This isn't really about applications though - not getting a human response at the first step has always been common, especially with electronic postings. It's a

This isn't really about applications though - not getting a human response at the first step has always been common, especially with electronic postings. It's as easy to apply as post, so you do get a lot of spam applicants. If you've had human contact and then radio silenc - IMO that's inexcusable.