I would not have made this thread altogether to begin with, if I read "The position had been filled" in the rejection letter. I would have accepted my clear defeat.

I agree it does not necessarily mean the position had NOT been filled.

Just because A did not say " B happened " does not mean B did not happen.

I was wondering if L Q members felt it was a "fake job advertisement"

This may buy me a lil vacation from this place. Why not just put an add in Farceebook 0r Cragzlists ? Linked in is bullshit. Walk in the door of someone who "may" be hiring and say" Whatsapp sir ? Need a man for this this or this ? "Give me a try for a couple-three days and, if you like what you see, we'll talk".

There is nothing unusual in not receiving a rejection letter nor in receiving something ambiguously worded as you have - especially as you've been eliminated early in the process and not made it to the interview stage.

The position may not have been filled at the time those letters were sent. The next stage is usually interviews. I thought that would have been obvious...?

You're reading way too much into this.

I agree with your post. I would have preferred to read "We have narrowed down the candidates to give actual interviews, and you were not one of them"

I would have clearly understood the situation, accepted my defeat, and gone on to seek other career opportunities.

All it reads is "Regrettably, we must inform you that your candidacy has not been retained at this time."

It gave quite a few possibilities such as

"The company won't bother hiring anyone for that position"
"The company found an internal candidate"
"The company narrowed down candidates to give interviews"

I started this thread because I felt LQ members would be able to predict what happened.

But then again the company is legally responsible neither to let me know exactly, nor to provide a rejection letter in the first place.

Sorry, but no; the company clearly told you someone else was hired for the position. As others have said, you're reading FAR too much into this.
I agree with others that you didn't read the job description clearly. I honestly don't mean to sound harsh, and I *DO NO* want to discourage you. You're to be congratulated on trying to work upwards; but please, take an honest look at your resume and cover letter, and re-read the job description and think about what you submitted.

The job was for a cyber-security specialist for a major corporation. They asked for candidates with 9 years of experience. Cyber security is a HUGELY involved field, requiring a very deep knowledge of networks, operating systems, etc. You have one Microsoft security-related certification, and no relevant professional experience, and have only worked doing web and app development.

If you were the hiring manager for that position..would YOU have interviewed that person? And as someone who hires for his own company and has hired for larger corporations, your job-length would be a red-flag. Most of your jobs have been about a year in length, and companies tend to spend a good deal to onboard someone, so they don't want to do it often, or hire someone who is just going to be there a short time.

...

https://i.imgur.com/dQTa0gJ.jpg

Look at this beautiful, clear, exact, professional rejection letter I just received a few minutes ago

In this case

The HR have stated that they specifically were able to find better candidates than me

And because of this wonderful rejection letter, I am exactly aware of what happened, and therefore, I have no problem accepting my clear defeat. I know what happened, which is they narrowed down to better candidates, and there is nothing for me to ask. That is what I wanted. I will accept my defeats. I just wanted to know why, and what happened. I accept my defeat, thank you HR, best of luck to you in the future, and I will keep searching for excellent opportunities out there.


It was a physical security guard position. The one I mentioned when I started this thread is the "digital security guard" position.

That is a standard form letter. And saying that your candidacy has not been retained is no less clear than "we hired someone else". It's just worded differently.
Very, VERY incorrect...and it demonstrates why you wouldn't ever get that other job, if that's what you think. If you truly think that cyber-security for a huge, national corporation is a 'digital security guard', you are WAY off.

This is like saying "a physical security guard position" is the same as "Rapid Response SWAT team sniper". It just isn't.

You're still dwelling on the fact you couldn't get an interview for a position you just aren't qualified for, and are trying to somehow blame the company for it. They were very clear, and very professional. You were EXPLICITLY TOLD by someone who works there you weren't qualified..it cannot be more clear why you didn't get an interview.

Getting any response is a plus. I’ve lost count of the number of positions I’ve applied for and never heard anything back over the past 50-odd years.
As has been said, you received feedback about why when you followed up. The lesson I’m hearing is that you’re applying for positions for which you’re not qualified.

Being in a different trade, Industrial electrician.

When I was unhappy with hourly job offers and rejections.

I, with a buddy. Opened a independent motorcycle shop of our own.

My buddy had sooooo much fun. The biz killed him.He ran into a back hoe bucket on a trailer. Made enough to retire later on, myself.

Did that back in the 90's though in West Tx, Not sure how well you are set up to try something like this your self for your trade.
It took us a lot of effort and investment to make mad money at this during the week.

Return monies were in the hundreds of dollars for small repairs. Then thousands for major repair, No unemployment benefits. you hafta get get your blue cross blue shield or whatever medical insurance your self also.

I loved the no bosses part. Plus long hours could be a party at the end of the day. Being late? No biggy. Wives handled the keys tp the building and help desk.