When and How Should I Notify all the Other Applicants that the Job Has Been Filled?
Some organizations tell applicants that if they don’t hear from the firm by a certain date to assume they didn’t get the job. Others prefer to write or phone applicants who have been seriously considered. Certainly, the latter leaves candidates with a better viewpoint about the firm to which they applied. One warning: Don’t notify other candidates until shortly after your new employee starts. If the chosen candidate changes his or her mind and doesn’t start, you then can still go back to the others without having them feel they were second choices.
No reason need be given for not hiring one of the applicants. The most diplomatic approach is to write or say, "One of the other candidates was closer to our current needs." You don’t have to explain in what way or to give any specific reason.