One of The Worst Letter of Regrets?

spychiatrist on 29/06/2015 - 17:21

Mate forwarded this email and he reckons this is not a professional way of sending a letter of regrets. Employer could have sugar-coated it a bit or better yet, just don't send the letter at all. He didn't like the "standard of applicants" bit. Your thoughts?

Dear ___,

Thank you for your application for the ___ position with ___.

The standard of applicants was exceptionally high and on this occasion your application has been unsuccessful.

Our consultants may contact you in the future in relation to specific opportunities. We thank you for your interest in *** and wish you all the best for the future.

Poll Options

  • 129
    The letter is OK, he's just being sensitive
  • 2
    The letter could have been better worded
Education & Work

Comments

  • retiredfeline on 29/06/2015 - 17:34
    +43

    He's lucky to get a reply at all these days.

    • zappy32 on 29/06/2015 - 19:19
      +1

      Yep, what would he prefer that they say the other standard of applicants that got an interview were "exceptionally high" or that your friend's application was poor? That is sugar coating, there's not really a nice way to say to someone that they didn't make the cut.

      • Scrooge McDuck on 30/06/2015 - 01:09

        "Letter of Regrets"?

        He wasn't offered a position, big deal! I opened this thread expecting to read about a child who had received a letter from an estranged parent who had recently had a crisis of conscience, or something similar.

        I might call a letter a "Letter of Regret" if it informs someone of the death of a pet or family member.

        What your friend received was clear, concise and polite. Heck if someone wished me "all the best for the future" generic or not it'd make my day!

    • GaelicAU on 30/06/2015 - 01:20
      +2

      It's gives me the shits a lot of companies don't contact applicants if they haven't succeeded in their application.

      I find it unprofessional and down right ignorant.

      • [Deactivated] on 30/06/2015 - 08:37
        +2

        Me too, unbelievable this is the norm nowadays.

        I had to recruit for an accounts payable role some 18 months back and went through SEEK directly for a change instead of through agency as usual.

        As far as I can remember there isn't a accept/reject feature on SEEK, all the resumes came through to my inbox forwarded by SEEK. I spent a whole afternoon copying and pasting a generic email advising candidates that their application wasn't successful (and as fast as leaving 'Dear Applicant' on the letter would've been I changed it to their actual name). It's basic manners as far as I'm concerned as well.

        • Nickels n Dimes on 30/06/2015 - 13:41

          Given the fact that those websites are responsible for the majority of office work positions, that's disgraceful. Time to start a change.org petition ?

    • Scorpiogirl on 04/07/2015 - 21:20

      Got that right.

  • Domingo on 29/06/2015 - 17:37
    +1

    One alternative is you don't hear back and you keep wondering. He can ask for some feedback around what he could have done better if he wants more info, otherwise just take it as polite that they've actually let me know he didn't get it.

  • Daabido on 29/06/2015 - 17:57

    Par for the course these day, unfortunately.

  • ukmark on 29/06/2015 - 18:12
    +10

    Huh? What is wrong with the letter?

    • [Deactivated] on 29/06/2015 - 18:18
      +1

      My thoughts exactly?

      What is your friend expecting?
      Sorry you didn't get the job, but here is a cheque for $10,000,000 for your troubles?

      Didn't get the job, more on

      • Deridas on 30/06/2015 - 09:00

        Yeah, that's a very standard letter, the employer did well even sening this letter. Nothing wrong with it actually.

  • phoenixx on 29/06/2015 - 18:20
    +3

    Seems pretty standard…

    • pinchies on 29/06/2015 - 23:09
      +2

      Exceptionally standard, in fact.

  • Ughhh on 29/06/2015 - 18:42
    +4

    Sugar coating the letter would make it as unprofessional as your friends sulking!

  • i like free on 29/06/2015 - 19:27

    I once received a letter of regret who had another persons name eg, hi (my name) followed by hi someone else's name blah blah blah
    Did not bother to delete the other name….

  • TheAviator on 29/06/2015 - 19:32

    If your mate made it to a final round interview, then this letter is definitely lacking. You'd expect some feedback or even a phone call if you got that far.

    But if he didn't even make it past the selection round, well he's not going to enjoy job hunting because it's the exception, not the norm to get a response at all!

    • xoom on 29/06/2015 - 21:06

      Oh so been there.

      At least have the courtesy to tell me if i didn't get the job.

      Some companies dont even bother.

    • timmypete on 30/06/2015 - 09:03

      ^^ This. Recently got to final round and was interviewed for almost an hour and a half. I asked for feedback and they said "yes, we found a better candidate".

  • Conka on 29/06/2015 - 20:54
    +12

    I think he's being too sensitive. Would he prefer something like …

    Dear Baby
    Welcome to Dumpville. Population you.

  • Davo1111 on 29/06/2015 - 23:01

    Pretty standard these days.

    The worst is when they muck up the mail merge (Dear <<name>>), or just send something even more generic from a [email protected]

  • Geewhizz on 30/06/2015 - 05:52
    +2

    If your friend felt the need for his rejection letter to be sugar coated, it could help explain why he was receiving it to start with.

    The workforce is for grown ups, and no one has the time to hold the hand of someone who can't stand on their own two feet. As already mentioned, that's fairly standard wording.

  • Davros on 30/06/2015 - 06:05
    +6

    Did he cry?
    Sounds like he would have.

  • Nutrino on 30/06/2015 - 08:05

    Your thoughts? Op?

    • spychiatrist on 30/06/2015 - 11:27

      You always get your mate's back. I'll have a further chat based on the positive responses received.

  • SlickMick on 30/06/2015 - 10:40
    +1

    We might seem harsh, but you should let him see what the ozbargainers have said. It's all with love - we need to harden him up if he's going to get through this job hunting.

  • r2160 on 30/06/2015 - 12:41

    At least the person got a response.

  • mooney on 30/06/2015 - 14:03
    -2

    Hmmm.. without knowing the blanks it's kinda hard.. for example, I would be offended if the blanks were filled in like this:

    Thank you for your application for the 'cleaner' position with 'MacDonalds'.

    The standard of applicants was exceptionally high and on this occasion your application has been unsuccessful.

    In almost any other situation your friend is being a fanny.

  • Baa on 30/06/2015 - 15:11

    Agree with the above posts that it was good he was at least notified.

    I don't have any issues with the content of the message - it is simple and to the point, what else really needs to be said?

    In certain industries these days I have seen in some cases hundreds of applications coming through for certain positions (ask anybody trying to hire lvl 1 IT support).

  • outlander on 30/06/2015 - 15:30

    He might be peeved at the 'exceptionally high' bit. It might have read more truthful if it went something like

    Dear ___,
    Thank you for trying for the ___ position with ___.
    The standard of applicants was higher than average and on this occasion your application has been rejected.
    In the slim chance unexpected shit happens and we can't get anyone better, we'll call you. Until then, we have business to do so we can't afford to waste any more time on you

    These sugar coated phrases sting a bit when you first hear them, but as time grows you begin to understand that the world is full of people who want you dead. Its nothing personal

  • kiitos on 30/06/2015 - 22:59

    Creepy/sad - my wife got a rejection email today (after asking how things were going after not hearing from them for a long time) that was an almost word for word match of the OP's.

    Lot of exceptional people out there! :-(

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