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Wow, is anyone else experiencing people sending in resume's for applying for a job, setting up an interview, and then not showing up, no phone call no nothing? It's happening to me at an alarming rate, I'd say 25 -30% of interview appointments don't even show up. I give people a half hour and then try to call them, usually get a voice message and never hear from them again.

I am not surprised at all. Depending on the job there are many people who put resumes in just to prove to their EI officer that they are applying to jobs but have no real interest in getting the job or they apply to multiple jobs and take the first one available.  
 
Having said that, my experience also is that many employers do not even have the common decency to send out a confirmation email that they have indeed received an application. I find this entirely disrespectful, especially to the applicants who genuinely are interested in the job. I consider it a sign that the employer is disorganized and/or common workplace courtesy does not exist in that organization.  
 
It's a two-way street, there are shitty people on both sides of the job application process, it's becoming a rarity to find courtesy on both ends simultaneously.

The one thing I have noticed is the number of ads for jobs that say only successful applicants will be contacted. To me a firm that cannot send out even a standard letter saying " sorry but you were unsuccessful this time but we may contact you in the future" does not seem to have staff welfare at it's heart. Not one where I would want to be employed.  
A further whinge would be the "human resources" department, whatever happened to staff department. Is a resource not something we use, abuse and throw away?

I wish it was 25-30%. My experience is much higher. I find it in the 35-40% range. Your nicer than I am though. Don't show up and your done. On the other hand, I am not an ogre. One time I got a call the next day from the applicant. Had to take her kid to the hospital. Could have been making it up, but under that circumstance, I could see forgetting to call. Of course, when she did not show up for the new interview, sigh. Still annoys me every time. Still, could be worse. Once I did the interview, offered the job, it was accepted. Starting day, no show. No call, nothing.

As an applicant I was truly interested in jobs I was applying for. I tried and tried. Sometimes I applied for the same job more than once because I didn't know if they got my original application because there was no confirmation. It was frustrating.  
I had to withdraw my name from a couple of jobs I applied for but I always took time to contact the employer and tell them I was withdrawing instead of just disappearing. It is a consideration thing.  
I didn't find I was given the same consideration as an applicant. Like someone said...a simple form email saying we received you application shouldn't be too much to ask.  
I wish everyone luck. Finding a good employee isn't easy but neither is finds a good employer sometimes.

I wish, my biggest obstacle is finding gainful employment in a wheelchair. People should be so lucky to even get an opportunity to work.

Went for a job interview, got the call back that I got the job, was sent the safest training package to do online before orientation, 100% upon completion.  
 
Called to find out orientation day and was told they needed to discuss what day to bring me in.... then nothing. Texted, called, asking to either let me know if it's a go or if they decided to go with another candidate... no response. Ignorant as far as I'm concerned .

Not all employees can respond to every resume they receive. If it is a large organization that fills lots of positions it’s not feasible to respond to every applicant just due to shear volume. I don’t think an employer needs to contact me if they are not interested in my resume/application. I do however feel that they should contact a person good or bad after an interview.

I don't have time to call back everyone that hands a resume in. If you are worried that I never got it then it should have been handed in person like my ad would have stated.  
 
I don't call back after interviews anymore. I will let one know by what time and date the position will be filled by. If you haven't heard by then, chances are not hired. I used to do call backs but then it became too much of a hassle as everyone wants to know why they didn't qualify not being hired. With today's society it is too hard to not say something wrong that may come back to bite as some discriminatory crap or something along those lines.

Some of the excuses brought up in this thread are rather hilarious. I may be unorthodox, but I have a bit of a rule of thumb that I have learned to follow in this area.  
 
1.) When it comes to accepting resumes online, even in the context of having hundreds (or thousands) come in, many employers set up automated messages that go out as soon as the resume is received. It may or may not require setting up a different email account, but then again, that might make managing your overall correspondence easier.  
 
I can understand that getting back to hundreds of people in terms of why they didn't qualify is asking too much. But not providing a simple acknowledgment that a resume was received . . . come on.  
 
2.) When I see "Drop off resumes only. No emails or phone calls accepted", I won't even bother.  
 
a.) It says to me that I'm working for someone without any interest in change. Though it is context-dependent (on the employer's sector), such a mindset is NOT future-friendly in this day and age.  
 
This reason is still on the edge of being ridiculous, but times are changing fast. Those that don't adapt are not going to be providing ANYONE with employment.  
 
b.) If my job is just some form of menial labour, I'm not jumping through hoops. Wasting energy driving all over the place chasing positions just because clients that drop off resumes are obviously "more serious" than not.  
 
I may be adding restraints to myself that would not otherwise be there. But I'm also starting to get older. And with that, comes less tolerance for nonsense.  
 
I don't trust humans, with all of the biases and insecurities that make us up. It's a shame that humans are still in charge of the hiring process.  
 
https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/minorities-who-whiten-job-resumes-get-more-interviews  
 
Edited by Simonwalcal, 2019-08-07 14:39:35

Sending a thankyou to the previous poster who attached that link. I am not of a minority skin colour, but I do see the problems first hand of the difficulties some with, more pigment to their skin, are having.

One thing that I believe holds a lot of Canadian businesses back is the employment of family/friends rather than the best applicant for the position. Think Richard Branson who headhunted the very best talent with huge success.  
Some years ago I physically took in an application for an advertised job, two weeks later not having heard anything I telephoned and was told " I filed your application, if you are still interested please complete another". Really, would I want to work for such a business.  
Another firm even gave me a tour of the premises with a promise to get back to me one way or the other. Again no further contact.  
Some employers are totally clueless and treat staff as disposables (if you don't like it ,the door is over there).  
I agree that some folks looking for jobs are just time wasters and are not really wanting a job.  
 
Edited by vegimite, 2019-08-07 15:55:53

I agree with everything you said. I feel very reluctant to consider positions when the employer asks for your resume/cover letter and your pay expectation.  
 
The amount of work that is involved with preparing your resume and cover letter and doing research on the company beforehand is a job in itself.  
 
I have practiced responding to interview questions to what I plan to wear. During the interview I ensured the employer that I am qualified for the position and had many job similarities to back up my responses to their questions.  
 
Then after a positive interview I find out the rate of pay. Ridiculous!

looking for a job should be a full time job if you want a great job, something you will like. I applied for positions posted, but I also pounded the streets every day. Dropping of resumes, talking to people. I did get a job that was not posted by pounding the streets and it lasted 25 years.  
 
so you say:  
 
"The amount of work that is involved with preparing your resume and cover letter and doing research on the company beforehand is a job in itself. "  
 
 
Really - of course it is if you want to get that perfect job.  
 
Rate of pay questions are really not that hard. Go to the company website, look around at the same position at other companies.  
 
So, it may be lower than you want, maybe they will increase it after three months probation. Maybe you can ask after that time, how you are doing and if a increase is possible. Maybe they give out bonuses.  
 
Everyone wants a job, or complains there is not jobs, because they think they should start at the top wage bracket.  
 
As for people not getting a call back, that is usually made clear, that only the one picked for the position will get the call. One job I applied for had 525 applicants. An employer is sorting through threw them, setting up interviews, I don't think they have time or resources to call, e-mail everyone that applied even if you have an interview. At the end of an interview most employers will say we will be in contact by a certain date. I guess if they did not contact you, they have picked a better candidate for the position.  
 
Edited by Brenda..., 2019-08-08 05:28:31

In June I had applied for a job, sent my resume in. There was no closing date for the position, the ad only stated that position will remain open till filled. No problem.  
 
I have an email tracker for my emails. My application has not even been opened yet. I have rechecked the email address and all the pertinent information required. Correct! I had sent in my resume within 24 hours of the ad being place, so the position couldn't have been filled in such a short time.  
 
Can any potential employers please explain the reasons why it possibly couldn't have been opened? How can someone know from not opening email if that person is right for the job or not?  
 
I am now even more convinced that some jobs are only advertised because they have to be, then friends or family are hired as the due process was "followed", but I have no proof of that.  
 
Potential employers complain about inconsiderate and rude applicants, but there are also inconsiderate employers out there. For some job seekers out there, such as myself, it is difficult to apply for a job as we are so scared of rejection that it takes a while to build up the courage to apply for a job. Please keep that in mind when you ignore emails or throw away resumes without even looking through them.

Some government jobs are advertised every year. University support staff, is one area I can think of, and they "rehire" the person they have in place as long as they continue to find them suitable, or the person isn't interested in moving. My sister held an instructors position, for about 10 years, in her field, and then one year one of her students who had gone on to get a masters degree applied for her job and got it. It's not always about friends and family.

Your response or rant is all common sense! We have all been there, pounding the pavement and speaking to people. I did get the job that I wanted...for the past 25 years!!

sent you a pm

I totally agree with your comments. My son has emailed out a few resumes looking for his first part-time job and hasn't even been given the courtesy of so much as a return email advising that his skill set (or lack thereof!) is not what they are looking for. Really? Even just a return email is too much to ask these days? Nice lesson for a newbie to the job market. Pretty soon we will have to look up courtesy in the dictionary to see what it used to be.

To a certain extent. There’s a lot of employers that already have an internal shuffle happening, or know who’s getting the position. But if there’s a union involved they have post it. I can think of 5 places with large staffing that all practice this, sucks when we actually want the job and it’s technically not even available