What To Do if a Position Is Filled Before Your Interview: A Guide

Sometimes an employer might delete the job posting for a position in which you were planning to interview. This may lead you to wonder if they've filled the job before speaking with you. It's helpful to know your options when a company fills the job in which you were going to interview. In this article, we discuss what you can do if an employer fills a position before your interview. Related: How To Prepare for an Interview

Why might an employer fill a job before an interview?

An organization might fill a job before an interview for a variety of reasons. The employer may have found a qualified candidate for the position who has agreed to work for the company. Because of this, the company may no longer want to hold interviews with other applicants. An employer might also want to hire someone they know or someone that a current employee recommends. This may be someone within the organization or an applicant with a referral. When an employer finds the person they want to hire, they may fill the job immediately. An employer might close the job if the current employee stays in their position. After they fill the position, employers often remove the job posting to prevent any further applicants from applying. Related: What To Do if You Aren't Hearing Back From Employers

What to do if a position is filled before an interview

Here are some strategies you can use when an employer fills a job before an interview:

Contact the organization that deleted the job posting

Once you see the organization has removed the job posting, you can contact them through email. You might search for the recruiter's email if you don't have it already. Sending a polite email can let the recruiter know that you're still interested in the position. You can inquire about the deleted job posting and ask why they removed it. Try to stay positive and avoid making assumptions until you receive clarification from the employer. Some other reasons that a company may delete a job posting include:

The business is no longer in need of the position.
They received enough resumes and don't want more submissions.
The employer needs to edit the job description.
They had a shortage of applicants.

Ask if you're still in consideration for the job

Be sure to ask the employer if you're still in consideration for the job. Request clarification regarding the job and your interview in your email. If they filled the position, you can move on to other employment opportunities with the same organization or continue applying for jobs.

Request a phone call to discuss other employment opportunities

Include a request to discuss other employment opportunities in your email. You might mention your qualifications and inquire whether the company has any open positions. Leave your phone number at the end of the email so the recruiter can contact you with information about other jobs.

Contact someone else at the business

If you're unable to contact the recruiter or you haven't heard from them after your first attempt, consider contacting someone else at the company. The front desk may be able to assist you in this situation. Try finding the number for the company's front desk through their website and call during their hours of operation. You can inquire about the job and your interview. If the front desk cannot provide you with any information, you might leave a message for the person who was going to interview you. Related: How To Follow up on a Job Application

Tips for contacting employers when they fill a job

Below are some tips for contacting employers after they fill a position you were going to interview for:

Use professional language

Use language that's appropriate for the workplace in any correspondence with a potential employer. Describing the topic of the email in its subject line can help the recruiter prioritize your important email. Identify yourself professionally and keep the message concise. Be clear about your reason for getting in contact with the employer. Check for proper grammar, spelling and punctuation. Use complete sentences, address the recruiter with the proper title and avoid slang.

Show your interest

Express your continued interest in the position even if you think the business has already found a candidate. Tell the recruiter some specific reasons you want to work for the company. Explain how your skills make you uniquely qualified for the job.

Be friendly

Stay professional by being friendly in all your communication with the recruiter. Try to use positive language in your emails and phone calls. Avoid negative or inappropriate language. Remember that employers are usually busy and show respect for their time by being polite. Related: Tips for Making a Follow-up Call a Success

Example of effective follow-up email

Here's an example of an effective follow-up email you can send to an employer that filled a position before your interview: Good afternoon, My name is Ezekial Abrams, and I applied for the manager position at Book Board. We had arranged an interview for this Friday at 10 a.m. CST, but I noticed you removed the job description for the position. I'm writing to inquire about the status of the position. I hope your search to fill this position is going well. I wanted to extend my congratulations if you already found the right candidate. If you filled the position, I'm interested in knowing whether you're interviewing for any other available positions. I'm very interested in working with Book Board and have communication and organizational skills that can contribute to my success in a variety of positions. I really hope we can stay in contact, and please let me know if there's anything I can do moving forward to be considered for future opportunities. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Ezekial Abrams