What's the best rejection line you got from a job hunt.

[aerofan]

Hey guys and gals,

I'd like to share some that I have had both as a greenhorn and even now as an experienced canidate. I'm not going to go through the whole conversation just the line and a bit of info about it and / or leading up to it.

When I was a greenhorn getting a rejection letter, I'd get the industry norm, "We've decided that you aren't suitable for the position due to your lack of experience.".

When I was a semi greenhorn after an interview, I'd always get the all to common, "You're personality is a great fit for our team but you lack the necessary experience for us to consider you any further.". This is the gentle let down of we're looking for someone older.

Things only really got interesting when I built up years of experience. I usually apply to the 3,5 or more years of experience required.

Rejection letter from a 3 or more year position after an interview, "After further review, we have decided that you're qualifications greatly exceeds the needs of the position." This seems to be the gentle let down of we're looking for someone younger.

Rejection after soliciting for a potential position. To set up the line here's a bit of a background; after handing in my resume to the person at the front, I was just about the leave when that person came out running telling me that the boss wanted to see me. He was looking over my resume telling me how good my qualifications looked. It was looking good but then he dropped this, "You appear to be an excellent person for this position but at the moment our staffing requirements are complete.". There must have been something about my appearance he didn't like because I later found out from a friend who knew someone there that a week after, they hire somone for the exact same position that I had solicited for.

Here's the best one I 've ever gotten. It came just at the end of an interview, "Thank you for coming in but we just filled the position an hour before you arrived.". Being polite, I still thanked the person for the time. This was the weirdest job hunting situation I've ever come across because I went through the whole interview when the guy could have just told me at the start - lost atleast 30 minutes of my life there. I've always wondered if the guy was truthful or if it was something he just didn't like about me and didn't want to waste a postage stamp on a rejection letter. The upside to it was that I didn't have to wait for an answer and I was able to continue job hunting without any worries.

I've had friends tell me about how bad those last two are. I tell them that I can only but laugh at those rejection lines because of how absurd the circumstances look. Now here's your chance to tell us about the best employment rejection line you've ever gotten.

[zerosystem]

seems to be the cookie cutter response from most federal type jobs (national archives, national park services...etc)

" We have reviewed your application and found you qualified for the position listed above that have

Referred this Status code. However, you were not among the most highly qualified candidates. Therefore,

your name will not be referred to the employing agency at this time. If we receive a request from the

agency for additional candidates, your application will then be reviewed for possible referral. "

[richter111]

You are underqualified for the position: Security guard (I have 12 years experience in Law Enforcement)

You are overqualified ( I was let go the day after I started the job, I was overqualified? You did not notice my qualifications BEFORE I was hired?)

We do not think you would like the job. (Why did I apply)

My favorite was when I was beat out by a licensed therapist for a job paying $11.50 an hour, and only required a high school diploma. (Fellow had a masters and a minimum of 3000 hours experience for his license as a marriage and family therapist)

[Aaronw]

The Feds are great for this kind of stuff.

My favorite was accepting a job, and then a few weeks later (when I was actually doing the job) getting a letter saying the position had been filled (by me!). Apparently some HR type wasn't paying attention and sent that letter to everyone including those who had been hired.

Another time I applied for the exact same job I was currently in, same grade and position description but at another Federal agency / location (shorter commute and generally nicer place to work). I got a letter saying I wasn't qualified for the position, I'm not sure what they thought I had been doing the previous 2 years.

Edited March 19, 2011 by Aaronw

[Quailane]

I think they have gotten more and more passive-aggressive as time goes on. All I get are nonsense and/or flattery.

Off the top of my head:

"We believe that you would make a great fit for our team, but unfotunately have decided to pursue other opportunities."

"We don't have any positions to offer you at this time." (BS!)

"We decided to go in another direction."

However, my *favorite* rejection took place in the past year. I applied for a job, was told I was an excellent candidate, and scheduled for a group evaluation of prospective employees. They told us that everyone did well and they scheduled individual performance tests for us. The next week I came back and there was only one other candidate there even though others had scheduled to test at that time as well. (I later heard that they received emails telling them not to come back for the scheduled tests.) I aced the written test, and was told that they would let me know how it went within a few days. Over a week went by, and I was notified by email that I had passed the test and that they wanted to speak with me for a personal interview, but for some reason they couldn't do it any sooner than the next week. Finally interview day rolls around and the interviewer told me I was applying for the next higher up position from what I had originally applied for. This was news to me and they had told us that they only promote people to that position, but I tried to roll with it. Of course I was winging a lot of the questions since they switched things up on me, but I felt we had really good rapport until the end when I felt I was asking too many questions about this job I didn't know I was applying for. Within a minute after finishing the interview, while I was still there in the offices, I got an email to my phone from the interviewer saying that they didn't have any openings. I really felt like walking back in there and telling the guy to F off after yanking my chain for 3+ weeks. Later found out that they had to go through the motions of interviewing people every now and then even if there weren't any positions to fill.

[Julien (UK)]

I once had to sit a load of those pychometric tests.

They were worried as I was NOT stressed enough?

I said surley you want people working for you who handle pressure well and don't get stressed?

I did not get the job!

Julien

[Helidriver]

I kept applying for my current job, and was continually told that they didn't need people. Got loooong letters explaining staff numbers, expat/national quotas etc. I had a friend working there and he was telling me that they were screaming for people and actually had to ground helicopters due to a lack of pilots. So I applied again, same thing, but now they added that I didn't have the necessary amount of turbine flight hours ( I had around 450 at the time).

At this point I had tried for this job for well over a year. It is one of the biggest companies in the world and is a great place to work so I wasn't going to give up.

One of my former bosses had been promoted up the ranks to Vice President, so I thought f' it, I'll contact him.

So I emailed him and asked what the story was, do you guys need people or not that the base in question?

Got an email back saying "send me your resume, and are you sure you want to work there?"

Sent an email back with my resume and one word: "yes".

Within 10 days I had a job interview, got the job and showed up for work at the base I had wanted to work at...only to be told that they had never received the emails I had sent. Apparently they had all been answered way up the chain of command. They were REALLY hurting for pilots, and had no minimum turbine time requirement...

Nothing like communication...

[muswp1]

I kept applying for my current job, and was continually told that they didn't need people. Got loooong letters explaining staff numbers, expat/national quotas etc. I had a friend working there and he was telling me that they were screaming for people and actually had to ground helicopters due to a lack of pilots. So I applied again, same thing, but now they added that I didn't have the necessary amount of turbine flight hours ( I had around 450 at the time).

At this point I had tried for this job for well over a year. It is one of the biggest companies in the world and is a great place to work so I wasn't going to give up.

One of my former bosses had been promoted up the ranks to Vice President, so I thought f' it, I'll contact him.

So I emailed him and asked what the story was, do you guys need people or not that the base in question?

Got an email back saying "send me your resume, and are you sure you want to work there?"

Sent an email back with my resume and one word: "yes".

Within 10 days I had a job interview, got the job and showed up for work at the base I had wanted to work at...only to be told that they had never received the emails I had sent. Apparently they had all been answered way up the chain of command. They were REALLY hurting for pilots, and had no minimum turbine time requirement...

Nothing like communication...

I had the same thing happen earlier this week. I've been trying to get a job with a very large company that my brother and another friend work at for at least a year after hearing from them how I would be a perfect fit. I send letters and e-mails to the recruiters and HR with no answer. I finally got fed up when a position opened up and I still couldn't get a phone call or email returned. So I gave my brother my resume and he passed it to his boss who sent it up the chain of command and suddenly I get a request for an interview the next day. Two interviews later, and I got the job.

[VFA-103guy]

When I got out of the Army in '99, I was applying to be a police officer at several departments around the country.

I finally got an interview with one of the smaller departments locally, and when the Chief looked at my resume', he told me I was over qualified for the job. When I asked why, he said..and I quote: "For starters, you have a high-school diploma and some college...most of the boys in the dept here never got out of the 11th grade, and I think you'ld make them feel stupid. Secondly, you have military/infantry experience. I know you guys are gung-ho and I'd be afraid you'ld out qualify the other officers on the pistol range to include myself."

Damn near rolled out of the chair I was laughing so hard.

Edited March 19, 2011 by VFA-103guy

[DONG]

When I got out of the Army in '99, I was applying to be a police officer at several departments around the country.

I finally got an interview with one of the smaller departments locally, and when the Chief looked at my resume', he told me I was over qualified for the job. When I asked why, he said..and I quote: "For starters, you have a high-school diploma and some college...most of the boys in the dept here never got out of the 11th grade, and I think you'ld make them feel stupid. Secondly, you have military/infantry experience. I know you guys are gung-ho and I'd be afraid you'ld out qualify the other officers on the pistol range to include myself."

Damn near rolled out of the chair I was laughing so hard.

You should have asked if his job was available.

Don

[phantom]

Got hired for my local police department after I got out of the full time army. The staff sergeant tells me once I finish my basic I will be assigned to the Cambridge detachment ad I speak " porteguise"??????

I told him I speak a little German but no porteguise, oh he says.... Nevermind!!!!!!!!

Shortly after that I got hired elsewhere speaking English.

[Silverback]

I recently applied for a basic scut-level building maintenance job at a local casino. My rejection letter stated that I would not be considered for this position because I lacked the requisite bachelors degree IN MARKETING! Obviously, an AA in safety compliance, welding certifications and MVAC and HVAC universal certifications do not demonstrate sufficient mental acuity to allow me to sweep floors for minimum wage.

Guess it beats them having to fight an age discrimination charge.

Phil

[ipms33206]

How about being FIRED for insane reasons? I was working for a telecom manufacturer back in the mid '90s. I was up front with them about my wife being pregnant and when the birth would be. They said no problem and keep them updated. That day came around and I was actually able to give more that 24 hours notice. They said go and not to come back until the following Monday. It was Thursday morning. I go back Monday and work a couple shifts and then I was called into the office and rudely fired. The explaination was a birth is no reason to miss work! What the????? I told them I could sue over this and they said the would counter sue for 'job abandonment!'! I didn't persue anything, not worth my time. But I did spread the word around town about it. They lost a ton of customers and respect in the business community!

Edited March 20, 2011 by ipms33206

[Wayne S]

Being over qualified.

[Old Blind Dog]

"You were clearly the best--we just can't afford you."

I'd aced an audition for the post of choir director at an Episcopal church in Cedar Rapids Iowa. Among other things, the audition involved conducting the choir from a score I'd never seen before. The reason they hired somebody else, is that I'm not "also" an organist, and they couldn't afford to split the position.

cheers

Old Blind Dog

[jholt]

Interviewing for a manager position in a department I helped create 9 years earlier. The response from the Department VP was, "We chose someone more qualified for the position." This new person who is 'more qualified', but has no idea how the department works, comes into the department and tries to reinvent the wheel and repeatedly fails. The best part is he then asks me to help him because he doesn't know what to do. I tell my new manager that I'm not qualified enough to help. I quit a few months later and then find out the got rid of my entire department a month later. Weeks after they fired everyone the Department VP called my one friend at home to ask him how to access a particular account. (He's calling a person they fired a week earlier for help) My friends response was, "Ask your better qualified person for the Manager job, you figure it the eff out I don't work for the company any more." Priceless!

[Spongebob]

"You were clearly the best--we just can't afford you."

That's a no $h1tter there - I've passed on folks when I looked at their last job and it was obvious they were expecting more than what our contract would have allowed. Even if we hired them I knew they'd be grumpy. In the consulting world, you can also ask for too little $. We've had guys who we bumped up to "standard" because they'd walk down the street as soon as they realized it. Typcially, that's a problem with folks coming out of the military.

From the hiring side, I hated interviewing folks who were going through the motions just to get a raise from their current job. Had a good candidate who was obviously doing that so we passed on making a counter-counter offer. I hope he got the raise he wanted when we dropped out.

Spongebob

[Fishwelding]

The whole process in yet another one that unfortunately reminds me that people are little better than other mammals in many ways. Because there's irrationality all around. HR people and management have all sorts of motivations other than seeking the best candidate: going through the motions for regulatory reasons, whether they plan to hire someone or not, or have an internal candidate--crony?--already essentially hired. The "overqualified" thing is merely based on a read of the market, which is often-as-not erroneous, especially if they're looking at someone coming in from a related, but not quite the same field. (He or she wants to break in to a new line of work, will be twice as motivated as any other jerk you hire, and realizes that it involves a pay cut). In the end, those doing the hiring are looking to their own performance evaluations, so they don't want to %$*$( up by hiring the wrong guy. So they frequently overthink the process.

Meanwhile, I see more and more stuff on the web which amounts to "death to HR!" This is the idea that HR departments have made the hiring process terrible for all involved because they hire based on a simple bullet-point list of qualifications, rather than really knowing about the job for which they are reading resumes. The assumption is that "Human Resources" is an art or science of it's own, and that understanding actual jobs people do and are hired for is less important.

Meanwhile, job seekers are compelled to chase gimmicks (your resume should say this, but not say that), or pay money to middle-man services. And job seekers are competing with people not actually serious about wanting a new job, but are doing this for reasons such as pressuring their present employer, or just working out some sort of pathology in their own head. But this only adds to the work of HR people and hiring management, and clutters up the system.

Honestly, it's a wonder that the right person is ever hired for the right job.

[zerosystem]

Meanwhile, I see more and more stuff on the web which amounts to "death to HR!" This is the idea that HR departments have made the hiring process terrible for all involved because they hire based on a simple bullet-point list of qualifications, rather than really knowing about the job for which they are reading resumes. The assumption is that "Human Resources" is an art or science of it's own, and that understanding actual jobs people do and are hired for is less important.

thats me, i consider hr near the same level as i would say...lawyers

the whole fake attitude, the fake gratitude and false presumptions they give you when you call or email them to check on your status.

[Hawkeye's Hobbies]

I applied for manager positions at a logistic and warehousing firm I was working at shortly after I got out of the AF. Kept getting passed over in favor of "more qualified" individuals. One day I asked our manager who sat on the selection board why was it I wasn't being considered.

His answer came after he reviewed the interview notes from the interviews I had participated in. "You don't have enough education or experience."

Now this is coming from someone who had one management class at the local community college and having been employed with the company for six or so years. I said then I guess that my degree in logistics management and the nearly twenty years of experience in the logistics field, both military and civilian aren't exactly what you are looking for then. Shortly there after I quit without notice...which wasn't required per company policy... which ****** them off since I was scheduled to fill in for one of the managers while he was on vacation. A position I could fill in for but couldn't be hired to fill and get compensated for, even though I filled their shoes in their absence.

Another manager heard about my comment to the other manager and called me after I left asking me to reconsider returning and that the next management position would be mine. NOT!

No experience and not enough education...proves that piece of paper isn't worth squat in the real world.

[Jinxter13]

You are overqualified ( I was let go the day after I started the job, I was overqualified? You did not notice my qualifications BEFORE I was hired?)

BINGOOOOO!!!..,..,How is that possible? :( Will I do it too good!!?.

[Fishwelding]

thats me, i consider hr near the same level as i would say...lawyers

the whole fake attitude, the fake gratitude and false presumptions they give you when you call or email them to check on your status.

Heh. I shouldn't fuel our collective anti-lawyer glee....but I will!

You are aware that currently, entry-level lawyers are in trouble? Way too many lawyers educated in the last ten years, not enough work. Law schools are over-expanded while law school admissions are down. Big law firms are turning to automation and farming routine, low-level work overseas. Whether or not this misery for lawyers is temporary or not is subject to debate, but methinks that it'll be at least a while before big-pay prospects for the glut of attorneys reappears.

What makes me sort of feel sorry for lawyers is that unlike the rest of the unemployed, they simply won't get much sympathy from anyone in America. We can all experience some amount of outrage to learn that an American corporation has shipped previously decent-paying work overseas. But if an American company announced that they slashed legal fees, they could realistically consider that part of their marketing and PR campaign!

Edited March 21, 2011 by Fishwelding

[Fishwelding]

I applied for manager positions at a logistic and warehousing firm I was working at shortly after I got out of the AF. Kept getting passed over in favor of "more qualified" individuals. One day I asked our manager who sat on the selection board why was it I wasn't being considered.

His answer came after he reviewed the interview notes from the interviews I had participated in. "You don't have enough education or experience."

Now this is coming from someone who had one management class at the local community college and having been employed with the company for six or so years. I said then I guess that my degree in logistics management and the nearly twenty years of experience in the logistics field, both military and civilian aren't exactly what you are looking for then. Shortly there after I quit without notice...which wasn't required per company policy... which ****** them off since I was scheduled to fill in for one of the managers while he was on vacation. A position I could fill in for but couldn't be hired to fill and get compensated for, even though I filled their shoes in their absence.

Another manager heard about my comment to the other manager and called me after I left asking me to reconsider returning and that the next management position would be mine. NOT!

No experience and not enough education...proves that piece of paper isn't worth squat in the real world.

I'm not certain whether your story proves that education, experience, your "resume"--"a piece of paper"--isn't worth anything in the real world, or that you just happened to work for an exceptionally crony-ridden or incompetent company. After all, business leadership ruins businesses all the time. For all your education and experience, you just couldn't save them from themselves. :lol:

[aerofan]

thats me, i consider hr near the same level as i would say...lawyers

the whole fake attitude, the fake gratitude and false presumptions they give you when you call or email them to check on your status.

Zerosystem, I remember working for a company where the HR manager did goto law school so your point makes perfect sense. Most of the other had a background in psychology.

Some of you guys have got doozies. What a bizzare illogical world we live in.

[Old Blind Dog]

A glut of lawyers on the job market??? You think I might be able to hire one on the cheap?

I need a real "shark" to go after somebody who's harrassing me.

cheers

Old Blind Dog