The words they use when the answer is no.
“We’ve decided to move forward with other candidates.” “We’ll keep your résumé on file.” You tailored the résumé, prepped for the interview, and this is what came back.
If one of them was actually handled well, that belongs here too.
“Unfortunately we’ve decided to move forward with candidates whose experience more closely aligns with the role.”
“We’ll keep your résumé on file and reach out if something opens up.”
“After careful consideration, we’ve decided not to move forward to the next stage.”
“The team has taken the time to review your profile and has decided not to move forward at this time.”
“We’ve decided not to move forward with your application.”
“Although your background is impressive, we regret to inform you that we have decided to pursue other candidates for the positions at this time.”
“We’re growing — keep checking our Careers page for our latest openings!”
“It was a very close call.”
“At this time we have decided not to move forward with your application for our [role] position.”
“While we have decided to move forward with another candidate for this specific opening, we would love to keep in touch. If you’re open to it, we’d like to keep your resume and contact info on file so we can reach out the moment a new opportunity opens up that aligns with your expertise.”
“Unfortunately, you haven’t met the requirements for this position.”
“The hiring manager chose to progress candidates whose experience more closely aligned with the specific needs of the role.”
“While your qualifications are a good match we have decided to go with other candidates.”
“After reviewing all applications and portfolios, the hiring manager decided to move forward with candidates whose experience and backgrounds are a stronger match for our current needs.”
“Wow, that’s an amazing career and unique background.”
“You were our second choice. We’ll let you know if the first one doesn’t work out.”
“We loved you, but the role has been put on hold indefinitely.”
“All the best to you! Best regards, Human Resources [Invalid Variable]”
“[company] is pausing discussions with candidates because they are in the process of extending an offer to a candidate who was further along in the process.”
“Thank you for your meticulous design assignment that you’ve done. However at this time, we have decided to close the position until a need for it opens up in the future.”
“The decision has nothing to do with your superior performance.”
What the number means
The figure beside a line is how many people say they were sent that same sentence. Not how many disliked it, and not a score — one company’s form letter, and the count of people who recognised it word for word.
That is the whole argument of this page. A single rejection is someone’s bad afternoon; the same forty words arriving at forty people is a template, and a template is a decision somebody made once and then stopped thinking about.
The wall is in three parts because the sentences are not alike. Most are boilerplate everybody meets. A few are strange enough that nobody could have invented them. And a small number were handled properly — kept last, because they are the exception and leading with them would flatter the market into looking better than this record says it is.
A person reads every line before it appears, and anything that could identify who sent it or who received it is removed. No employer is named here, deliberately: the sentence is the evidence, and naming the sender would make this a different and far less careful thing.