How can companies store candidates' data for longer than 6 months (Germany)?

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I'm interested in a very specific type of work so I need to reapply at the same (huge) companies a lot. However, I try not to apply more than once, twice a year at one company.



When reapplying I discovered the HR normally knows that I e.g. applied for a position with them a year or 2 years ago. If I was interviewed, they sometimes even know who interviewed me and one company now even told me that they keep their notes from the interviews to decide whether to invite candidates again if they re-apply a year or two later.



I'm curious how this can happen. As far as I know, companies are allowed to store candidates' data just for 6 months after their applications in Germany.



This practice seems to me quite unsettling too. If you happened to be sick or tired during your interview, the information that you aren't good enough can be kept in your files forever.



Is it normal in Germany to store candidates' data for years? And is there a way to avoid this from happening/ affecting your chances?







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  • change your name?
    – Kilisi
    Aug 11 at 22:00






  • 1




    If you've been interviewed at a particular company for a position and rejected, it's unlikely that re-applying every 6 months will lead to better results. If your work is quite specific, it would probably still be the same set of people within that large company evaluating you and, while the company may not be permitted to retain information, nothing would prevent those people from remembering you.
    – Eric
    Aug 12 at 1:07










  • @Eric, I mean applying for a different position at the same company. I mean big companies with many open positions here.
    – 385703
    Aug 12 at 6:10
















up vote
3
down vote

favorite












I'm interested in a very specific type of work so I need to reapply at the same (huge) companies a lot. However, I try not to apply more than once, twice a year at one company.



When reapplying I discovered the HR normally knows that I e.g. applied for a position with them a year or 2 years ago. If I was interviewed, they sometimes even know who interviewed me and one company now even told me that they keep their notes from the interviews to decide whether to invite candidates again if they re-apply a year or two later.



I'm curious how this can happen. As far as I know, companies are allowed to store candidates' data just for 6 months after their applications in Germany.



This practice seems to me quite unsettling too. If you happened to be sick or tired during your interview, the information that you aren't good enough can be kept in your files forever.



Is it normal in Germany to store candidates' data for years? And is there a way to avoid this from happening/ affecting your chances?







share|improve this question




















  • change your name?
    – Kilisi
    Aug 11 at 22:00






  • 1




    If you've been interviewed at a particular company for a position and rejected, it's unlikely that re-applying every 6 months will lead to better results. If your work is quite specific, it would probably still be the same set of people within that large company evaluating you and, while the company may not be permitted to retain information, nothing would prevent those people from remembering you.
    – Eric
    Aug 12 at 1:07










  • @Eric, I mean applying for a different position at the same company. I mean big companies with many open positions here.
    – 385703
    Aug 12 at 6:10












up vote
3
down vote

favorite









up vote
3
down vote

favorite











I'm interested in a very specific type of work so I need to reapply at the same (huge) companies a lot. However, I try not to apply more than once, twice a year at one company.



When reapplying I discovered the HR normally knows that I e.g. applied for a position with them a year or 2 years ago. If I was interviewed, they sometimes even know who interviewed me and one company now even told me that they keep their notes from the interviews to decide whether to invite candidates again if they re-apply a year or two later.



I'm curious how this can happen. As far as I know, companies are allowed to store candidates' data just for 6 months after their applications in Germany.



This practice seems to me quite unsettling too. If you happened to be sick or tired during your interview, the information that you aren't good enough can be kept in your files forever.



Is it normal in Germany to store candidates' data for years? And is there a way to avoid this from happening/ affecting your chances?







share|improve this question












I'm interested in a very specific type of work so I need to reapply at the same (huge) companies a lot. However, I try not to apply more than once, twice a year at one company.



When reapplying I discovered the HR normally knows that I e.g. applied for a position with them a year or 2 years ago. If I was interviewed, they sometimes even know who interviewed me and one company now even told me that they keep their notes from the interviews to decide whether to invite candidates again if they re-apply a year or two later.



I'm curious how this can happen. As far as I know, companies are allowed to store candidates' data just for 6 months after their applications in Germany.



This practice seems to me quite unsettling too. If you happened to be sick or tired during your interview, the information that you aren't good enough can be kept in your files forever.



Is it normal in Germany to store candidates' data for years? And is there a way to avoid this from happening/ affecting your chances?









share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked Aug 11 at 20:14









385703

3,5852427




3,5852427











  • change your name?
    – Kilisi
    Aug 11 at 22:00






  • 1




    If you've been interviewed at a particular company for a position and rejected, it's unlikely that re-applying every 6 months will lead to better results. If your work is quite specific, it would probably still be the same set of people within that large company evaluating you and, while the company may not be permitted to retain information, nothing would prevent those people from remembering you.
    – Eric
    Aug 12 at 1:07










  • @Eric, I mean applying for a different position at the same company. I mean big companies with many open positions here.
    – 385703
    Aug 12 at 6:10
















  • change your name?
    – Kilisi
    Aug 11 at 22:00






  • 1




    If you've been interviewed at a particular company for a position and rejected, it's unlikely that re-applying every 6 months will lead to better results. If your work is quite specific, it would probably still be the same set of people within that large company evaluating you and, while the company may not be permitted to retain information, nothing would prevent those people from remembering you.
    – Eric
    Aug 12 at 1:07










  • @Eric, I mean applying for a different position at the same company. I mean big companies with many open positions here.
    – 385703
    Aug 12 at 6:10















change your name?
– Kilisi
Aug 11 at 22:00




change your name?
– Kilisi
Aug 11 at 22:00




1




1




If you've been interviewed at a particular company for a position and rejected, it's unlikely that re-applying every 6 months will lead to better results. If your work is quite specific, it would probably still be the same set of people within that large company evaluating you and, while the company may not be permitted to retain information, nothing would prevent those people from remembering you.
– Eric
Aug 12 at 1:07




If you've been interviewed at a particular company for a position and rejected, it's unlikely that re-applying every 6 months will lead to better results. If your work is quite specific, it would probably still be the same set of people within that large company evaluating you and, while the company may not be permitted to retain information, nothing would prevent those people from remembering you.
– Eric
Aug 12 at 1:07












@Eric, I mean applying for a different position at the same company. I mean big companies with many open positions here.
– 385703
Aug 12 at 6:10




@Eric, I mean applying for a different position at the same company. I mean big companies with many open positions here.
– 385703
Aug 12 at 6:10










2 Answers
2






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2
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In the company where I work (in Germany) AFAIK the standard procedure is to ask the candidate if he likes to remain in the database after the application process. If he says no, that should be enough (and I had already the case that I personally remembered an applicant from an interview one year before and this interview was not in the database/the candidate was considered to be new).



So no, you cant stop people from remembering, and I would not swear that the deletion of notes works perfectly, but the standard procedure is deletion from the HR database unless explicitly agreed to by the candidate.






share|improve this answer
















  • 1




    This is how it should work. However, many companies have some fine print somewhere on their careers website that says you'll be added to the talent database automatically if you apply. I'm not sure if this is legal anymore with the new EU data protection law but it was super common until recently.
    – Sumyrda
    Aug 12 at 21:16


















up vote
0
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is there a way to avoid this from happening




No, not without creating trouble that would prevent you ever getting a job there anyway.






share|improve this answer




















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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes








    up vote
    2
    down vote













    In the company where I work (in Germany) AFAIK the standard procedure is to ask the candidate if he likes to remain in the database after the application process. If he says no, that should be enough (and I had already the case that I personally remembered an applicant from an interview one year before and this interview was not in the database/the candidate was considered to be new).



    So no, you cant stop people from remembering, and I would not swear that the deletion of notes works perfectly, but the standard procedure is deletion from the HR database unless explicitly agreed to by the candidate.






    share|improve this answer
















    • 1




      This is how it should work. However, many companies have some fine print somewhere on their careers website that says you'll be added to the talent database automatically if you apply. I'm not sure if this is legal anymore with the new EU data protection law but it was super common until recently.
      – Sumyrda
      Aug 12 at 21:16















    up vote
    2
    down vote













    In the company where I work (in Germany) AFAIK the standard procedure is to ask the candidate if he likes to remain in the database after the application process. If he says no, that should be enough (and I had already the case that I personally remembered an applicant from an interview one year before and this interview was not in the database/the candidate was considered to be new).



    So no, you cant stop people from remembering, and I would not swear that the deletion of notes works perfectly, but the standard procedure is deletion from the HR database unless explicitly agreed to by the candidate.






    share|improve this answer
















    • 1




      This is how it should work. However, many companies have some fine print somewhere on their careers website that says you'll be added to the talent database automatically if you apply. I'm not sure if this is legal anymore with the new EU data protection law but it was super common until recently.
      – Sumyrda
      Aug 12 at 21:16













    up vote
    2
    down vote










    up vote
    2
    down vote









    In the company where I work (in Germany) AFAIK the standard procedure is to ask the candidate if he likes to remain in the database after the application process. If he says no, that should be enough (and I had already the case that I personally remembered an applicant from an interview one year before and this interview was not in the database/the candidate was considered to be new).



    So no, you cant stop people from remembering, and I would not swear that the deletion of notes works perfectly, but the standard procedure is deletion from the HR database unless explicitly agreed to by the candidate.






    share|improve this answer












    In the company where I work (in Germany) AFAIK the standard procedure is to ask the candidate if he likes to remain in the database after the application process. If he says no, that should be enough (and I had already the case that I personally remembered an applicant from an interview one year before and this interview was not in the database/the candidate was considered to be new).



    So no, you cant stop people from remembering, and I would not swear that the deletion of notes works perfectly, but the standard procedure is deletion from the HR database unless explicitly agreed to by the candidate.







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered Aug 12 at 15:01









    Sascha

    6,19321231




    6,19321231







    • 1




      This is how it should work. However, many companies have some fine print somewhere on their careers website that says you'll be added to the talent database automatically if you apply. I'm not sure if this is legal anymore with the new EU data protection law but it was super common until recently.
      – Sumyrda
      Aug 12 at 21:16













    • 1




      This is how it should work. However, many companies have some fine print somewhere on their careers website that says you'll be added to the talent database automatically if you apply. I'm not sure if this is legal anymore with the new EU data protection law but it was super common until recently.
      – Sumyrda
      Aug 12 at 21:16








    1




    1




    This is how it should work. However, many companies have some fine print somewhere on their careers website that says you'll be added to the talent database automatically if you apply. I'm not sure if this is legal anymore with the new EU data protection law but it was super common until recently.
    – Sumyrda
    Aug 12 at 21:16





    This is how it should work. However, many companies have some fine print somewhere on their careers website that says you'll be added to the talent database automatically if you apply. I'm not sure if this is legal anymore with the new EU data protection law but it was super common until recently.
    – Sumyrda
    Aug 12 at 21:16













    up vote
    0
    down vote














    is there a way to avoid this from happening




    No, not without creating trouble that would prevent you ever getting a job there anyway.






    share|improve this answer
























      up vote
      0
      down vote














      is there a way to avoid this from happening




      No, not without creating trouble that would prevent you ever getting a job there anyway.






      share|improve this answer






















        up vote
        0
        down vote










        up vote
        0
        down vote










        is there a way to avoid this from happening




        No, not without creating trouble that would prevent you ever getting a job there anyway.






        share|improve this answer













        is there a way to avoid this from happening




        No, not without creating trouble that would prevent you ever getting a job there anyway.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Aug 11 at 23:58









        Kilisi

        96k53220379




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