Applying for jobs and waiting so long to hear, how do you do it?

[Wishywashymandy]

Im unemployed at moment (by choice, looking for something new)

I applied for a job in March and have finally got an interview in July! I dont know how long its going to take after the interview to find out if I got it.

I applied for another with a closing date today and no idea when they will let me know if ive got an interview

If i don't get either of the above then there's another job I should probably go for but I really want one of the 1 above.

I dont get how you apply for numerous jobs. I dont want to mess employers about by going through the recruitment process and then changing my mind cos offered something else?

Equally what if I start a job and one of the ones I really want come back and offer me something?

I'm finding it all very vague and stressful and time is passing by.

Is this normal when job hunting?

I’ve applied for over twenty jobs in the past two weeks (made redundant after 10 years at the same company :( ) and barely anyone replies or even lists closing dates/time scales for hearing back. It’s really demoralising.

I’m not applying for jobs but have heard that it’s normal not to hear back these days. I think it’s really rude. How much time does it take to send an automated ‘sorry you weren’t successful’ email.

Having said that, if people are just blanket applying for 20 jobs 2 weeks, then they are probably swamped with hundreds of applications.

Is that was aimed at me… I’m not blanket applying. I applied for any roles I saw which were applicable to me, ignoring the countless others that weren’t. What else am I supposed to do? I can’t afford to be without a job for long, I have a mortgage to pay and two small children. Losing my job is a nightmare :(

Is the job government/civil service OP as the recruitment process can take months.

I don’t know what field you’re applying in, but for me, one quality application would take at least a couple of days to complete. If you’re applying for 10 jobs a week then you’re not investing much time in each one, you’re just firing them off. That might be perfectly fine in your field, but if everyone else is doing the same thing, then they’ll likely be getting hundreds of applicants.

I’m like @MidnightMeltdown
A single application takes at least a couple of days.
I do hear back from most and usually quite soon after the closing date.
I would not stall applying for a role because I have another already being processed, absolutely not!

I’m applying for roles on LinkedIn for design work. They ask for a CV and a graphic portfolio which I upload. Occasionally they then have a set of questions to answer afterwards but by and large that’s it. Upload CV and portfolio and… done 🤷🏻‍♀️ I have no control over the process and often I wish I had more space to explain why I’m a good fit for the role. Recruiters are the same. They just want to see my portfolio.

It's awful these days. Made worse by people saying there's always jobs for those not too lazy to work-when actually there's often 6 applicants for one job, and literally hundreds in some areas. All I can say is put yourself first, and don't worry or feel guilty about messing employers around if you do get several offers. As long as you commit and work well when you start, it's not wrong to do multiple interviews as you don't know what you'll get offered.

Dh was made redundant in April last year, he’s applied for over 70 jobs now, only had 2 interviews, barely heard from any of the jobs he’s applied for. They just don’t respond. It’s brutal out there.

One of my colleagues interviewed a potential employee in march and offered them a job. She is still waiting for the HR wheels to turn and is worried she will lose her candidate.

Gosh no, just keep applying, don’t pause whilst you wait to hear.

I am job hunting as well and it is all really depressing

Too many companies just don't get back at all or take forever to reply.

Yesterday I had an interview for a stop-gap part-time job that pays £17 an hour and there was an interview panel made of 4 people...

I think the job market has just gone completely bonkers.

So keep applying and put yourself first.

I always think that until references are taken and accepted, contracts signed and a starting date agreed then nothing is secure...

If you are seeking employment, you should apply for as many positions as you want to.

What type of sector are you seeking work in?

The recruitment process can vastly differ i.e. some positions are 'rolling' in that you apply, and if/when someone leaves a position, the company then sift through the applications to select for interview. Others are far more structured.

With regard to finding out the date you may know the outcome of an interview, that is something you should ask at the interview. Though, ideally the interview panel should have informed you of the process.

If you are interviewed, you should always be informed of the outcome and offered feedback.

Some employers will state in the job packs that the interviews are to be held on 'x' date and then if you haven't heard by 'x' date you have not been successful this time.

Unfortunately, things have changed regarding recruitment though. We no longer send out letters/emails to everyone saying they haven't been shortlisted. There are often too many to do that.

If you get offered a position, accept it, then if you are offered the position you want - obviously accept the one you want. People accept/decline more than you realise.

You can also phone and speak to the HR department or the recruitment officer for that position to ask whatever you need to know.

Make sure there is a job description and person specification to help you decide/apply.

Good luck!

The only way is to apply for as many as you can, it really helps to not get attached to any one outcome.

To my complete surprise I had a first round interview yesterday :O It went well and I get to meet the design director in a few weeks.