No response after interview

[alittleredhen]

I've never had this before but the more I think about it, the more it pisses me off.
I had a job interview over three weeks ago and haven't heard anything since.
I clearly haven't got the job which yes is disappointing but such is life and truth be told, I left the interview feeling like I probably wasn't the strongest candidate so wouldn't be surprised if I didn't get it. But to receive no contact after a full day interview involving multiple tasks is inconceivable to me. I work in an area where it's generally within 24 hours that you get told or sometimes 48 but to hear nothing at all is unheard of.
I've considered contacting them myself but I guess it would just be an act of passive aggression if I did that as I clearly wasn't successful, but it's just so unprofessional. Even a generic copy and paste email would have been better than this radio silence.

Welcome to yet another way of making you feel crap for needing to look for a job.

It's rude and shows a sloppily run company to me but it is increasingly common.

I think it's standard practice these days tbh. They can't be bothered, or maybe there were too many candidates to contact.

I think you should definitely phone and ask for feedback as to why you haven't got the job. Who cares if it's passive aggressive? It's a really shitty thing to do to not formally advise you.

It's just so bizarre, I've never experienced this before. I've known some places to say that if you don't hear from them within x amount of time then your application hasn't been successful but that is always just the application stage, never after investing time and effort in an interview

I find it really rude too. I was offered a job Tuesday after 6 years of not working. I was told they would contact me either way.
The last job I interviewed for never got back to me. The hanging on waiting was awful and I find it so disrespectful.
Good luck in your job search.

It is really rude to not let people know the outcome of their interview.

I work in recruitment and always let people know the outcome plus give verbal feedback on interview performance if requested. People put lots of effort into applying for jobs so this is the least we can do!

It also makes no business sense not to let people know the outcome- they go round telling friends about their crap experience and it reflects badly on the business.

Yes do phone. I've done lots of recruiting and always rang every candidate (as soon as the decision was made) to tell them the outcome and offer feedback if requested. It's really poor of them not to let you know, it's the least a potential employer should do when someone has gone to all the effort of preparing for, and attending, an interview.

Get in touch requesting feedback - the last time I did that I immediately got the stock reply saying 'on this occasion you weren't successful' etc etc so it was almost like they forgot. Rubbish behaviour, and this was from a high ranking research institute!

This has happened to me too. It's so rude and disrespectful. I wouldn't even mind if they sent me a quick message saying sorry you've been unsuccessful in this occasion, as long as they gave me an answer. If they've taken an hour of your time to interview you then they can take another minute to email you to say no.

It’s poor form and disappointing. When it’s happened to me I think maybe it shows that they are disorganised and unprofessional and I wouldn’t have been happy there anyway.

Congratulations @Norma27

I've experienced this too and from a major employer. I chased up for feedback because I had attended two interviews, one of which required significant preparation (a presentation and project plan) and they were ghosting me. It took about three weeks for the in-house recruiter to finally contact me to say I was unsuccessful.

It's so unprofessional.

I always inform anyone who I have interviewed if they have been unsuccessful. The candidates have taken the time to prepare and come to an interview, possibly even taking time off their current role to attend, so it's only fair that I take a couple of minutes to inform them.
Its very disheartening for the candidates not to hear the outcome.

I think it's so rude too, I had an interview with a major charity a few years back and no response at all. I kind of expect it from the smaller companies but when it's an even bigger company it's even more disrespectful!

I'm still waiting 20 years on for the result of an interview.

I think it's safe to say I won't be offered the job!

It's really rude and there's no excuse, regardless of numbers. At a push a stock email would do and just push send to everyone.

Do you think it’s a bad look to follow up if you hear nothing. I had an interview at short notice (I took annual leave to prepare) and they seemed so keen.

I was right that they seemed keen. I had great feedback and they asked me back for a second (final) interview with the head of the company a few days later. They asked when I could start and the company boss seemed to like me. The HR director said he would be in touch with the recruiter the next day to let me know what their position was.

A few days later I had heard nothing so I called the recruiter. He said sorry I still need to speak with the HR director and we have a catch up planned ‘tomorrow’.

It’s over a week now since I spoke with the recruiter and I have heard nothing still. It’s two weeks since that second interview.

Do I look desperate if I send the recruiter an email? I am so disappointed as this was my dream job. I didn’t even apply - they approached me....:

And I was told they only interviewed me and one other person. So it’s not like they had a lot of people to email about being unsuccessful.

You might have got the job, we interviewed recently then someone in Hr said some staff were at risk so we needed to advertise to those at risk and interview those too which added a few weeks to the process and hr were swamped and failed to contact the original interviewees to let them know what was happening. I would just contact them, you have a right to know.

I’m telling myself I wouldn’t have liked it there anyway if that’s how they operate! But maybe it was the recruiters fault for not being bothered to pass on the message or the feedback. The HR person seemed so amazing so I can’t believe they said nothing to the recruiter.

Thanks Weffiepops, I was thinking with my dating brain on and saying to myself it’s obvious ‘they are just not into me’.

I doubt I was successful as the recruiter would have kept in contact to make sure I didn’t take another job (he knew someone else approached me at the same time - but he doesn’t know the interview fell through since we last spoke).

Also it is a start up company and they outsource the specialist job I would do at the moment so no one else there could do it

I can't believe some people wouldn't follow up if they heard nothing after an interview... of course you should follow up! It's standard practice to inform all interviewees of the outcome, surely. If companies start not telling people, and then people are too uncomfortable to follow up, it allows companies to get away with it and the practice will become entrenched.

Maddogcow you must follow up again. The bad look is on THEM, not you!

I can't believe some people wouldn't follow up if they heard nothing after an interview.

If they can't be bothered to tell you you haven't secured the role, they won't reply to your follow up enquiry either.

Its very rude.

I even thank people for sending me random CVs and wish them well for their future! It doesnt take long, especially as email is main form of contact.