Should I feel insulted by this rejection email?

Deleted member 9399 · Jul 10, 2018

That's pretty standard. You're always welcome to email back and politely ask them to expand on their feedback (and frame it as knowledge you want to use going forward in your search, etc) .

But yeah, it happens.

Somewhat related, is this kind of task regular for intervieinte in your field? I'm wondering if it falls under spec work to a degree

Deleted member 29293 · Jul 10, 2018

Don't feel insulted, you can feel disappointed.

Just ask politely if he can find the time to give you feedback either via mail or a call.

Z-oo31 · Jul 10, 2018

That kind of rejection email is as common as it gets, regardless of the time you put into the interview process.

So don't feel insulted knowing that millions of people receive the same thing.

Moose the Fattest Cat · Jul 10, 2018

It'd be swell if company's gave applicants constructive feedback. Such a practice would help the workforce, overall.

Unfortunately, most jobs won't even send a notice of rejection when they hire another candidate, much less "why".

Mórríoghain · Jul 10, 2018

No one has time to tailor a specific email to the people they reject.

Don't take it personally and move on.

Blue Ninja · Jul 10, 2018

Jangowuzhere said:
I'm not going to list the company specifically, but I was applying to be a video editor for a popular youtube channel. I received a reply, and was in talks with the operating chief of the company. He was interested in seeing my raw skill set with graphics, timing, sound effects, and so on. He sent me 30 minutes of raw footage and wanted me to edit together a 3-minute cut emulating their editing style with my own spin on it. Now, 3 mins is not a long time, but this was a visually intensive video with lots of fast paced cuts and graphics, it took me a couple days to make it. I finished my cut and sent it to him. I waited a few days before he replied, and this was his response.

"Thank you for your submission. Unfortunately, the style is not a fit for us at this time. We appreciate your interest and wish you great success in your future endeavors.

Thank you,"
xxxxx

That's it. No feedback on my work or why specifically the "style" was not a fit for them. I was pretty damn angry after getting this email. I was seriously on the verge of giving this person a call and interrogating him on why my work wasn't good enough. Thankfully, I cooled down a bit and sent a polite response in the end.

If he didn't like my work, then fair enough, but I spent a good amount of time piecing together a video that they personally requested of me. All that to get a soulless copy and paste rejection letter, it feels shitty. If this was a rejection letter after an interview, then whatever, not a big deal at all. I shurg my shoulders when that happens, but this felt insulting to me. I felt like I just wasted two full days, that time I could have spent working on other projects and applying to other jobs. Has this ever happened to anyone else?

I used to get those all the time. Still do, from time to tile. I'll pour hours into something creative, only to get that in response.

Just shrug it off. If you're going to get insulted by shit like this, you'll spend a lot of time feeling that way.

ThankeeSai · Jul 10, 2018

At least he put some kisses at the end to soften the blow.

Deleted member 14080 · Jul 10, 2018

Ain't nobody got time to write 7 page review of your work accompanied by 15 page dissertation of why your style isn't good enough for their company. Move on, keep going and don't get discouraged.

Keldroc · Jul 10, 2018

That is a completely standard rejection letter. Most published authors could wallpaper a room with the ones they've gotten over the years.

KuroNeeko · Jul 10, 2018

If it makes you feel any better, I completely understand how you feel. I spent probably about 50 hours or so on a localization test for one major company as part of the interview process. The test received a glowing commendation, but I imagine that the interview did not as I was turned down due to "lack of skill".

It sucks, hardcore, but that's the price of admission for these kinds of things.
Sorry, OP. Hopefully you'll find something better.

John Dunbar · Jul 10, 2018

this is just why you shouldn't feel about about ghosting employers.

LiK · Jul 10, 2018

At least you got a reply. Most companies don't even bother doing that. Just move on. Plenty of other channels to apply for out there. Never look into rejection letters for feedback. It's not their duty to tell you why you weren't accepted in detail.

Skade · Jul 10, 2018

They probably hired someone else before finding your video submission and then send this mail to tell you off "nicely".

SuperBanana · Jul 10, 2018

Be happy they sent you anything. Many will just ghost you.

Deleted member 8408 · Jul 10, 2018

The fact some people get insulted by rejection emails and feel the need to fight them is the reason why some companies don't bother to send them out in the first place.

Azraes · Jul 10, 2018

That's a boilerplate response and you do have to get used to this. Sure you wasted a few days on it. Sometimes you might be flown into another country, have month long processes and what you'd get is something like this. Companies for better or worse do not care for how much effort you put into. Sometimes your style isn't what they want, sometimes there's a better fit. But you're not the only person they're courting with a job and if someone else seems to be a much better fit for what they're looking for then they will go with them.

You do need to suck this one up; getting angry or upset is fine but expecting anything more of a response from them isn't going to gain you much empathy and is never a good look. This is one of those things that's best shrugged off. Don't mull over it and move on.

Visanideth · Jul 10, 2018

I really don't think they owe you a detailed review of your material or suggestions for how to improve it. They're just gonna keep looking. They checked your stuff, they didn't like it, they moved on. Nothing egregious about it.

Keyser S · Jul 10, 2018

If you think you are good enough to receive a better letter, then put that anger end effort into become successful elsewhere, and prove them wrong. Even if they will never know, it is a good way of moving forward, and using the built up emotion you seem to have in a positive way. They are not the focus any more. Keep doing what is best for you. Move forward, and put them firmly behind you.

Visanideth · Jul 10, 2018

John Dunbar said:
this is just why you shouldn't feel about about ghosting employers.

Boy I wish some of my employees ghosted me :P .

Psittacus · Jul 10, 2018

Most of what HR people will tell you is mealy mouthed lies, so try not to take it personally.

Mórríoghain said:
No one has time to tailor a specific email to the people they reject.

Don't take it personally and move on.

They don't have time because they get too many cookie-cutter applicants. There are too many cookie-cutter applicants because they get no feedback. Hiring is an ever expanding malestrom of mediocrity and both side's natural response to the situation just feeds into it and makes it worse.

cwmartin · Jul 10, 2018

Days of work is ridiculous and I would keep an eye out on their channel to make sure they don't use your work without your permission. Hate that employers find this appropriate.

The rejection is par for the course of life but I'd be upset I did so much work regardless of landing the position or not.

Qikz · Jul 10, 2018

I love how terrible standards of things employers do are just waived off as "that's just how it works". We shouldn't accept dumb responses like this. You shouldn't be asking for a test video if you're not willing to give any feedback at all. That's disgusting practice .

KrangBakesaTurtle · Jul 10, 2018

Typical rejection reply. If they had any interest they would say something .

theaface · Jul 10, 2018

Jangowuzhere said:
"Thank you for your submission. Unfortunately, the style is not a fit for us at this time. We appreciate your interest and wish you great success in your future endeavors.

Thank you,"
xxxxx

At least they put kisses at the end.

KrangBakesaTurtle · Jul 10, 2018

Jangowuzhere said:
I actually don't, I signed an NDA so I could get access to the footage. I can't show that video to anyone else.

If that were the case, then I probably wouldn't be mad at all, because I least could rationalize it as good work that I could put into my portfolio to show other companies. Instead, I wasted a lot of time with nothing to show for it.

Normally yes, but this was a special case. They want someone who can output work in a specific way.

Share other work and videos

Deleted member 3058 · Jul 10, 2018

Jangowuzhere said:
I don't know, I am angry about this and probably will take me a bit to cool down.

But yes, that response would actually be a bit better. Because there's at least some reasoning tied to it. The response I got was absolutely nothing in comparison.

Listen to the people in this thread saying that you even getting a response is good.

Many employers don't even bother to respond to applicants they don't hire. They just ghost them.

Move on.

MonadL · Jul 10, 2018

Responses like that are bullshit if you're made to take a long and involved skill test. It's one thing if it was just a 30 minute phone interview but to make a candidate take a test and not even have the decency to give feedback is terrible.

shaneo632 · Jul 10, 2018

While I can appreciate it must hurt getting such a curt response to several days of unpaid work, they're busy and probably don't have time to give detailed feedback to every prospective employee.

You've got nothing to lose asking for more detail, though. Just be polite and respectful.

Samenamenick · Jul 10, 2018

Qikz said:
I love how terrible standards of things employers do are just waived off as "that's just how it works". We shouldn't accept dumb responses like this. You shouldn't be asking for a test video if you're not willing to give any feedback at all. That's disgusting practice .

Why should a prospective employer be responsible for providing detailed feedback to an applicant? They're not your college professor or therapist. Their focus is looking for employees. They set the standard. If a 2 day interview, or a 2 day project submission, it's up to you to decide if the effort is worth the potential for opportunity. The best case is a job, the alternative is no job. You pick.

My take is that if OP is getting this worked up over an employer passing on them, they (employer) may have dodged a bullet here. Imagine if he got hired, and they didn't like his first project, and he goes apeshit on the team due to the rejection (I somehow doubt detailed criticism would've made you ok with the reply as you suggested)

Chirotera · Jul 10, 2018

At least you got a rejection letter. Can't tell you how many jobs I've applied for, with strong interviews, only to never hear anything back even after inquiring. A few times I'd get a rejection letter *months* later. It's a soulless system.

Bony Manifesto · Jul 10, 2018

I wouldn't be offended by the letter, but I'd be very offended about having to do a not-insignificant amount of unpaid production-quality work for them as part of the application process. You say you had to sign an NDA before you were allowed to look at the 'sample' footage you were working with? That's a hell of a red flag for me!

DigitalOp · Jul 10, 2018

Keep a serious eye on the company so they aren't turning around and using your work.

Alot of assholes pull that scheme for free labor

duckroll · Jul 10, 2018

Samenamenick said:
My take is that if OP is getting this worked up over an employer passing on them, they (employer) may have dodged a bullet here. Imagine if he got hired, and they didn't like his first project, and he goes apeshit on the team due to the rejection (I somehow doubt detailed criticism would've made you ok with the reply as you suggested)

No need to be mean here, he's obviously venting after being disappointed. He really wanted the gig.

spookyduzt · Jul 10, 2018

Those sunsabitches...burn it down op.

TyrantGuardian · Jul 10, 2018

What the. They are not your teacher.

Your first mistake was doing spec work, however. Have a portfolio that speaks for itself and never do actual work to "show off your skills" to an employer.

DigitalOp said:
Keep a serious eye on the company so they aren't turning around and using your work.

Alot of assholes pull that scheme for free labor

Also this.

Br3wnor · Jul 10, 2018

On the plus side at least you didn't call the guy to berate him and eviscerate your reputation in what I'm sure is a small/insular industry. Honestly, posting about it here isn't in the best taste given that the guy could be a reader, you go from a random failed submission to someone he might talk to others in the industry about. Never good to air your dirty laundry when it comes to professional stuff, you only get one first impression (I would see if a mod would delete this thread for you)

platocplx · Jul 10, 2018

Qikz said:
I love how terrible standards of things employers do are just waived off as "that's just how it works". We shouldn't accept dumb responses like this. You shouldn't be asking for a test video if you're not willing to give any feedback at all. That's disgusting practice .

Right. That doesn't seem right at all. What should be happening is them reviewing their current portfolio of work not making them edit a 30 Min video down to 3 mins on the fly like that.
That is extremely fucked up to me.

I know some jobs have like quizzes and stuff but this seems way more excessive than usual. Editing photos/video takes a lot of time.

DigitalOp said:
Keep a serious eye on the company so they aren't turning around and using your work.

Alot of assholes pull that scheme for free labor

Yep I was thinking the same thing.

temp · Jul 10, 2018

Yes you should feel insulted, but also this is very common.

Deleted member 9932 · Jul 10, 2018

Not only people are shit, the whole world just accepts that's normal (just look at some of the replies). Make no mistake, this is as common as it gets. Doesn't make it less insulting though.

hotcyder · Jul 10, 2018

At least they put some kisses on the e-mail to make things better

theaface said:
At least they put kisses at the end.

ah damn it

DevilMayGuy · Jul 10, 2018

Welcome to job searching. At least you got a response

Dude Abides · Jul 10, 2018

Such disrespekt! Your only recourse is to challenge him to pistols at dawn.

tokkun · Jul 10, 2018

Qikz said:
I love how terrible standards of things employers do are just waived off as "that's just how it works". We shouldn't accept dumb responses like this. You shouldn't be asking for a test video if you're not willing to give any feedback at all. That's disgusting practice .

At my company we actually have the feedback written up, we just don't share it with the applicant. The reason is that some people just can't handle getting negative criticism, and if you give it to them will not believe it and instead think that it must be discrimination. Then they start harassing the company or try to file a lawsuit. This is why a lot of companies have a policy not to share feedback with the employee, because it protects them.

Even if it is only 1 in 100 applicants who is like this, they can cause enough trouble to scare employers off of sharing feedback. Especially because there is no particular incentive for employers to share the info.

Greigor the FellHand · Jul 10, 2018

Don't take offense, move on. you get a lot of copy pasted responses now adays

Gakidou · Jul 10, 2018

OP i rrrreally think you should do the following:

- get some tea and candy until you absorbed all the salty feelings. I *do* think its reasonable to feel hurt and annoyed at their response! I don't think you should have to "feel grateful that you received anything at all" but you'll need to be back in a good mindset to do the next step

- reply to them with an email basically saying "Thanks for getting back to me about this, would it be possible to get some more detailed feedback about my submission? I would still really like to know what parts you liked and disliked, and what criteria if any was missed. It would be really useful to me to improve my work. Thanks!"

- leave out anything along the lines of "sorry i wasnt good enough" or "was it really that bad" or "I can change! give me another shot!" or ":("

I really do think a lot of people hiring don't immediately send back a big page of feedback notes because there's a lot of budding creatives out there who don't handle that part of the job well. Either they get super defensive about criticism or they don't take no for an answer.

If you show that you can take rejection with grace and feel that your craft is the priority and not your personal validation, it'll help build you a good reputation, even if nothing comes of it from this particular endeavour.

dreams · Jul 10, 2018

Is this the first job you've ever applied for? This is just how job searching is. You can certainly respond and ask why you weren't a good fit (and I've read you have sent a follow-up email, so that's good), but they aren't obligated to respond to you. Sounds like you have some growing up to do here.

Conkersbadfurday · Jul 10, 2018

I'd be pretty pissed if I was in your shoes too, OP. 30 minutes -> 3 minutes is a lot of editing. Would def take me a few days if I was trying to not have it look like shit.

I've had similar before with agents and submitting books. Typically once an agent asks for the full manuscript or a partial, you can expect at least a personalized rejection letter. Getting that ask is a huge step. And then you have some agents who send boilerplate rejections and move on. It fucking sucks.

Ensorcell · Jul 10, 2018

Oh, I was was expecting something that was REALLY insulting. No just move on and maybe ask for more feedback if you feel you need it. When applying for jobs you're going to get rejections like that quite frequently.

Dr. Mario · Jul 10, 2018

I think if they really ask you to put in (multiple) days work, they should have the decency to write something a bit more personal.

In any case it's a good idea to try to follow up and get some insight into what they didn't like about it. (call if they don't email back).

(sometimes, they reject everyone and only the people that follow up get invited for an interview)

TheMan · Jul 10, 2018

You will learn that most potential employers don't even bother with a rejection letter, they just leave you hanging indefinitely. If you want feedback, ask. Make this a habit.

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