Every account in the FAAES register, in full, most recent first. These are self-reported experiences, recorded in each person’s own words, published anonymously with consent.
“After 700 applications, it makes you feel like a number being processed rather than a person being considered.”
Over the last year I’ve applied to close to 700 roles, mostly operations, people ops, and workplace coordination positions. Most companies never get back to you at all — you apply, get an automated acknowledgment, and never hear back. In some ways that’s almost easier than the alternative. By now I have gotten so used to not hearing back that when I do get the generic rejection email, it actually stings more — a reminder you applied and were not successful.
Some companies acknowledge the high volume of applications and apologise for not giving feedback, but when you receive it two hours after applying, it’s hard to believe a human has seen it. Recently companies ask you to fill out feedback on your experience of applying — but with the volume I’m submitting, I genuinely can’t remember the specifics of that one application. These applications often require creating a whole account for their portal, one you’ll never log into again, just to apply, and then later you’re expected to recall the details well enough to give meaningful feedback. It puts the burden back on the candidate one more time, after they’ve already given the company everything they asked for.
A handful of times I’ve reached the final stages of interviews, sometimes multiple rounds, and been rejected after. In those cases companies have been kind enough to provide feedback. I do see the market is very competitive and even when you are a very close match, that isn’t enough.
I expected rejection to be the hard part. What’s actually worn me down more is how impersonal the whole thing is — silence that never closes the loop, generic rejections that feel like a copy-paste, and requests for feedback that assume I have the time and memory to reconstruct an experience where I never interacted with a person. It makes you feel like a number being processed rather than a person being considered, and after 700 applications, that adds up.
“More than once I have been rejected by the automated vetting system despite having been in contact with someone within the organisation.”
It is desperately frustrating and has now driven me to an entrepreneurial path where I have control. Maybe this is for the best but either these roles are not actually available and they are going through the motions, or the automated filtration is so tight it becomes a lottery on whether you get past. This means they are either wasting people’s time or not making themselves available to the best talent. I am also suspicious of the role the DEI questionnaires play.
“I 0% trust in corporations in using our data or following data clean room practices or policies.”
I 100% believe that our society forces you to act as if it is your fault, you must hustle more, or it’s a silly clerical error.
I 1000% am heartbroken and angry about ATS systems and HR software and changes in hiring in the US.
“So, I applied for a talent acquisition role…”