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On Today’s Launch
Should you apply to jobs you’ve been rejected for?
Why do some recruiters ghost you after the final interview?
What do you when you think an employer is going to give you a negative reference?
What you may have missed last week…
A client was rejected within an hour of applying, but still got an interview. Read it here.
Should you apply to jobs you’ve been already rejected for?
In short, yes.
There's a myth that applying multiple times for the same role, or for different roles within a company, leads to blacklisting.
That’s just not true (unless you're disrespectful, harass someone, or lie on your resume or LinkedIn).
Companies really do want to hire people and at the end of the day, nobody wins when the position is left unfilled.
A few factors might have prevented an interview after your initial application:
1) You may not have been among the top 5-10 applicants initially. However, this can change as candidates may not interview well or might have already found jobs. It happens regularly where the entire initial batch of candidates doesn’t make it though for one reason or another (sometimes the job posting gets re-posted).
2) Recruiter turnover. If a recruiter leaves, the new one won't know you. Each recruiter assesses candidates differently, so a new recruiter might find your background appealing.
So if you think you really are a good fit for the job, reapply.
Hint: Reassess your resume. It’s often the case where you’re a strong candidate, but your resume doesn’t portray you as such. In these cases, a revisit may be in order. I’ve written extensively on resumes in past issues of the Launchpad, including how to write solid bullet points (Issue #11), how to understand how recruiters read your resume (Issue #30), and the one change to make to your resume to get more interviews (Issue #49).
About the Author
I’m James, Cofounder of Final Draft Resumes. I’ve been in the career consulting space for 13 years, and before that, I was a recruiter for AECOM.
I’ve helped thousands of job seekers, from industries like software engineering, IT, sales, marketing, manufacturing, and more generate job opportunities through well-written resumes that translate unique backgrounds into coherent narratives.
If you’re struggling with your resume for whatever reason, reach out - I just might be able to help!
If you’re more of a DIY person, then check out Resumatic, my free-to-try resume builder.
Why do some recruiters ghost you after the final round interview?
This happens for a few of reasons (none of which make it any less frustrating, but hey, at least you understand what’s going on behind the scenes).
No. 1: Some recruiters may find it challenging to deliver negative feedback. While it's not common, it does happen. They may fear backlash or simply feel unequipped to manage disappointed candidates, hence they avoid it outright.
No. 2: There's no direct incentive for them to provide closure. Companies tend to operate transactionally, and even though providing a response might be the professional courtesy, they gain nothing directly from rejecting a candidate, hence they don’t prioritize it.
No. 3: They might be keeping you on the back burner. There aren't many final-round candidates. Once they select a candidate (other than you), they wait to see if
A) the candidate accepts the offer,
B) the candidate shows up on the first day, and
C) they wish to retain the candidate. In doing this, they refrain from communicating with you.
If you aren't formally rejected, you're more likely to remain open to future engagement. If they rejected you outright, they assume you wouldn't respond positively if they decided to revert their decision. By keeping you in the dark, you technically were never rejected, allowing them to circle back and offer you the role if their initial choice falls through. It's a strategy companies use to ensure they secure the right fit.
No. 4: They’re lazy. Nuff said.
Subscriber Question
I'm concerned about a previous employer giving me a negative reference. I've been getting a lot of rejections lately, even for jobs I'm highly qualified for. One recruiter even told me that they got negative feedback during a reference check.
I'm not sure how to handle this situation. I don't want to jeopardize my chances of getting a job, but I also don't want to lie about my work history.
That's a tough spot to be in, and I understand your concern.
First things first, are you listing references on your resume or job applications? If so, remove them. Only provide references when specifically requested by the employer, and preferably after you've had at least one interview. This gives you a chance to make a good impression before potentially negative references come into play.
If references are requested upfront, tell the employer that your references are available upon request, but prefer to be contacted after you've had a chance to interview and there's mutual interest.
Also, never assume someone will give you a positive reference. Always ask for permission before listing anyone as a reference. You might be surprised by what someone says about you, so it's better to be safe than sorry.
To figure out who's giving you the negative reference, reach out to your references and ask them what questions they're being asked. This can give you valuable insights into what potential employers are looking for and help you tailor your responses in future interviews.
If you can't pinpoint the problem reference after talking to them, it might be time to find new references altogether.
If you're not providing references, then companies might be doing backdoor reference checks, which involve reaching out to your former employers on platforms like LinkedIn. If you suspect this is happening, you could temporarily change your previous employer's name on LinkedIn to "Confidential" to minimize bias before you get a chance to interview.
I hope this helps! Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions.