Any Feedback From Companies You've Applied To?

[lisab]

Recently I've sent out a few resumes + cover letters to companies that have openings listed on their web sites. These are small-ish local companies, with <200 employees. The first couple, I got nothing in response - nothing.

So this last one, after a week or so with no response, I sent a second email saying something like, "I'm still interested in the position, did you receive my resume? Please let me know if you've received it." And still I've heard nothing.

Is this the new normal?

It used to be that if you showed an interest, the company at least sent a "Thanks for your interest, we may be contacting you," or "Sorry, the position has been filled."

My question to anyone who has applied for a job lately: do you get any response at all? How often do you hear nothing?

 

[Locrian]

If you don't hear from them, try calling them 3 - 7 days after you send the resume.

 

[ModusPwnd]

I never get a response either. I always thought this was normal.

 

[I like Serena]

Yes, I also believe it is normal.
It's pretty easy to send an email on an add.
It's also pretty easy to ignore such an email.

I believe new jobs usually get created through connections (you know someone who recommends you).
Or otherwise you have to be really persistent (and qualified).

What I mean to say, is that there should be a personal stake to apply.
And another personal stake to either accept or reject that application.
Without both of those, it's just that: nothing (important) happens.

 

[SophusLies]

If you don't hear from them, try calling them 3 - 7 days after you send the resume.

This is exactly what I do. An email is just too informal if you want a real answer, like someone else said an email can be easily ignored. I should confess though, that I'm a very aggressive job seeker and I can never just apply online and hope for an answer.

In the past, when I was looking for jobs I would see that a company had an opening online and I would then call the company directly. I wouldn't define this as cold-calling job seeking because I knew the company was hiring for a position. In many cases, this call turned directly into a phone interview. Then if I was successful, they were *waiting* for my resume in the email. Most people cringe at the thought of doing this but if you're good at it, it works heavily in your favor. If you want the job then go get it, don't sit around and wait for them to come to you...

 

[ParticleGrl]

When I was job hunting a few years back, I pretty much never received feedback from any of the companies I interviewed with/sent resumes to, and often phone calls would eventually end up with me transferred to an HR person, who would talk a lot but say nothing.

The only exceptions were two companies that gave feedback saying that they had decided to postpone the project they were hiring for, and that I should apply again in the future.

 

[bigfooted]

Maybe this is culture dependent - due to country or type of company, I don't know. I always got feedback after applying for a job. I would always call them before sending them my resume, which I would then send the same day. Then, within 2 days they would send me at least a confirmation or some other info. Usually within 2 weeks I would get either an invitation or a rejection.
One time I was calling to ask if a job opening still existed, and they asked if I could come for an interview right away.

But I have to admit that my jobs until now were very specialized and they all required a PhD in combustion.

 

[Locrian]

I would always call them before sending them my resume,

That's an important variable. People just don't assign personhood to emails; it's just more spam. Even if they respond, they're reacting mechanically. Any kind of human contact changes the nature of the interaction.

I'm glad people have mentioned calling first.