How to tell someone they aren't good enough

[Kedhrin]

So over the past 8 years in my career i've been put in the position to hire people and get them in the door. There are definitely things i do that, when i was on the receiving end, i hated when employers did it - the main one is not replying back or giving me bullshit answers.

 

Since I've been seasoned more in the area of hiring, i know now why people don't respond. The flat out answer is there's just too many applicants and I'm not a hiring manager, so I can't respond to everyone. Like a dating web-site, i'm in and out of a portfolio within 2 seconds - purely based off looks - and i'll decide to respond or just ignore the email.

 

In rare cases, i find that I see someones portfolio that really impresses me, but it isn't exactly what i'm looking for, so i want to give the person a response.  Usually, i say something like "I really like your work" followed up with "it's not the style i'm looking for" or the bullshit answer of "i need someone with more experience for this right now" etc....

 

What i'd like to know, not only from people who have hired/fired but also people who are on the receiving end, what is the best way to just flat out tell someone they just aren't good enough?  

 

Sometimes, this is what needs to be said the most to people.  I can't give feedback to everyone that applies as to why its not good enough, but i want to tell them that's why they aren't being considered (so at least they know a real reason).

 

what are your thoughts on this?

 

 

[Vilham]

Guess it depends on if its due to them being shit with lots of industry experience or if they are not great but new to the industry in the latter case saying they don't have the experience isn't necessarily bad if its backed up. I would think putting together a little resource guide to excellent tutorials etc would be a good help.

[Minos]

Just tell them which skills you think they need to get better at (texturing, modeling, composition, etc...) and to reapply in the future once they've improved in those areas.

 

I've heard of cases of people with good potential but not good enough to be hired that after getting feedback in a job interview worked their asses off and eventually landed the very same job a year or so later. If the person gets angry, don't take feedback or never reply thanking you, well, then that's a sign that that person truly sucks and should never work at your company

 

A nudge in the right direction is more effective than being completely honest when you want to help people. Most people get so overwhelmed when their expectations are not met (specially when they are inexperienced) that they get angry, frustrated and completely shut their minds to any useful information you might be able to share with them.

[Buddy]

You get too many skilled diva's around that never listen to anything as well. I'd take 10 noobs that are willing to learn over a douche pro.

 

 

I would say something like "You got real potential there, but you still need to work on your skills to get there, contact us few months from now with an updated portfolio". Given they actually show potential, that is.

[Izuno]

I'd take 10 noobs that are willing to learn over a douche pro.

 

This.

[knj]

Me as a not the most experienced guy,I do understand no response. That means my folio wasn't good even to be concidered, and i think all those bitches complaining about not getting even an email saying "fuck you" should think twice again. But for me as a guy who wants to be better and better, the best way to say anything is by hard truth. I mean i would love to get an email like this: "your work is really good, but your composition is lacking and your textures are blury" ect - you got the point. I really hate stuff like "We liked your folio a lot, but there was someone with better work than yours" - as much as i can understand that tere is like bilion people better than me, i don't know why they can't give that extra sentence like "he was better in architectural moddeling, thats why the other person was more suitable for this project" or something like that. Anyways i can't stand bullshit saying me that my work is great but, without any reason i'm off the interest list. This is my take on that

[Em']

Agree, what is more frustating than have no answer is to have partial or evasive answers.

I applied last year to a company that i though i could fit in and where a friend were already working, the HR was a bit nooby i think so she answers me something like "Nope, we don't want you".

Leaving me with no answer... Later i spoke to my friend and he told me that my folio was "weak" in her words... So i get back to her and ask what i could improve and what i should work to candidate again, ven asking for an art test. No answers.

 

I know that i don't have anything in my folio but student and doodles crap, but yeah, even if it's hard to ear, i prefer to know what's wrong with my work than no or partial answers.

[KoKo5oVaR]

Well i don't know if it's a good idea, but at least give them an answer. Even if it's an automated one, you could copy/paste what you wrote about not having the time to answer and detail every application, and then tell them it won't do it and they should move on or re apply after, at least it's honest and straightforward. Because it's super annoying to lose 1 or 2 weeks waiting after a company to answer when you could have tried somewhere else.

[Kedhrin]

Huge problems i have is when it's a veteran who sucks (and even more so when he's referred by a friend).  

 

I feel like a dick if i say something like "I don't feel your skill is high enough for this position". haha

[Pampers]

maybe you can give possible applicants some hints on what sort of skill level you are looking for, before they apply?

[Kedhrin]

usually i list jr. mid. sr. and those should be a given, if i don't, i always put what skill level i'm looking for in specialists.  regardless, some guys apply, pretty much damn well knowing they aren't good enough

[Thrik]

I think what'd probably be best would be to give a very short response saying that unfortunately they haven't been chosen. That way, they have the closure of knowing they can forget about that prospect and they shouldn't re-apply until a much later time. I can't help but feel a little animosity when I encounter companies that I know ignored me at some point during the past.

If I were in your shoes I'd also say something along the lines of "If you'd like to know more about what led to this decision we can provide that feedback upon request". That way, you avoid having to even think about what you're going to say to each person and it can literally just be a copy/paste response. And if they do ask for more info, you can go ahead and give them a little of your time to explain it properly.

[Sentura]

Pretty much agree with you here Thrik. When I was doing job applications it was mostly just about closure rather than anything else. Get to know which options are still available so you never put all your eggs in one basket. I don't think it's too much to ask to just send out an automated e-mail when someone has read your application and all, it's definitely what I would do was I the employer in such situation.

[Bl1tz]

A company has no obligation to tell anyone why they didn't get a job. In the cases you're talking about where someone is clearly skilled but still not right for the position and maybe you don't want to offend them if the potential is there to hire them later, it's not rude at all to say exactly that. "You're very skilled but not right for the position at this time."

[Jord]

Pretty much agree with you here Thrik. When I was doing job applications it was mostly just about closure rather than anything else. Get to know which options are still available so you never put all your eggs in one basket. I don't think it's too much to ask to just send out an automated e-mail when someone has read your application and all, it's definitely what I would do was I the employer in such situation.

 

Agree with this and what Thrik says. I'd rather get any response, no matter how short than no response at all. If you do have time to give feedback though, maybe even not at that moment but in the future, that would always be beneficial.