To think 2 weeks is too long

[Garlia]

To wait to hear if you got the job after an interview?

I had an interview via Zoom on Monday 1st March, it seemed to go very well, I have all the needed experience/requirements and at the end I was told HR would be in touch 'within a few days, Friday latest.'

I heard nothing however and an acquaintance at the company found out the position has been filled as it was announced internally that Friday.

So of course I obviously hadn't got the job, but I really love the company so I emailed HR on Tuesday 9th March with a brief email thanking them very much for the opportunity and for the interviewer's time.

I was quite surprised when they replied to say that I would hear the outcome 'sometime next week' (this coming week).

So tomorrow will mark 2 weeks' since the interview, I know the position has been filled, but HR are saying I'll hear back.

With other successful interviews I've always been told I have the job within 48 hours, plus I'm so confused why they havent told me officially I wasn't successful, what are they waiting for?

They're probably waiting to make sure first choice doesn't fall through. But it's very bad form to keep you hanging. I would have contacted them by the Tuesday/Wednesday after the first weekend. It's incredibly poor that you've had to initiate contact twice for this information.

I agree you are probably second choice and they are waiting for the first choice to confirm.

Probably waiting for references for the first choice, or to make sure they don’t turn it down.

Yes I would say you are second in line and the first is taking their time. I was offered a new job last November and asked for a few days to consider, so they would have hung onto their second choice until I decided (I took it).

@Modestandatinybitsexy

They're probably waiting to make sure first choice doesn't fall through. But it's very bad form to keep you hanging. I would have contacted them by the Tuesday/Wednesday after the first weekend. It's incredibly poor that you've had to initiate contact twice for this information.

I was incredibly disappointed not to hear back when the interviewer was crystal clear about when I'd hear back (they volunteered this info, I didn't ask).

I hadn't thought about being a potential second choice, that's interesting, as I know from the acquaintance that the person has accepted but perhaps they are waiting for returned references!

It's been torturous waiting; I feel like a bit of an idiot to be honest.

I was once kept waiting 3 weeks for a job I really wanted. I was told at the interview that the head of department was going on holiday at the end of that day so I might not hear back immediately, but even so.

I didn’t get it.

@PuppyMonkey

I was once kept waiting 3 weeks for a job I really wanted. I was told at the interview that the head of department was going on holiday at the end of that day so I might not hear back immediately, but even so.

I didn’t get it.

3 weeks!

You never know, maybe they were impressed with you and are expecting another vacancy to come up which they'd like to offer you?

I'm not hopeful but I can keep my finger's crossed!

I’ve done loads of interviews over the years and honestly it can take 3-4 weeks easy.

If we have narrowed down 6 candidates but then have to fit in interviews round meetings our general day job then it can take a while especially if you are the first to be interviewed.

I wouldn’t say waiting a few weeks is a large amount of time at all. Any no news is good news

It is pretty poor of them to keep you waiting so long. That said, I once had an interview for a well known national charity, and they didn't get back to me at all. I called them three weeks later just to ask for confirmation that I had been unsuccessful (after two interviews, two days of annual leave, a written assessment and a presentation I thought I deserved an email at least). They didn't even apologise for not letting me know.

I would say 3-4 weeks is pretty standard in my experience and for those I know.

I got made redundant a few years ago so loads of my colleagues and I were applying for new roles at the same time and most were a 3 week minimum wait for a response

The job I am in now it was definitely over a month but that was because HR made a balls up and forgot to phone me. My now boss actually thought I had turned the job down and when he asked in passing to HR what happened to me they realised they had forgot to phone me

3-4 weeks is way too long to keep someone hanging when they will have made specific arrangements to attend the interview in the first place.

It makes the employer look like they are disorganised, indecisive, don’t really want to hire anyone and it doesn’t leave a good first impression IMO.

Don’t even get me started on interviews for roles which then go straight to internal candidates!

It has been disappointing, I wish it wasn't such a dream job otherwise I could just put it out of my head!

Well I should hear this week. Back to checking emails forty thousand times an hour...

Judging from my DDs recent experience job hunting it’s fairly normal now not to bother contacting you at all if you are unsuccessful.
I think it’s terrible but that seems to be common practice.

I just recruited for a role, told candidates they would hear within a week to ten days (interviews over several days), during this time someone else doing that same role resigned unexpectedly (husband for a job abroad). We then had to go through the right to hire process and get approval from HR that we could offer two roles not one. We did get HR to email all candidates though and say there would be a delay and those who didn't score past the appointable pass mark were told within 48 hours. We ended up being able to offer the top two candidates roles, maybe they've realised you might be suitable for another role or something else has become available?

Those who think a few weeks is nothing are being ridiculous. You also need to remember this is a two way street, in that time the person who is chosen could have got another job, or decided that company is a waste of time as they clearly don't value people as they should. I would expect to hear in less than ten days either way. To not tell someone they haven't got the job is also very rude

Sorry I think leaving people hanging around like lemons for 3-4 weeks with no word is unacceptable. Those on this thread who think it’s nothing and “standard” practice - you need to step your game up, I say.

I had an interview on 15th December last year and after hearing nothing, emailed the contact on 17th February to ask if I could assume I had been unsuccessful.

I had a reply on 8th March to say I would hear either way what the outcome was when they had decided!

I had a similar experience and really loved the role. It turned out I was second place and they were waiting for someone else to accept (despite the recruiter telling me i was first choice etc etc)

In the end I accepted another role because it was concrete and then so did their first choice, so they had to start from scratch

I appreciate all the replies. I'm caught between being hopeful and feeling it's an obvious no!

Not heard anything again today. Would it be unreasonable to email them again tomorrow?

I've seen another role (not as good but I'd have a very good chance of getting) that I need to apply for by Wednesday.