A job application was screened out

You applied for a job and heard nothing back, or got a fast rejection. Software may have sorted or scored your application. You can ask what happened, ask for a person to look, and ask for another way in if a test doesn't work for you.

Not reviewed by a legal expert yet. Robert Sweetman is checking these pages against their sources, but no lawyer, legal clinic, or consumer organisation has reviewed them, and native speakers haven't checked the translations. If you can help review them, please get in touch.

General information, not legal advice. Laws differ by place. For anything involving significant money, health, housing, or legal status, talk to a lawyer, a legal-aid office, or your consumer agency.

What probably happened

Many employers use software to sort applications. It can scan CVs for keywords, or score online tests and video interviews.
An application the software ranks low may never be read by a person.
Tools can miss things: an unusual job title, a career break, or a layout the software can't read.

If this letter reaches you at work

Thank you for reading it. Nobody is being blamed here. Most people who write just want to understand and be treated fairly. Here are some ideas that help.

Reply, even briefly. A short note that a decision was made is kinder than silence.
Share a little honest feedback. One or two points help people improve their next application.
Let a person look again when someone asks, especially if the software may have missed something.
Offer another way in. If a test or tool doesn't work for someone, for example because of a disability, an alternative keeps good candidates in the running. In the US, the law usually requires reasonable accommodations.¹⁰¹
Check the tool now and then. If similar people keep getting screened out, its settings may need a look.

A clear, kind answer can settle things for both sides. Working inside a company? Your view is welcome in the forum too.

When to get help from a person soon

If you could lose your home, your job, or money you need for food or bills, don't wait for letters. A legal aid office or consumer advice centre near you can help. Many are free.

Keep a record

Keep every letter, email, chat, and notice, with its date. Take screenshots of chats. For phone calls, write down the date, who you spoke to, and what they said.

Should this work differently? Say what should change in the forum.

What probably happened

Your rights where you live

If this letter reaches you at work

When to get help from a person soon

Keep a record