Why don't interviewers get back to you when they say they will?

[newlabelwriter]

Feeling really low today, had a few good interviews and I was meant to hear back yesterday about one of them and nothing, despite being told I was down to the last two and they'd definintely let me know either way. As I havent heard I'm assuming I haven't got it but why can't reply when they say they will? Urgghh.

I'm in the position of being that interviewer, our systems have gone down so I can't contact my candidates to tell them we will be later than planned either.

I hope that you get good news soon

Thank you! And I know it's not all interviewers ;) Just very frustrating!

This really annoys me.

Several years ago I got to the 3rd stage interviews for a role. Quite a niche role that I had done for a competitor and there's only 4 or 5 companies globally.

I never heard back. I emailed and called the recruiter and left messages. Why he couldn't just tell me I'd been unsuccessful I don't know. But after 3 interviews it was annoying.

Usually because HR and the relevant super senior person needing to sign things off not getting round to it which is embarrassing when you are the interviewer.

Because they are waiting for a decision elsewhere in the command chain.

I'm in the same position OP, I had a great interview two weeks ago and they said I'd hear back at the end that week or beginning of the following week. I don't know whether to assume I didn't get it or keep waiting! It's so frustrating.

There are no valid excuses, its just plain rude and unprofessional. Nothing stops them sending a quick email saying there has been a delay and advising a new date . Because its a employers market at the moment recruiters can get away with this.

We are currently recruiting in our office but the process is taking longer than we would like due to Covid restrictions and people messing us around for interview dates/times.

I agree that it is unprofessional and rude to not go back to someone at all though!

I've just been offered a job four months after I applied for it, interview was in early September. Civil service though, which seems to move at a glacial pace.

So this one was via a recommendation and up until now lots of contact ans super friendly, second interview and emailed on Friday to say it was between me and another person and they'd defintely let me know whichever it way it went on monday and just nothing. Am assuming it's gone to the other person but it really wouldn't take much to send a follow up email. Just to point out too that this was done without input from HR so far (although a big company).

Am so pissed off, it's really got me down.

Fingers crossed for you op I know that feeling of constantly refreshing your emails and it’s very stressful! If it’s any consolation I was told in my last interview that I’d hear back by the end of the day, didn’t (so went off to drown my sorrows assuming I didn’t get it) only to receive an unexpected video call the next morning telling me I’d got the job as I was scrolling dolefully through my tablet with birds nest hair.

Thank you @Shedface - I'm really glad it worked out for you.

I don’t know why companies over promise and under deliver on this - surely if you expect to decide on Wednesday you say you’ll let them know by Friday and earlier is a bonus.

Impossible to know if there’s a delay or whether they’ve offered to the other person and are waiting for a response

The organisation I worked for used to pick candidate one ,offer ,wait for references and an acceptance before notifying the second choice .

Meant second choice often had to wait .

@Quaversplease

This really annoys me.

Several years ago I got to the 3rd stage interviews for a role. Quite a niche role that I had done for a competitor and there's only 4 or 5 companies globally.

I never heard back. I emailed and called the recruiter and left messages. Why he couldn't just tell me I'd been unsuccessful I don't know. But after 3 interviews it was annoying.

It is shocking that this happens especially in very niche industries, you never know when paths will cross again. I work in a specific sector, it is a very small world so it is never a good idea to leave a bad impression.

OP I hope you hear soon, I just had the dreaded wait, it's never good.

I agree with the poster who said it was unprofessional. I blame HR departments in general.

@peridito

The organisation I worked for used to pick candidate one ,offer ,wait for references and an acceptance before notifying the second choice .

Meant second choice often had to wait .

Yeah, I suspect this is what's happening. It's still really annoying and like poster says above about people over promising with timescales.

I'm in HR and I hate this so much. Its rude and unprofessional, but not always HRs fault (although they should push harder so it doesn't happen).

I've been ghosted several times after 1st or 2nd interview. Tumbleweed...and then you see the job readvertised. It's so frustrating and inconsiderate. I get really angry about it now and scratch them off my list for future applications. It's a sure sign they treat their employees like shit too.

Rude and unprofessional - isn't it just !

Why not say at interview that unsuccessful candidates won't hear for 2 or whatever weeks ? Or if you've not heard from us after 2/whatever weeks I regret you've been unsuccessful ?

I'm sure there are better expressions ,it surely can't be that hard .

Yep, agreed and I've still not heard anything back. I'm over it now as assume it's defintely not happening but it's so crap of them.

Have you emailed or rang to ask for an update? If i've not heard from the Company I have always given 24 hrs after the date they have said I would hear back and have always rung to ask for an update. It shows that you are keen, well that's what i've been told, when they have given me the job. Good luck

Sometimes things take longer than expected. We were interviewing for a role earlier this year and one candidate needed to rearrange, so our last interview ended up being on Friday afternoon, rather than Thursday. Head of Department was off that day, so we could not move forward with recommendations for who should go through to the second round. I think Monday was then a bank holiday or something, either way, we did not get our ducks in a row until Wednesday, so by the time HR was in contact, it was Friday... The guy we hired said he was very nervous and had assumed that he did not get the job!

If they get back to you to say you've not got the job, I would feedback to them politely that you are disappointed in their recruitment process, that you would have appreciated timely feedback because of the effort involved your end. Always let them know, maybe next time they will treat their applicants a little better.

@HGC2

I'm in the position of being that interviewer, our systems have gone down so I can't contact my candidates to tell them we will be later than planned either.

I hope that you get good news soon

When I interview we always double check their contact number and write it on the score sheet. No worries then if systems go down.