Young people often wonder at the large number of employers who do not respond to their applications for jobs. They say that despite enclosing return envelopes they hear nothing at all or, at best, an impersonal note is sent declaring that the post for which they applied has been filled. Applicants often develop the suspicion that vacancies are marked for friends and relatives and that advertisements are only put out to avert this accusation. Many of them tire of writing around and feel that if only they could obtain an interview with the right person their application would meet with success.
Not to acknowledge applicants letters is impolite and there seems little excuse for this. Yet even sending brief replies to the many who apply takes much time and money. That so-called return envelop may not have been stamped by the sender, and a hard pressed office manager may be reluctant to send off long letters of explanation to disappointed job hunters. A brief note is all that can be managed and even that depends on the policy of the firm. But this difficulty is reasonably easy to remove with a little goodwill.
The failure of an application is more often the fault of the applicant, for many applicants do not set about their task in the right way. They do not study the job requirements deeply enough and dispatch applications to all and sundry in the hope that one will bear fruit. The personnel manager of a textiles manufacturer, for example, advertised for designers. He was willing to consider young people without working experience provided they had good ideas. The replies contained many remarks like: "At school I was good at art", "I like drawing things" and even
"I write very interesting stories". Only one applicant was sensible enough to enclose samples of her designs. She got the job.
Personnel managers emphasize the need for a good letter of application. They do not look for the finest writing paper and perfect typing, but it is reasonable to expect legible writing on a clean sheet of paper, not a piece torn roughly from an exercise book.
As soon as the applicant is lucky enough to receive an invitation to attend an interview, he should acknowledge the letter and say he will attend, but the matter does not end there. The wise applicant will fill in the interval, making himself familiar with the activities of the company he hopes to join. Some applicants have not the faintest idea what the company does and this puts them at a great disadvantage when they come to answer the questions that will be put to them in the interview.
Finally, the way an applicant presents himself at the interview can sometimes mar his chances. The applicant who arrives late is almost certain not to be appointed, as no employer likes unpunctuality. Dress is important, too. An interview is a rather special occasion and the wise applicant will come dressed in a way that shows he takes it seriously. The reason why applications are not always acknowledged may be that______.