Zapier's Thoughtful Rejection

In September of this year I had the unfortunately common experience of being laid off from my job.

Soon after I began the process of applying for new positions, which resulted in receiving many rejections from the companies I'd been applying to.

I'm used to the format of rejection emails, but being told you're "not quite the right fit" or that "other candidates are a stronger match" is never pleasant.

That is, until I received a rejection from Zapier. It was the kindest, most thoughtful rejection I've ever received in 17 years of being a software engineer. Even though it's still a templated response, it shows empathy that is lacking from most businesses these days.

Here's what Zapier had to say:

Hi my name,

Thanks so much for applying for the role at Zapier. We know you put a lot of effort into the application and we're really thankful for that.

We've reviewed your application and regret that we're unable to move forward. These emails are the hardest part of the job. We receive a great deal of interest, and narrowing the field means saying no to some truly high-quality applicants. Please note that while we're unable to provide feedback on your candidacy at this stage, we're happy to consider you for future opportunities that could be of interest to you.

Although you’re not moving forward in the process with Zapier right now, we know you have a lot to offer other companies. We wanted to share a [list of some of our partners] that are actively hiring for remote roles.

We'd also like to invite you to explore opportunities through our partners, PowerToFly and Built In. These organizations frequently post new roles and host events that may align with your career goals and experiences, and are open to everyone.

We hope these resources help you find your next role, and we wish you every success with your job search!

Regards,

Zapier Hiring Team

I could do a line-by-line breakdown of how classy this response is, but I think it speaks for itself. It's nice to be reminded that I still have value, and that there's hope. No other company has given the courtesy of providing extra resources, nor a push to keep searching for the right fit.

So to the Zapier Hiring Team, thank you for your kindness. I will be starting a new position soon with a company where I think I'll fit in nicely.

And the next time I find myself in need of a change, I'll apply to Zapier—if only to be so thoughtfully rejected again.