Rejection etiquette from editors

HR and corporate legal may play more of a role in this than we know. At some places it is forbidden to send a "thanks but no thanks" to anyone who isn't a finalist. You can acknowledge receipt of materials if asked, but not comment or respond. They fear any kind of response could open them up to liability.

I'm not saying it's right, and that it's not maddening to be on the receiving end of silence, but sometimes editors/managers have their hands tied by corporate.

 

It doesn't matter what industry you're in, if you apply for a job and the company isn't interested, they're not going to send you a "Thanks but no thanks note" That's mostly standard practice.

HC auditions for opera and music theatre gigs regularly. She does her thing and if they want to hear her again, they'll get in touch; otherwise, she'll never hear from them. She auditions and then forgets about it.

The practice of sending out letters or e-mails to every applicant for a job ended about 20 years ago.

 

Journalism could be the worst industry in terms of getting back with every applicant, even if it's a form rejection. It's not that hard to do, it's not. It's also not that hard to set up an automated system that generates the form rejections for an editor.

 

It could be, but it's not. It's commonplace.

 

When I was first on the academic job market, I was in the final batch in the running for a position at a mid-tier Pac-10 (then) school. I know I was in that final batch because: 1) they told me; 2) they did a phone interview with me and didn't with a classmate who'd also applied; and 3) said classmate got a non-descript rejection letter a week or so before I did the phone interview. I never heard from them again. I can only assume that I am still in the running.

 

FWIW,

I tried to get back to folks who applied for a reporting job a while back, explaining that they didn't have the type of experience we were looking for.

Many of them sent emails back trying to make the case that they did have experience because they did one story on the subject or something along those lines.

You don't really want to get into a conversation with folks who simply don't compare with the best candidates.

On the one hand, I felt bad not responding to some people because I was overwhelmed and on the other hand, I did not want to get into an email discussion with out-of-state people who weren't in the top tier of candidates.

 

I always had a policy that I would respond to every person who applied for a job, and I kept that up until the last time around. I got so many applications and the job has been so busy I never got to it, other than the top candidates. I suppose I could have sent the same form email to everyone and run through the pile in half an hour, but how meaningful would that be?
The pile still sits here on the side of my desk five months later ... I haven't even gotten around to filing them away. Maybe I'll try sending a note after the winter season ends. I do remember what it was like being on the other side of this.

 

My friend used to have a "rejection letter" that he sent to places after getting a rejection letter. I think he thought it would be creative and possibly get him a second look or a job....

...I don't think that worked well for him.

 

I assume I will hear nothing unless selected to interview, and that's with any job.

 

BULLSHIT.

As an editor, I've always gotten back with every applicant who has ever applied for a job I've hired for, with a personal response. People I've interviewed I've called and talked to them personally to answer questions they might have. Normally they ask what they need to do to become a more attractive candidate and I've told them what I saw, what my concerns were and what they needed to work on. They usually seem understanding and appreciative as most of these are younger writers trying to break in.

As for you, learn some fucking management skills. No wonder your staff hates you. Management is all about how you treat people, dick.

 

It's called common courtesy.

The follow-up e-mails that want to continue the discussion that they're worthy? Those I would ignore. You've made your decision. If anything, that might even further validate your choice not to hire a person who wants to challenge every decision you make.