Being rejected or told not to apply
You might have:
- applied for a job and not got it
- been told you cannot apply for a job
Asking for feedback
You can ask the employer to:
- explain their decision
- share any rules they might have – for example, a recruitment policy
- give you any other feedback – for example, tell you how you could have done better in the job interview
They do not have to give you this information.
Why employers should give feedback
Employers do not have to explain their reasons for rejecting job applications. But it can help:
- show they're open in how they make decisions
- keep a good relationship with employees – if the applicant already works for them
- tell applicants what to do differently with future job applications
Asking them to reconsider
You can ask the employer to reconsider their decision if you think they:
- discriminated against you – for example, if you did not get the job because of your sex or race
- did not apply their rules consistently – for example, if they have a policy on how to do job interviews but did yours differently
If you already work for them
If your employer rejected your application, you can raise this with them. It's usually best to raise the problem informally first. You can do this by talking to your employer.
If you've tried all options without success, you might be able to make a claim to an employment tribunal.
In rare circumstances, you might be able to claim constructive dismissal. This can be a difficult claim to win.
If you do not work for them
Job applicants are protected by discrimination law (Equality Act 2010). If you have been discriminated against, you might be able to make a claim to an employment tribunal.
Find out more about discrimination and the Equality Act 2010
Contact the Acas helpline
If you want to discuss your options, you can contact the Acas helpline.