Hi, TH community! I have been applying for sits in London next year and I feel like I always put some effort in my applications, reading everything carefully and personalising my messages. However, some pet parents have just rejected my application without sending a message back, and it does not feel great. The last one I sent came with a home exchange invitation and still I did not receive a reply, being rejected after just an hour of applying. Is this normal to other sitters here? I may be taking this too seriously, but I find it a bit rude that people cannot take a minute to acknowledge the applicant. I’d love to hear your comments.
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It’s rude, but normal. But also, there is a bug that even if the HOs include a message when declining you, it doesn’t go through, you just get the standard message. To send a custom message HOs have to do it separately from declining. Most don’t know that. Don’t take it personally.
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Thank you for that info, I did not know that and it really makes a difference.
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I believe also that the other sitters would automatically receive a decline-message when a host confirms a sit.
In popular destinations hosts quickly fill up the max 5 applicants, and it would be necessary for a host to keep track of applicants and decline applications they find not suitable for whatever reason to open up possibility to get applications from others.
I see your point and it is shared by many, but a no is still a no even if it is gift-wrapped. The no is in itself a gift for me, it wasn’t a good match and opens up other possibilities.
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Hi @Rosa, it is disappointing not to receive a reply. This would probably be the most common issue raised on the forum. You can check the spyglass for other threads on it. Just think are these the type of owners you would want to sit for if they don’t communicate well right from the start. Hang in there! Pity you’re not looking for a sit in London over Christmas/New Year as there are many listings advertised and all won’t get sitters.
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Oh, I do have a sit for Xmas. I mostly have no problem getting sits because I have some experience and I do not mind getting a No, but I am also a pet parent and the times I’ve posted a listing I make sure to reply to everyone because it feels nice that they want to take care of my kitties and there is nothing wrong with them as sitters. Thank you for all your comments.
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I used to get really annoyed too as it seemed rude. I’m numb to it now. Just apply for as many sits as you want and once you confirm, you can withdraw the applications with conflicting dates.
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I think hosts should really think beyond the current sit when declining applicants. If I just get an auto-decline, I assume they would never be interested in me sitting for them. For whatever reason they don’t think I’m a good fit and that’s completely fine. I would never apply to any of their dates again.
Often hosts have more than one great applicant, so when they choose one, they are having to decline other great sitters that could potentially sit for them in the future. It only takes seconds to send something along the lines of 'Thank you for your application, we are going with another sitter this time. However, we really liked your profile and your thorough application and would be interested in having you sit in the future."
I have had hosts circle back to me after the sitter they chose cancelled. If my initial application just got an auto-decline and no message, then my answer is no. Of course, I would still send a polite response.
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Hi @Rosa As others have said it is rude and unfortunately all too common. We just got a decline this morning. The host took 5 days to even read our application which had included a follow up message 2 days later. We only left the application open because we had not filled the gap & there were no alternatives.
She finally read it and declined us right away.
Often this happens because the HO confirmed a sitter so everyone else gets the auto decline and many hosts don’t realise that happens. They could ofcourse still send a polite msg at any time after (or before) declining but many don’t bother.
In this case the listing remained on ‘reviewing’ so it was a conscious decline with no acknowkedgement of our application or friendly message.
I find that kind of decline rude and discourteous.
Personally I always respond to host invitations. Usually I have to decline as its not a fit but I always thank them and give a reason and wish them well.
Even when its a stupid invitation like the one we got yesterday! We currently have our profile listed in KL, Malaysia. These hosts from Virginia, USA sent a friendly personalised message asking if we were available to fly in for 4 days over Christmas…!! 
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Exactly, that’s what I was thinking
YES, i think that this is a community, not a paid job. Everyone benefits and it is nice that people appreciate that. I love when HO offer sits but I get sad that I cannot accept … once I was offered a lovely sit in New Zealand and I live in Spain. I wish!
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Yes, it doesn’t feel great just getting a decline message, but it is quite normal. We typically find that the more ‘seasoned’ home owners will type a short message letting you know they have picked someone else. While more new HO or people who haven’t had that many sitters, will just decline your application if you aren’t what they are looking for…or if they choose someone else. Remember, there are definitely cases where animals don’t like men, don’t like families with kids or that they bring their own pets, etc. Sometimes there are deal breakers with HO and so they will just reject or deny an application immediately based on some of those factors. Don’t take it personally and just move on. Too many fish in the sea lol 
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We don’t necessarily agree. Most HO are in the ‘current sit’ mentality and aren’t concerned about not burning bridges down the road. We will still apply for a sit if we get denied for a certain set of dates…maybe just wasn’t meant to be at the time.
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Doesn’t bother me if they decline without a message. No is enough for me to move on. But yes, I probably wouldn’t apply again if I didn’t know why they declined.
When I’ve received decline messages, they’ve tended to mention choosing someone local or in the same country. One had a previous sitter agree to return. Another said they were choosing someone with a personal connection to a family member.
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Ditto! Except, our rationale for not applying for any future sits is more because, if they cannot be bothered to acknowledge an individually-crafted application, we feel they are probably rather entitled, and would therefore not be a good fit for us.
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@Couple_travels_fulltime I just consider it rude to send an auto-decline and not a personal message. So, I wouldn’t apply to sit for them in the future, it would not be a good fit given differences in how we view communication. I just move on to other potential sits. Others may not feel this way and that’s fine. We all choose which sits we apply. Of course, I would give some leeway to people from other cultures since there are cultural differences.
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I feel exactly the same way. There are always other sits.
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Yes, it’s common practice. Majority of cases, we receive a brief note. But many Pet Parents do not. Encourage not take it personally.
I do think THS could do something more on explaining how the whole invitation/application/rejection process works.
We were contacted a few days ago by HOs we have sat for a few times before to see if we were available in the new year. This was all sorted on WhatsApp.
Today I received a message to say that they had just put the dates up and could I accept. I made the assumption that they would send out a private invitation and advised that I hadn’t received anything yet. A few hours later they said can’t you see it yet as we have had a few other applications! I realised then that they had put general dates up and said I was expecting a private invitation to which they said - didn’t know we could do that!
Upshot is I found the listing and applied, they immediately accepted. So the other two applicants will have been immediately rejected by the system, possibly without their applications even being read.
I suspect that this happens more times than we think because the process for private invitations is very unclear.
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I personally see these opportunities as… thanks for self-selecting out. I know the way that I am and I respond to every message I receive. That is the way that I choose to be. I also don’t expect others to be like me because I find that expectation to be judgmental. However, from this perspective, this acts as a built in filter for me, and I would not apply to that sit in the future because our way of being does not align.
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