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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Does that mean my friend didn't get the job?

22 replies

sundayrose10 · 18/03/2011 23:45

I know...it's not ainu question but more traffic here.

my friend went to a job interview recently where they told her they will contact her today with the outcome. No call today. She's feeling mighty depressed.

Has this happened to you before? or do you think they will contact her soon?

I'm trying to keep her positive but she's sad
:(

OP posts:

howlonguntiltheweekend · 18/03/2011 23:47

It's horrid when this happens btu I don't think it means anything other than they can't keep to their own deadlines!

nancy75 · 18/03/2011 23:48

there could be lots of reasons.
The person calling could be off sick, there could have been some kind of emergancy in the office, they might have forgotten. Tell her to wait until Wednesday, if she hasn't heard by then ring and ask why

Doha · 18/03/2011 23:50

It might be that they are chasing references but as it's Friday it might be difficult as l know from interviewing today!!!!

Seems a shame to keep your friend dangling over the weekend tho!

I hope she gets the job!!

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 18/03/2011 23:50

I'd hazard a guess that it does mean she didn't get the job, OP. They will always ring the successful person first to make sure that they are going to take the job - the unsuccessful applicants are contacted afterwards.

I could be wrong, it could be that they were unable to make a decision, but if they said they would notify by today, then they have... and will notify your friend probably on Monday or, through the post.

penguin73 · 18/03/2011 23:52

There can be lots of reasons -admin issues, they want a bit more time to decide, person making the decision got caught up in something else, they have had to delay the decision for some reason (in my friend's case she was offered a job after the initial person that was offered it asked for time to decide then said no)...... I wouldn't give up hope completely,particularly with it being Friday and early finish day for many. Maybe she could give them a call Monday (or tom if they are likely to be there) asking for feedback on her application so at least she will know either way. I think it does depends on the type of job as to how reliable their deadlines are.

Original poster

sundayrose10 · 19/03/2011 00:16

Thank you all. It's been a long day/week for her. Bless her, she's being made redundant and already losing weight from the stress of it all. She prepared so hard for this job...the application/interview itself.

I'm giving her space this weekend as she's been snappy and tearful. Says nothing ever works out for her. :(

I have no recent experience of interviews but do think it's mean to keep people dangling about when you've given them a date when they would hear.

Thanks all.

OP posts:

BluddyMoFo · 19/03/2011 00:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

sundayrose10 · 19/03/2011 00:20

quick question...would it look bad/desperate if she called on Monday? surely no one has ever made that call to be told 'oh yes, you've been selected for the post...we just haven't called you.

OP posts:

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 19/03/2011 00:22

No of course it wouldn't, OP. She has nothing to lose and nobody will think the worse of her for ringing, she's obviously interested in the job and even if she hasn't got it, that's appreciated.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 19/03/2011 00:26

Your friend could also ask them, when she rings, to keep her in mind for any other jobs that come up that she might be suitable for. You never know... they've already interviewed her and she's shown that she's keen.

Please tell your friend not to be despondent... she might not have got this job, but there might be another one that's even better that she will get soon. I'm a firm believer in things working out for the best... somehow. I have my fingers crossed for your friend. She's lucky to have a supportive and kind friend like you too. :)

kittybuttoon · 19/03/2011 01:17

Even if she hasn't got the job this time, she might have come a close second, and/or they're considering her for another vacancy they might have at the same company.

When I was recruiting, it often happened that we weren't able to offer a good candidate the job we'd interviewed for, but would frequently pass them to another department, if we felt the interviewee would be valuable to that bit of the firm.

Or would keep their name on file until the next round of recruitment.

Sometimes the powers-that-be can 'freeze' recruitment at short notice, for budgetary reasons, and postpone a decision until the start of the new financial year. If this has happened, they will apologise and let her know, I'm sure.

There's all sorts of reasons for delays.

Tell her not to be despondent! And, if she is unsuccessful, ask for interview feedback as it is really handy.

Fingers crossed for her"!

SagaciousCloud · 19/03/2011 07:28

In my experience, they telephone the success ful candidate, and don't tell anyone else they have been unsuccessful.

Sorry for your friend, it is demoralising. But I have to think (job hunting too after redundancy) that I just wasn't a good fit for what they were looking for - not that I am incapable. Mind you I have been for a couple of jobs I could do standing on my head, but have been asked all sorts of questions that must have meant they were interviewing for a completely different job!

PicaK · 19/03/2011 08:34

Having recruited people myself in the past I know there are a 1001 things that can crop up to stop you offering the job. Illness, emergencies etc etc. I used to add on 2 days to when I thought I would tell them and it could go beyond that because of stuff that wasn't in my control.

TroubledPrincess · 19/03/2011 09:01

Very recently I was told I would hear that day, didn't, assumed I didn't get the job and they rang the next day to offer it me!

Tee2072 · 19/03/2011 11:49

Have her ring on Monday. 'Sorry to bother but I was wondering what the outcome was as I didn't hear anything on Friday. Has your timeline changed?' Is a perfectly reasonable thing to say.

TidyDancer · 19/03/2011 12:03

This kind of thing happened very recently to a friend of mine. She was told they would contact her on a certain day, it didn't happen. She finally heard from them five days after they said they would call and she has a second interview coming up shortly. So while it may not look great right now, it doesn't mean your friend hasn't got the job.

StealthPolarBear · 19/03/2011 12:07

Another way to look at it is we call the "definite nos" straight away - no reason not to

First choice normally gets called fairly quickly

Second choice can be kept dangling a bit in case 1st choice turns down - not nice but no other way :( Hope your friend hears on Monday. I think certainly if she hasn't heard by Tuesday there's no harm in calling and asking for feedback

thx1138 · 19/03/2011 12:20

This happened to my dh - it turned out he had given them the wrong phone number. Typical of him really. Astoundingly he did get the job even though it took them 5 days to send a letter.

Get her to give them a call.

lurkerspeaks · 19/03/2011 12:21

Get her to phone.

I spent a whole weekend devestated because I hadn't been shortlisted for my dream job.

Phoned on the Monday for feedback to find out shortlisting had been delayed.

I eventually got it!

Original poster

sundayrose10 · 19/03/2011 12:50

Thank you all for responding. Just spoken to her and she's received letter this morning that she has not got the job.

She's very disappointed but will call on Monday to ask for feedback as the letter suggested she does this.

Thank you all.

OP posts:

thx1138 · 19/03/2011 12:55

What a pity. I hope she finds something soon.

kittybuttoon · 19/03/2011 13:38

After she has taken the feedback on board,make sure she tells them how nice she found the atmosphere at the company (if she did!) and, although she wasn't right for this particular role at this time, could they give her a call if anything else suitable comes along? Because she'd really, really, love to work with them, etc etc.

Also ask if there is any training she should get to make herself more valuable to them when a future opportunity comes up.

Nothing wrong with buttering up the HR team, and making a few friends along the way.

You'd be amazed how many recruiters are depressed by how unenthusiastic candidates can be - when they come across someone who is really keen, it makes all the difference.

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