opportunities.

[Izulde]

I wouldn't say either. We have decided to pursue other candidates at this time. Thanks for your interest. You will be kept on file, etc. etc. The end.

Yep. That said, if you were to pick one of the two, I would go with the more experience one. The farther along in the process rings odd to my ears.

[Solecismic]

Never give the reason.

"It's not you, it's where I am right now."

I think it's polite to send a letter thanking them for their time, but nothing more. The real reason always feels too personal, and invites an argument you don't want to have.

[jeff061]

The farther along in the process rings odd to my ears.

Yeah, 2 things come to mind. If you are to far along in the process, why did you waste my time? And why is being far along in the process a reasonable reason to turn down the best candidate?

So yeah, very phony or incompetent. I'd almost take that feedback as "potential disaster company averted".

[Logan]

In my job search, the not knowing was difficult. I can see how people's views would differ, but if a company makes a decision on me--whether it be "yes" "no" or "we want a follow up interview"--I would like to know that as soon as they make that decision.

It is a blow to the ego to realize that you got rejected at the interview, but knowing that lets you put it behind you and mentally focus on finding new opportunities.

Yeah I definitely get that side of it. And it sucks to find out you're not moving forward. I would just find it a much more crushing blow to find out immediately versus thinking like they at least considered you for a couple days ago.

[Danny]

How about this.

We are pursuing candidates who's good looks and charm will not distract coworkers and slow down productivity. Thank you for your interest.

[bhlloy]

Yeah, 2 things come to mind. If you are to far along in the process, why did you waste my time? And why is being far along in the process a reasonable reason to turn down the best candidate?

So yeah, very phony or incompetent. I'd almost take that feedback as "potential disaster company averted".

This exactly sums up my feelings as well.

[JPhillips]

I'm surprised your HR doesn't have a standard letter ready. If she were to email or call you could provide some feedback, but the letter should be fairly bland and nondescript.

[Barkeep49]

Thanks to everyone for their feedback. As suggested I ended up going with my generic response rather than something more specific. To address a couple bits:

*It was so quick because she's going on a 2 week vacation Friday so if we'd wanted to interview her in person we had to decide quickly.
*We have no HR which is its own set of issues
*I am absolutely AMAZED that so many people advocated a generic response. I hate getting generic responses for jobs that I think I meet the qualifications for, especially after an interview.

[Logan]

I think they were advocating it from the perspective (especially legally) of the employer.

[Butter]

*I am absolutely AMAZED that so many people advocated a generic response. I hate getting generic responses for jobs that I think I meet the qualifications for, especially after an interview.

With all due respect, as an employer I could give a shit if you like it or not. I'm here to hire people I want, and if I don't want you, when are our paths going to cross again? I'm not here to be an interview or resume trainer for people that fall short.

[OldGiants]

Simply thank them for there time and say you are pursuing other candidates who better match your needs.

Anything more risks a lawyer calling.

[JPhillips]

Yeah, the more specifics you provide the more ways the applicant can threaten legal action. A generic letter is about protecting your business.

[Drake]

We tend to use "better match our needs" language...but that works for us because we're a programming shop. We're always hoping for a 100% match and know we'll be settling for 70%, because the people who tend to have the arcane qualifications we need can generally do better than the package we can offer in public education.

[bob]

There probably was a time where you are right, and it would be courteous to let someone know what qualification they were missing. But as society got more litigious, that went away.

[Drake]

I miss the days when we could hire people who had the right attitude and aptitude (and we'd worry about getting them up to speed technically later). So much of our hiring in the last five or six years has been about who seems most likely to be able to be independently productive in the least amount of time.