How NOT to tell a candidate they didn't get the job.

I once worked in recruitment. It was hideous. Nothing gets done faster in recruitment than in any other section of an organisation.

Recruiters are essentially good people, but they are bereft of creativity. Viz:

I received a job rejection letter today. Nothing new in that - if I'd kept all such letters and emails I've received over the years I'd have quite a collection.

But this letter began the same way just about all of them did - by telling me that
"We had a number of highly qualified applicants for the position..."

This phrase is perhaps THE most mealy-mouthed excuse when it comes to job rejection letters. I've lost count of the number of times I have been told this. I couldn't give a monkey's about the highly qualified applicants! Tell me if I was I one of them, and the phrase might be a quarter useful.

So, to all recruiters: I accept that I didn't get the job, but for God's sake, come up with something original and meaningful when you tell me!

***