More employers should tell people if they're unsuccessful

even though the company seems pretty poorly organised and thoughtless?

It might be that you are a close 2nd choice and 1st choice are taking their time to accept and they aren't ready to let you go. I've been in that position a few times when hiring and I would always try and avoid telling a candidate they were 2nd choice as I dont think its a very nice thing to hear. Hope you get a response soon.

do you really want the job op?

Two months ago I had a second round interview for a company. The first interview was 30 minutes. The second one was 2.5 hours long (which included a 45-minute writing task). I was told at the end of the interview I would hear back in 2 - 3 weeks.

3 weeks went by, and I had heard nothing. I emailed the in-house recruiter (who, prior to this, would respond to emails in about 10 - 15 minutes when arranging the interviews). I didn't hear back from her. Two weeks later, I followed up again - still nothing.

I gave this company three hours of my time, and they have ghosted me. They still haven't even had the decency to send me a two-sentence, "thank you for your time, but we are not moving forward with your application" email.

Nothing new, I used to get this 20 years ago. Apply, no response. Attend interview, no response. Sometimes attend second or even third interview, still no response. At least these days if you apply via an agency you do usually get an automatic email saying thanks for applying, and if you haven't heard in x days then assume you won't be called for interview.

But I know that in recent years some companies don't even bother to tell the agencies they are using that a candidate isn't on the shortlist, or won't be taken on.

I always ask at interview what the process will be going forwards including timescales, and assume that if I haven't heard a few days later than their decision date then I haven't got the job.

The organisations that really drag things out definitely lose out on good candidates. More than once I've interviewed for a number of jobs over a week or two and been offered one (and accepted). Up to a month later one of the others has called to offer me the job - I take great pleasure in telling them that not only had I got a different new job but had already started there. And no I would NOT be interested in leaving the new job immediately to work for them when they ask (as some have in the past) - I wouldn't want to work for a company that a) takes so long to get back to me and b) would accept someone untrustworthy enough to accept a new job then walk out after a few days. Plus do they not think that someone who would do that for them won't just up ship as soon as something better came along?

It’s appalling that they treat people like this.

When I was managing a team and interviewing I gave feedback to everyone who applied and gave very quick responses to whether they were successful or not. Its basic good manners.

Some companies are appalling. I has an interview a few years ago for a managers role. I had 3 interviews and was told by HR I was being offered the position but the dept head was on AL until next week and he had to sign off the offer so it would be a few days before I got the formal offer.

I hadn’t heard by the end of the following week so called them. I was told by HR it’s all in hand. This went on for several wewks which time I knew I hadn’t got the job but I wanted to keep on at them until they actually told me.

Finally after 7 weeks the HR lady called and said that due to restructuring the role was no longer being filled - no apology or anything

And then about 3 months later they called me about another told that had become available if I was interested!

Errrr why would I work for a company that treats people so shoddily?

They might not have actually decided. Half term. Inset days. Waiting for first choice to confirm before letting you down. Could be a range of things. Annoying, but not really unprofessional until it's been a week since the anticipated date.

Really rude. I always called if I didn't hear back, and asked for feedback. Emails can be too easily ignored.

Equally, when I was recruiting I always phoned unsuccessful candidates and gave truthful feedback on why they had been unsuccessful. It takes such a short amount of time but means people aren't hanging on in limbo.

Yeah, it’s really rude. By interview stage you’ve put time, effort and emotion into it; it’s so shit not to communicate with people like that.

You’re in management now? Surely you know how slow the hiring process can be and that it never happens as quickly as anyone wants it to (including the managers!)

I think the best advice while interviewing is to do your best during the interview then move on and push it out of your mind because it won’t be quick process. My DH was offered a position 3 years after he interviewed! It is an unusual but typical timeframe for his industry.

It's disconcerting enough when you don't hear back from an initial application. But not hearing back from an interview is poor. I mean how many people are they interviewing that they can't let candidates know?

I got fed up of driving 25 mile round trip to interviews/assessments and got told nothing.

Plus know I don’t like taking criticism, but if potential employers told me what was lacking - which I could use to improve chances in later interviews.

I once waited 4 weeks for a2nd interviews the woman thought that it was my first. Then waited 4 weeks to get an offer…massive well known company (everyone has heard of them). Stayed for 4 years but they were always chasing their tails.

Well, if they do offer it to you make sure that you take at least a week to decide!

Or join the ‘Waiting to hear’ thread in the Work topic. A helpful bunch of MNers.

If it is going to be a couple of weeks before you get an answer, say that at interview. No harm in being advised sooner.

It annoys me a lot. Not me but my poor DS. He mainly doesn't get interviews, then when he does, he gets told he'll hear in a few days, then nothing, ever.
At the beginning I thought it was accidental - maybe they'd "lost" his number, etc. but it does seem to be the way of the world now.
Sometimes they contact his referees even ... still nothing.
It happened to me once and I am still annoyed about years later.

My sons GF was offered an internal role 14 days post interview - it does happen

It's not unusual for the hiring decision not to be signed off for a week or two after the interviews. And that's without any of the short list requesting a reschedule/postponement. It's my experience that any organization big enough to have an HR department is unlikely to make fast hiring decisions.

Yes rude. I temped in a builders. My colleague was saying he took ages to get back to people after interviews. Lax

Sometimes they have to wait on HR giving the green light or maybe another candidate has asked to move dates and hasn’t been seen yet so they can’t make a decision? Trying to give them the benefit of the doubt here but I know both of these things have held up recruitment in my team many times.

It is really annoying, OP. Been there a few times.
As a rule of thumb, if you don't get offered the job in 48 hours, then assume it is a goner.