“Why did I get rejected so quickly after applying and contacting the recruiter?”
After spending the weekend filling out the application on the employer’s website and reaching out to the recruiter on LinkedIn, I was surprised to receive a generic rejection email at 9:25 on Monday morning. Even more interesting, I noticed that the recruiter had checked my profile around the same time and didn’t respond to my message. This experience left me wondering if they just reject applications for fun or to collect resumes when they’re not actually hiring. It’s a common frustration many of us face in the job search process.
Hashtags: #jobsearch #applicationprocess #recruitment #rejection #jobhunt
Capital One bank. Auto rejection in <30 seconds.
27 minutes, when I applied for the job I was just “reduction in force” for…*
*There were several of us, but we were on “the losing team” of a big corporate merger
My fastest time was 15 minutes. I applied with a local bank in the mortgage department. Got an email saying I don’t meet their qualifications. Even though I clearly did
33 minutes.
But don’t worry. The rejection email had a nice long invitation to join their freelancing program.
Applied to work in the office at a local cemetery, got rejected in about an hour. Had experience in a similar role somewhere else so idk why
Applied to a perfect fit position. Hit every bullet point and preferred qualification. The position had literally just opened 5-10 minutes before I put in my application. I was rejected that night. The position placeholder in the email still had (Position Title Here) listed as well.
I’ve had an automatic rejection from Linkedin. Like hit send, instant reject “we looked over your resume and qualifications” and all.
I’ve had an auto-rejection in five minutes. sought out the recruiter to ask for clarification, they said that while it was a remote position, I was rejected based on my location.
Many years ago, my dad asked a friend of his to help me get a job at a bank. The friend told me to go to the main office, speak to someone there, and tell them who sent me. The HR lady has me do the online application and a retail worker screen there. I finished and in less than 5 seconds the HR lady tells me they won’t be hiring me.
I was introduced via email to the hiring manager of a role *tailor fit* for my background, at a company where I have extensive past work experience. HM responded that she was very excited to meet me, requested I forward my resume to her but also be sure to apply because they close the posting at 300 (yes, 300) applications. It just came online that day.
Next morning I checked the career portal and was already moved to “inactive.” Followed up with the HM to inquire and received the following:
“It is a very competitive situation and there were others with backgrounds more closely aligned to the role. I do think you have a great background and wish you the best with your job search going forward.
Warmly,”
The role was literally what I’ve spent doing the past 10 years of my career.
5 mins into an interview the manager looked at my resume and told me I was overqualified.
I applied to a job last week and got my rejection email before I got a thanks for applying email by like .0002 seconds
Applied to company site on a weekend. After submitting I received an email within 3 seconds but instead of the usual thank you for applying, it was a sorry but moving with other candidates that better match the role.
And my experience matched over 80% to the JD.
Saw the job on company internal job portal. Sent an email to hiring manager, they replied and we ended up having an intro call a few days later. They told me to apply online so that I am officially in the process.
I applied – rejection email comes within hours from HR.
I was beyond disappointed!
That same week hiring manager emails asking if I applied because HR did not send them my CV. I told them what happened, they said HR guy is an idiot. I ended up getting the job.
Moral of the story – sometimes HR just doesn’t have a clue and we all suffer the consequences
Left the building, went across the street to McDonalds, got rejection mail five minutes later and another 3 for the ‘applicant survey ‘. So make that ten minutes ISH.
four hours after 1st interview
Instant. Multiple times.
Rejection was in my inbox as I exited the website.
Historically, professional certification was optional, but not disqualifying, for these jobs. Several horrible interview experiences made me realize companies wanted only dirt-cheap new hires.
So…I concluded certain jobs (differed between companies), had their HR software auto-reject anyone with license information on their CV.
didnt like the fact I worked in a different industry, the resume screening sent back “better luck next time”
<1 sec. Didn’t even pass Wells Fargo’s ATS lol. I would hit submit and would immediately see the application in the inactive tab.
Sent application for job posted that same day, 30 minutes later “we have already filed this position but will keep your resume on file blah blah blah”. Position was still posted a week later. I was well qualified for the position.
At this point I would sell my left kidney for a $60k support role*
*Kidney is not actually for sale.
If you hit a rejection that quickly and are pretty sure you’re a good fit, message the hiring manager on LinkedIn with a summary of your qualifications and express some disappointment at being rejected so quickly. You might find that HR has bounced you for no good reason but you can find your way back into the process by pitching the HM. I’ve advanced a little in the process a few times by doing this.
They’re not doing it for kicks. They’re doing it because they have a job to do and clearing out applicants they’re not interested in moving forward with is better for them than making them sit in their ATS for months on end.
Every single app out there has knockout questions. If you answer one of these questions in a way that does not meet minimum requirements, it will auto-reject you.
A good example is accidentally saying “no” to being a US citizen or authorized to work. This, in every job I’ve ever posted or worked on, is an auto-reject. Sometimes other knockout questions are asked, but it depends on the employer. You could apply and get a rejection 5 seconds later. (I used to test the functionality of an ATS my company used and our fastest was 3 seconds.)
I once called about a position because the website wasn’t working. Receptionist told me I wasn’t qualified. A receptionist lmao. Not even HR.
Id rather it be that fast. Nothing pissed me off more than getting automated rejections 1.5 to 2 months later going “no shit you aren’t interested”…that said OP, are you positive this guy didn’t do a quick back channel reference on you with his sibling/your ex coworker because companies do this all the time
12 hours. Applied on a Saturday evening got the email Sunday morning.
4 minutes is my record. The rejection got there before the confirmation that they got the application.
The next day. I doubt the company has even read my CV and my cover letter but after applying jobs for four months and been rejected for times that I lose count, I don’t think it matters.