My comment, in brief:

  a) statement that companies exert more power over prospective employees than employees do over companies coupled w/first person observation of said power
  
  b) me saying, "wah wah, i don't like this, it isn't fair" 

If that balance doesn't suit you, do something else.

While that is one way to deal with these feelings (and possibly the most realistic), it isn't the only option. Nor am I attempting to say, "let us dictate terms to our prospective employers." I am saying, "Employers have the benefit of a power imbalance that is extreme to the point that they shit on employees and would-be employees almost inadvertently while attempting to hire them, and that is shitty."

Sure it is insane to dream of unionizing job applicants and demanding hiring companies to inform applicants who aren't hired. Sure it is idealistic and stupid and not gonna happen. But maybe hopefully some of the people I point this out to will eventually become hiring managers. And maybe they will remember this anecdote and try, at least, to let their rejects know.

The companies have more power because they have more power, but if we stop giving them as much power in our heads, (by doing things like thinking "loyalty to the company" proves anything, and that we should work 60 hours a week to prove we are good employees, and that if we don't check our email on weekends we are bad employees), then we at least benefit from giving them more power in practice than they actually have right to on paper. Recognizing the relationship is unfair, and how, is better than insisting it's not.