to think this is shoddy after a job interview?

Say what? Their actions say it all.

Why think about it?

They're clearly too busy to bother replying, so perhaps not the sort of place you'd want to work for anyway, but it would be nice to have some feedback.

No need to spend the weekend thinking about it. Just email them.

Dear XXX, I came for an interview on X date and was told I'd be contacted shortly to be told if I was successful. As I haven't heard anything from you, I assume I was unsuccessful, but I would appreciate some feedback on why I was unsuccessful in securing the position.
Best wishes.

You’re going to waste time this weekend thinking very carefully about emailing a company that didn’t bother to tell you that you don’t have a job? Why? Why bother? Do you really care about whether or not the person who said they’d let you know and then didn’t learns that it’s impolite? Better spend of time would be job hunting surely?!

As a general rule, if they want to hire you they will let you know within a couple of days. If they promise to get back to you by a certain day then don’t, you probably didn’t get the job.

I had a hideous interview with one professor who was rude and condescending throughout- literally looked me up and down as I walked in the room, tutted and sighed throughout, rolled his eyes and checked the clock. He was horrible and I was relieved to leave and not to have to work alongside him. He promised he’d let me know by the following Monday but I knew he wouldn’t and I think I didn’t hear anything for a further week after I chased. Total dickhead.

Whenever I’ve been successful they’ve generally told me within a day or two.

Did you contact them and ask for feedback?

I haven’t read the whole thread, but the voting is baffling. Of course you’re not being unreasonable. I’ve been involved in recruiting for years and it’s basic good manners to inform unsuccessful candidates.

Have you heard from them yet @LindorDoubleChoc ?

But it does seem to be occuring in lots of cases of people just being ghosted not just the OP. All companies are unlikely to have such emergencies every time they interview someone that a quick email can't be sent

It's not excusing the behaviour of the employer. However, the fact is the OP was complaining she hadn't heard before the time the company had said they would get back to her.

With the best will in the world, sometimes things don't run entirely to plan, so emailing something that hostile would not go down well.

A quick "Hi, just wondering if there is any update?" would be absolutely fine. That AI-generated slop would not be.

Enough people on here seem to think it's perfectly fine for employers to behave like it. Thread is full of excuses for them

Passive aggressive AI shite!

It's not, but that email is a pile of passive aggressive shite.

You aren't the centre of their world.. they don't have to do anything if they aren't going to employ you. They are busy running their business and probably speak to their new recruit.

Chatgpt - no my dude, it doesnt work. At all. 😂😂😂

I'd be thinking the same. And also that it was a bit rich for someone banging on about the importance of good communication sending something so obviously written by ChatGPT.

Why is ok for potential employers to take the piss, put people out, expect them to spend hours travelling and interviewing etc just to be ghosted but " wrong" and something to take the piss out of if an " interviewed" calls them out on it?

A human assessing that email:

"Hahaha what a twat, glad we didn't give them a job!"

4 people! They had to contact 4 people, after you’d been sat there 2 hours at their pleasure!
yes, I’d be pissed and want a reply.
i would also contact them and enquire as to why you hadn’t heard anything but I’d do it in a very professional manner.
wait a couple of weeks and send this to their original email offer of the interview.

The "Professional Reality Check" Letter
Subject: Following up: [Job Title] Role / [Your Name]
Dear [Interviewer Name],
I am writing to check in on the status of the [Job Title] role.
After our two-hour conversation on [Date], I was very enthusiastic about the possibility of joining the team. However, as it has been [Number] weeks without an update—and knowing the candidate pool was quite small—the lack of communication has been unexpected.
While I still value the time we spent discussing the role, prompt communication is an important factor for me when considering a new professional environment. Based on the silence, I am assuming the timeline has shifted or you have moved in another direction.
I wish you the best of luck with the final selection.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Why this works:

• The "Aggrieved" Part: Mentioning the two-hour time investment and the small candidate pool subtly points out that their silence is rude without using the word "rude."
• The "Dodged a Bullet" Part: By stating that "communication is an important factor" for you, you are essentially telling them they have failed your personal standards for a good employer.

After 5 interviews they know

This
@LindorDoubleChoc
You may be the second candidate and they dont want to let you know until they are certain Candidate 1 is/ isnt accepting or they cant get hold of 1 st candidate

Ive also been in situations where they want to employ more than one and a bit of hoop jumping has to be done .

Have you heard anything yet OP?