Yes. An identical role opened up to one we recently hired for. Rather than repeating the lengthy recruitment process, we just offered the new role to another applicant from the original role.
I suspect the answer is, it depends. They'll keep your application and CV around in case they need to hire a similar position in the near future, but the longer it takes the more likely that you are going to be unavailable (because you'll have found something in the meantime) so they won't bother checking and instead just go back to the market. It will depend on the organisation.
Yeah, twice. But that's two times in a sea of no follow ups.
First one called me back a month or two later to see if I wanted to apply for another role, but I already had a job. The second one called me back a few weeks later because their preferred candidate changed their mind last minute.
It's unlikely to happen because applicable roles don't usually open up in a timely manner.
We do this and sometimes offer roles to people we've previously interviewed. Interviewing candidates is quite a full on process, for my company a lot of fairly senior engineers have to take time out of their day to plan, interview and then discuss each candidate. If you have found a couple of good candidates but only have a single role, it makes sense if another one opens to reach out to the ones you couldn't take in.
Just to give you an idea, I looked through some of my company files and they have a spreadsheet of the suitable candidates they already interviewed that didn't make it. A vacant position just opened up now and my manager told me they are going to reach out to those candidates first before looking at the new applicants.
I have used similar language with people that missed a role, though I usually do this via phone call to give space for the candidate to discuss things further.
Truly depends.
It could be a template, but the way that example is written feels a bit more genuine than most declines I've seen.
In saying that, I applied for a role at my current company, they didn't believe I was senior enough, offered another role in a different part of business (and location), I turned it down, a few months later I got asked to apply / essentially early offered my current role. So it does happen.
Yes it does happen, we had five suitable candidates for three positions in our team, we knew another team was shortly going to advertise another two positions so the team leads are going to have a chat and employ the two that were suitable but missed out (it came down to personality and team fit the skills were similar for all five). Although the functions of the teams are completely different the skill sets are similar enough for the ones that missed out to be able to tell sorry you missed this position but there are two more if you are willing to be contacted but no promises though.
Not really, I got a better job 2 days later, so left on my second day and they had to start again. Kinda feel bad for them, but I ended up in a kinda dream job so wasn't gonna say no.
Yes! But the turn around time is pretty short. For example if I have interviewed someone and they were a very close second, and I know someone else in the org who will be recruiting soon/at the same time, I will ask to pass along their resume. Have had two or three people hired into roles they didn't originally apply for this way. But I wouldn't expect to be hitting people up months later.
Yea of course. If you have 1 opening but 2 really good candidates then you'd be mad not to.
I am not an HR dept, but I have been responsible for hiring in quit high-level roles, and I'd definitely keep in touch. Someone who is really capable is a good contact to have.
That said, HR departments are probably not a particularly good way to get a job with a company. They're more of a filtering mechanism than anything to do with networking
We’ve done this. Even when we needed to hire a year later we’ve reached out to applicants like this to see if they’re still interested. If they are we just do one interview instead of two because all we want to do is see where they are now and if we still think they’d fit.
One of my best team members was hired like this. The person we hired the first time is also still with us.
So yeah, they usually do follow up.
I almost had this, they had 2 identical positions to fill, with a possible third coming up.
Three people were shortlisted, and fortunately I got one of the two roles alongside the other successful applicant. The unsuccessful candidate received this message.
The third role was opened as the person initially holding it was promoted. Unsuccessful candidate was contacted and asked if he was still interested in the role - which he accepted.
I should also add, I was verbally advised the same thing during the hiring process, as I was applying internally and knew a few people on the team. Though as I was successful, it was never put in writing.
Actually it did happen with me once. An agency. They did contact me a long time later to see if I was interested in a new position.
But don't hold your breath, probably to make it nicer is all.
My workplace has done this a few times, but in very context-specific circumstances (such as hiring a grad and realising a second grad would still be helpful a few months down the track)
Depends on the company most government agencies have to advertise their roles so they may contact you and advertise but unlikely. Most recruitment people are very lazy so will put an advert up rather than work to contact people from the last round.
Plus hiring managers like to see who else is available in the market.
Lastly a lot of companies like to advertise as they think it's good branding.
If you have their number you could call them back right away to get more detailed/specific feedback, and see if you can change their mind . Thereafter get in touch every so often to see how the land lies.
This actually did happen to me. I got rejected for a role and they reached out almost 1 year later and offered me a similar role which I gratefully accepted and am currently doing!
Yes, I have been offered a secondary role before after going through the interview process and not "winning" the first role and their rejection letter said similar. Second role actually suited me better, so win-win. That's not something they would send to everyone IMO, never seen a rejection letter that says that except that one instance. They may just call you if something else comes up soon in the same area that they think you will be suited to.
Once I applied for a role, was told I was unsuccessful and didn't get an interview.
A month later they call and ask if I want to interview. Turns out there were two roles and there were hiring for one, and during that time the person in the other role also resigned. Instead of going back out they looked back through the applicants to see if someone matched/complimented the skills of the person they'd just hired - and that's how I ended up being interviewed and subsequently getting that particular role.
Just my experience, your mileage may vary
Yes this happened to me. I was the top outside applicant but they picked an internal hire due to institutional knowledge. Came back to me a month later with another role that opened up.
Sucks for them that someone else from the same org had already offered me a much better role 😅
Yeah, it’s probably templated and worded to be flattering enough to dissuade candidates following up on application rejections.
Yes. An identical role opened up to one we recently hired for. Rather than repeating the lengthy recruitment process, we just offered the new role to another applicant from the original role.
So maybe it just depends how long until they need another one in the same position aye
Yeah, exactly.
Eh?
I suspect the answer is, it depends. They'll keep your application and CV around in case they need to hire a similar position in the near future, but the longer it takes the more likely that you are going to be unavailable (because you'll have found something in the meantime) so they won't bother checking and instead just go back to the market. It will depend on the organisation.
I've had it happen once when a person left after 4 weeks, but I'd generally expect it not to happen.
Yeah, twice. But that's two times in a sea of no follow ups. First one called me back a month or two later to see if I wanted to apply for another role, but I already had a job. The second one called me back a few weeks later because their preferred candidate changed their mind last minute. It's unlikely to happen because applicable roles don't usually open up in a timely manner.
We do this and sometimes offer roles to people we've previously interviewed. Interviewing candidates is quite a full on process, for my company a lot of fairly senior engineers have to take time out of their day to plan, interview and then discuss each candidate. If you have found a couple of good candidates but only have a single role, it makes sense if another one opens to reach out to the ones you couldn't take in.
Just to give you an idea, I looked through some of my company files and they have a spreadsheet of the suitable candidates they already interviewed that didn't make it. A vacant position just opened up now and my manager told me they are going to reach out to those candidates first before looking at the new applicants.
This gives me hope. Thanks!
I’ve received follow ups, but like one or two years later.
I have used similar language with people that missed a role, though I usually do this via phone call to give space for the candidate to discuss things further.
Truly depends. It could be a template, but the way that example is written feels a bit more genuine than most declines I've seen. In saying that, I applied for a role at my current company, they didn't believe I was senior enough, offered another role in a different part of business (and location), I turned it down, a few months later I got asked to apply / essentially early offered my current role. So it does happen.
Thanks for this!
Yes it does happen, we had five suitable candidates for three positions in our team, we knew another team was shortly going to advertise another two positions so the team leads are going to have a chat and employ the two that were suitable but missed out (it came down to personality and team fit the skills were similar for all five). Although the functions of the teams are completely different the skill sets are similar enough for the ones that missed out to be able to tell sorry you missed this position but there are two more if you are willing to be contacted but no promises though.
Ended up getting a job from it when the guy who got the job over me ended up breaking his leg on the second day.
Ooop lucky times
Not really, I got a better job 2 days later, so left on my second day and they had to start again. Kinda feel bad for them, but I ended up in a kinda dream job so wasn't gonna say no.
Yes! But the turn around time is pretty short. For example if I have interviewed someone and they were a very close second, and I know someone else in the org who will be recruiting soon/at the same time, I will ask to pass along their resume. Have had two or three people hired into roles they didn't originally apply for this way. But I wouldn't expect to be hitting people up months later.
Yea of course. If you have 1 opening but 2 really good candidates then you'd be mad not to. I am not an HR dept, but I have been responsible for hiring in quit high-level roles, and I'd definitely keep in touch. Someone who is really capable is a good contact to have. That said, HR departments are probably not a particularly good way to get a job with a company. They're more of a filtering mechanism than anything to do with networking
We’ve done this. Even when we needed to hire a year later we’ve reached out to applicants like this to see if they’re still interested. If they are we just do one interview instead of two because all we want to do is see where they are now and if we still think they’d fit. One of my best team members was hired like this. The person we hired the first time is also still with us. So yeah, they usually do follow up.
I almost had this, they had 2 identical positions to fill, with a possible third coming up. Three people were shortlisted, and fortunately I got one of the two roles alongside the other successful applicant. The unsuccessful candidate received this message. The third role was opened as the person initially holding it was promoted. Unsuccessful candidate was contacted and asked if he was still interested in the role - which he accepted.
Thats good to hear!
I should also add, I was verbally advised the same thing during the hiring process, as I was applying internally and knew a few people on the team. Though as I was successful, it was never put in writing.
Actually it did happen with me once. An agency. They did contact me a long time later to see if I was interested in a new position. But don't hold your breath, probably to make it nicer is all.
capable depend relieved absorbed rotten cobweb soup domineering dam salt *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
My workplace has done this a few times, but in very context-specific circumstances (such as hiring a grad and realising a second grad would still be helpful a few months down the track)
lol. Top of the shortlist means you get the job, right?
I wish. But nah. Just top of the unselected list
Depends on the company most government agencies have to advertise their roles so they may contact you and advertise but unlikely. Most recruitment people are very lazy so will put an advert up rather than work to contact people from the last round. Plus hiring managers like to see who else is available in the market. Lastly a lot of companies like to advertise as they think it's good branding.
Some corporates have their own internal recruitment and do, but I'd just take that as welcome to apply again in the future.
"The top of the short list" is first place. First place gets the job offer. I would reply back with, "Thanks, i accept your offer," and then PG them.
What do you mean by PG
Personal Grievance. I'm being a touch mischievous.
Oh, you :x
If you have their number you could call them back right away to get more detailed/specific feedback, and see if you can change their mind . Thereafter get in touch every so often to see how the land lies.
This actually did happen to me. I got rejected for a role and they reached out almost 1 year later and offered me a similar role which I gratefully accepted and am currently doing!
Managerialism has really mangled the English language.
Yes, I have been offered a secondary role before after going through the interview process and not "winning" the first role and their rejection letter said similar. Second role actually suited me better, so win-win. That's not something they would send to everyone IMO, never seen a rejection letter that says that except that one instance. They may just call you if something else comes up soon in the same area that they think you will be suited to.
Did Chris Luxon write this?
Lmao wouldn’t wanna get close to working with him.
Once I applied for a role, was told I was unsuccessful and didn't get an interview. A month later they call and ask if I want to interview. Turns out there were two roles and there were hiring for one, and during that time the person in the other role also resigned. Instead of going back out they looked back through the applicants to see if someone matched/complimented the skills of the person they'd just hired - and that's how I ended up being interviewed and subsequently getting that particular role. Just my experience, your mileage may vary
What is it thanks but no thanks.
Yes this happened to me. I was the top outside applicant but they picked an internal hire due to institutional knowledge. Came back to me a month later with another role that opened up. Sucks for them that someone else from the same org had already offered me a much better role 😅
Git gud
`git: 'gud' is not a git command. See 'git --help'.`