"You're one of the top candidates"

[FortunesFave]

Had an interview Friday and they said they'd call me before the day ended. They didn't.

Today (in Oz) they left a voicemail apologising for not calling and saying they were still deliberating...and that I was one of the top candidates.

How hopeful can I allow myself to be? We really need this.

Deep breaths and try not to get your hopes up. It is promising but ......

Optimistic but obviously nothing is guaranteed. You’re obviously still in with a chance otherwise they wouldn’t have said you’re one of the top candidates.

Wouldn't get my hopes up. Just means they haven't interviewed everybody yet and they are hoping for somebody better to come along but if not they suppose you might do.

IME it means that the post has been offered to someone who has, for one reason or another, not yet responded. You are the one (or one of two or three) to whom it will be offered next if no1 turns it down.

and they are hoping for somebody better to come along
of course it doesn't mean that, any job add receive hundreds of CV replies so if someone is not good enough, it's a straight no.

Unless a poster is a mind reader, It could mean anything else.
-that you are 2nd choice and they are waiting to hear from 1.
-that the people in charge have had others things to deal with and haven't had time to seat down and discuss - presumably they are running some kind of business and are one person short if they need to recruit a new staff?

The only thing you can do is hope for the best and keep looking for jobs in case this one doesn't work out. It saves you from wasting time.

Fingers crossed for you!

Wouldn't get my hopes up tbh. They are clearly waiting for something.

It could mean all manner of things. We have advertised a few jobs of late. Some had only one or two applicants. Not hundreds of CVs.

I'd take it at face value and keep everything firmly crossed.

I'd be worried the job had been offered to someone else who hadn't made a decision yet too. Or, it could be the person who gets to make the final decision hasn't been available. Good luck.

From experience...Do not get your hopes up.

Until the contract is signed ANYTHING can happen. And it can be factors totally outside your control.

As examples, last month my department offered two jobs verbally and literally moments before HR were due to issue the written offer Finance removed the budget for the role.

My DP was told similar about a role. he was apparently the best candidate they’d seen in 6 months, and then they moved the role to Paris and the job job was given to another candidate who was much cheaper way less experienced.

Do cross your fingers and hope for the best though

We often say this in NZ (public sector) and indicate we need to follow process to the number 1/top preferred candidate. Oz may be similar.

For example reference checks (in NZ seem to be done before offer as employment law here makes conditional offers problematic) also sometimes other checks/verifications and sign offs (again public sector can be quite bureaucratic).

Also our recruitment/HR teams have been on leave for xmas closedown so may be delays or staff away in terms of updating you.

Good luck!

Clue is in what they said... one of the top candidates. Not THE top candidate. Sorry I reckon you're 2nd or 3rd in line.