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Friend trying to get me apply for a job but I don't get an interview

#1 · September 28, 2023, 2:33 am

Quote from Emily on September 28, 2023, 2:33 am
So this is my partner's friend who has been hiring here and there since last year in his own team. Last time I wasn't employed and applied for one open position he told me about immediately, and I never heard back. Recently he said that his team is hiring again and asked if I am still interested. I am working now but I am curious - knowing how much crap goes on with the hiring process these days, I would like to test out if anything changed since I have been working for a bit now. I also felt a bit hesitant in the beginning because I didn't hear back last time and I didn't know what was the issue. My partner even said that I was too quick to accept this other job (my current one) before they contacted, as if they did contact me last time (which I checked, they didn't).
I asked this time why this was the issue and this is how the interaction goes:
Me: I don't know why last time I didn't ever hear back. Do you know what the issue is?
Him: Oh, I think it might be the format of your resume. We do get a lot of resumes from students who graduated from this local university and they have pretty standardized formats, it's hard to compete with those since they are good templates.
So I spent a few hours looking for hints - I did find one intern who worked in his team just this year and he had a template resume online, and I used a resume service to adapt my original resume into something similar. Now it's been two weeks and I haven't heard back and I'm wondering if this is even going anywhere.
I think for the broad context I am losing patience for applying for jobs, because I've learnt a lot through my own journey that it's likely that my resume is being screened by a recruiter who doesn't have any idea about what the job is and just does screening based on a script and some pre-set criteria. But in this case, I'm really perplexed as why he does this. I think it doesn't make any sense. Maybe like:" Hey I'd like to help but not really help?" I really don't enjoy that as he is the hiring manager, he should have power to at least get me to the interview process. But it has been vague that he even would have control over this hiring process since it's a government job. Just wondering what is behind his intention, other than this being another incident of hiring that's really bureaucratic.

So this is my partner's friend who has been hiring here and there since last year in his own team. Last time I wasn't employed and applied for one open position he told me about immediately, and I never heard back. Recently he said that his team is hiring again and asked if I am still interested. I am working now but I am curious - knowing how much crap goes on with the hiring process these days, I would like to test out if anything changed since I have been working for a bit now. I also felt a bit hesitant in the beginning because I didn't hear back last time and I didn't know what was the issue. My partner even said that I was too quick to accept this other job (my current one) before they contacted, as if they did contact me last time (which I checked, they didn't).

I asked this time why this was the issue and this is how the interaction goes:

Me: I don't know why last time I didn't ever hear back. Do you know what the issue is?
Him: Oh, I think it might be the format of your resume. We do get a lot of resumes from students who graduated from this local university and they have pretty standardized formats, it's hard to compete with those since they are good templates.

So I spent a few hours looking for hints - I did find one intern who worked in his team just this year and he had a template resume online, and I used a resume service to adapt my original resume into something similar. Now it's been two weeks and I haven't heard back and I'm wondering if this is even going anywhere.

I think for the broad context I am losing patience for applying for jobs, because I've learnt a lot through my own journey that it's likely that my resume is being screened by a recruiter who doesn't have any idea about what the job is and just does screening based on a script and some pre-set criteria. But in this case, I'm really perplexed as why he does this. I think it doesn't make any sense. Maybe like:" Hey I'd like to help but not really help?" I really don't enjoy that as he is the hiring manager, he should have power to at least get me to the interview process. But it has been vague that he even would have control over this hiring process since it's a government job. Just wondering what is behind his intention, other than this being another incident of hiring that's really bureaucratic.

#2 · September 28, 2023, 4:00 am

Quote from Ali Scarlett on September 28, 2023, 4:00 am
Hi Emily,
To be sure, did you try following up with them?
Based on what you've said, it seems you submitted and expected to hear back since it was them who suggested you apply.
And that can certainly make sense.
However, I also think they might be under the impression that you're still the one who needs them more than they need you. So, they treat you like any other applicant (see "Job offerers and job seekers: the power dynamics of the job market").
Your phrasing might have only reinforced that impression:
You: "I don't know why last time I didn't ever hear back (the "I don't know why" subcommunicates you're trying /expending mental effort to figure it out and the "ever" expands on the thread that you wanted to hear back but "never" did). Do you know what the issue is (and now it seems like you're trying to diagnose the issue to hopefully get the opportunity next time around—which comes across as chasing)?"
A better way to phrase it might've been something closer to this:
You: "Actually, I'm happy where I'm staying, I'm fast tracked to take more responsibility, and I think we're going to do great things. But I also love what you guys are doing here, especially the XYZ you've done. That's why I applied before, but I didn't hear back, so it seemed like you thought it wasn't a fit."
You express genuine interest which is a move of honesty and put him in a position to encourage you more to apply.
Normally, this might not work. But since he was the one who wanted you to apply initially anyway, you basically subcommunicate, "It doesn't seem like you actually want me to apply," so they'll make excuses for their mistake and ask you again. Now they're the ones chasing you.
Then, when you eventually apply again, if you don't hear back, follow up with them this time (see "How to follow up on your job application (+ get a response fast)").
This puts positive pressure on them to review your application (regardless of how it looks / what template you used) and, if they like what they see, give you the interview.

Hi Emily,

To be sure, did you try following up with them?

Based on what you've said, it seems you submitted and expected to hear back since it was them who suggested you apply.

And that can certainly make sense.

However, I also think they might be under the impression that you're still the one who needs them more than they need you. So, they treat you like any other applicant (see "Job offerers and job seekers: the power dynamics of the job market").

Your phrasing might have only reinforced that impression:

You: "I don't know why last time I didn't ever hear back (the "I don't know why" subcommunicates you're trying /expending mental effort to figure it out and the "ever" expands on the thread that you wanted to hear back but "never" did). Do you know what the issue is (and now it seems like you're trying to diagnose the issue to hopefully get the opportunity next time around—which comes across as chasing)?"

A better way to phrase it might've been something closer to this:

You: "Actually, I'm happy where I'm staying, I'm fast tracked to take more responsibility, and I think we're going to do great things. But I also love what you guys are doing here, especially the XYZ you've done. That's why I applied before, but I didn't hear back, so it seemed like you thought it wasn't a fit."

You express genuine interest which is a move of honesty and put him in a position to encourage you more to apply.

Normally, this might not work. But since he was the one who wanted you to apply initially anyway, you basically subcommunicate, "It doesn't seem like you actually want me to apply," so they'll make excuses for their mistake and ask you again. Now they're the ones chasing you.

Then, when you eventually apply again, if you don't hear back, follow up with them this time (see "How to follow up on your job application (+ get a response fast)").

This puts positive pressure on them to review your application (regardless of how it looks / what template you used) and, if they like what they see, give you the interview.

Emily has reacted to this post.

#3 · September 29, 2023, 8:38 pm

Hi Ali, thanks a lot for your reply - yes I also realized that I gave him too much power in the interaction before I applied this time, actually I will see him in person in a social gathering soon so I can try balance it out a bit more with your suggested script.

Also really like the "get response fast" thread, great tactic as to not put a lot pressure on the other person but asking for some direction that could be done with ease - really a strategy that is useful for any stranger interaction. I've come to realize that for a quick response - 1) It grabs their interest (e.g., something to offer, emotionally or otherwise); 2) If it requires their effort, it's easy to do so they would feel good about "lending a helpful hand" with minimum effort.

Ali Scarlett has reacted to this post.