desk rejection

Beginner 👥 Human Resources

Definition

Immediately disqualifying a candidate without serious consideration, usually based on obvious disqualifying factors or minimum requirements. It's the HR equivalent of swiping left.

Example Usage

His resume got a desk rejection within 30 seconds—turns out 'expert in Microsoft Office' doesn't qualify you for Chief Technology Officer.

Origin

Borrowed from academic publishing where editors reject papers without peer review

Fun Fact

Recruiters spend an average of 6-7 seconds on initial resume reviews, meaning desk rejections happen faster than most people can read a paragraph.

Source: Recruiting and candidate screening terminology

Related Terms

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