Unsuccessful applicants
As we have mentioned previously, there can be only one successful applicant but how professionally and courteously you communicate with the unsuccessful applicants will have important public relations implications for your organisation.
Reflecting on your own experiences with receiving unsuccessful letters will hopefully enhance your empathy towards applicants who are not being made an offer of employment. Circumstances may prevail where in the near future you may be approaching these same people with an offer and it is therefore in the interests of all to handle this part of the process well.
Below is a sample of a letter that may be sent to applicant who attended the interview.
Sample 1
Dear
Thank you for the opportunity to meet with you and discuss your application for the position of Assistant Branch Manager.
While we were impressed with your background and experience, we have concluded that another applicant more closely matches our requirements.
We regret that we cannot offer you employment with Star Books at this time.
We will keep your resume on our files for three months. Should an appropriate position become available in that time we will contact you.
Please accept our best wishes for every success in your future career.
Yours faithfully
Sample 2
The next letter could be sent to applicants who were not invited to an interview.
Dear
Thank you for your application for the position of Assistant Branch Manager.
We have received many applications for this position and the standard of applications was very high. On this occasion, there were applicants whose qualifications and experience more closely matched our requirements.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you every success in your future career.
Yours faithfully