What’s the deal with potential employers taking weeks on end to reply to jib applications or feedback from interviews?

[Conqueso]

Applied for a good number of jobs recently but employers seem to be taking at least 3-4 weeks to even acknowledge applications let alone offer an interview?! Some have been stand alone applications and some have been through a recruitment agency.

I waited 5 weeks after a first interview for one role to be told at that point my application wasn’t being progressed any further! I asked for an update twice during that time and didn’t receive any response until a thanks no thanks email.

What’s going on?!

Often people just never reply at all. I agree it’s rude.

I got a rejection email on Friday for a job I applied for back in October . It was a bit of a kick in the teeth as I had put so much effort into my application and had already assumed when I hadn't heard anything that it was a no.

Probably because they have had 1000s of applications for the job, 99% of which are unsuitable and it takes a long time to work through them.

I used to dread recruiting as no matter what criteria I specified I'd get deluged with applicants without any of the skills required - no doubt because the job centre requires them to apply for x each week.

The serious applicants always got a reply. Those that were taking the piss were ignored.

It just strikes me that the vacancy isn’t really there or they’re waiting to give it to the internal applicant that there always is.

It takes time to apply for roles and you spend ages doing your homework and doing a good application just to have no feedback or nothing at all in some cases. It just doesn’t look good IMO.

I agree. They are so slow at even acknowledging that I have applied let alone any feedback. I applied for something similar that I am doing now last week and have interviewed and been offered the job which is great and I have accepted however there is a job I applied for 3 weeks ago that I really want but no idea what status I'm at with it. Which is frustrating because if I were to be offered the favored job I wouldn't want to be messing about this new job. Blergh so much messing around.

DH is currently recruiting someone for his team. The interviews are spaced over a number of weeks, it’s already 3-4 weeks since the first person was interviewed and they still have more candidates to see. So Candidate 1 is probably wondering why they haven’t heard anything. They’ve already ruled out some candidates but won’t inform them until the post is filled.

I've had interviews and never heard back from the would-be employer so getting any kind of acknowledgement is a win in my book.

It depends on the level. Professional job applications usually go on for weeks with long gaps in between and potentially 2 interviews.

I think for lower paid jobs in small companies they make decisions pretty quickly and if you aren't hearing from them within a few days of deadline then you are probably not in their top few candidates.

@Frazzlefrazle yes!! Exactly!!!!

I interviewed a week ago for a role. Have heard nothing but I would really like the job. Since then have been contacted about another role and an interview for that but I want to know about the first role before moving on!!

I can’t imagine it’s difficult after an interview to say to someone “thanks for coming but you’re not quite right for the role?” either in person or a follow up email.

@MimiPigeon

DH is currently recruiting someone for his team. The interviews are spaced over a number of weeks, it’s already 3-4 weeks since the first person was interviewed and they still have more candidates to see. So Candidate 1 is probably wondering why they haven’t heard anything. They’ve already ruled out some candidates but won’t inform them until the post is filled.

@MimiPigeon. But it makes employers look terrible IMO. Applications take time, interview prep takes time - it’s a big deal to some people to move jobs so why is it employers can’t at least extend a bit of courtesy in these situations? Surely you just risk your favoured candidates possibly taking another role in the meantime?

They haven’t finished interviewing yet so I can understand why they haven’t told the candidates who are still a maybe. I agree they should have told the candidates who are a definite no.

I'm an HR Manager and there are many reasons why feedback to an application or interview may not be quick:

1. sheer volume of applications
2. lack of HR resource
3. internal conversations taking place about the role/structure etc
4. difficulty in getting the recruiting manager to look at CVs/ feedback after interviews etc
5. Difficulty in organizing interviews due to diary availability etc

Having said all that I don't think it is acceptable to not respond at all, certainly after an interview.

But.....having been on both sides of the recruitment fence, I can tell you that candidate behavior can and often is far worse than any agency or company I have encountered.

Since then have been contacted about another role and an interview for that but I want to know about the first role before moving on!!

Absolutely go to the interview for the other role, OP - employers understand that people don't apply for one job at a time.

If you do get another offer, you can always go back to the first one and check in with them before you accept it.

It sounds like they're still interviewing so they're not going to decline the people they like until they've seen everyone. It's only been a week and while it's rude and silly not to give you an update if they want to keep you interested, it may well that other candidates had availability issues, or it's been hard for the relevant ppl to get together to discuss the interviews, etc.

I have had plenty of interviews recently following a redundancy last year, and two I had for different places within days of each other both completely ghosted me post interview which in my opinion just isn't on. After all the prep and research and an interview which went seemingly rather well both times I have had absolutely nothing back six weeks later. I left it a few weeks presuming I hadn't got either before following up just in case and in one case an admin person replied saying she would chase the recruiting manager to her back to me (he never did) and the other was via a recruitment consultant which didn't shock me but she just refused to answer calls or emails whenever I asked for feedback of any kind. This was after her hounding me beforehand and nattering me with information about the role. Such bad practice and leaves you with a very sour opinion of people who do this sadly.

I got a rejection email on Friday for a job I applied for back in October.

Pfffft that's nothing. I received a rejection email in October last year from a graduate scheme I applied for in early 2018!

I've actually got a little list of companies that completely ignored my application, despite expecting me to spent hours on it, doing stupid cognitive or judgement tests etc. One of my career dreams is to one day be so experienced/skilled in my niche that one of them try and headhunt me. Then I can throw it back in their faces (not that I'm petty or anything)

It's really frustrating when sift deadlines aren't advertised, I'm job hunting in the civil service atm, one took 6 weeks from sift. Thankfully all the others have had projected interview dates (which is how we work when we recruit as we usually want someone in asap) so I know when I'm likely to hear and as it's a portal it's always updated with the outcome. Found out today they even add the interview and assessment scoring which is helpful too!

I can't speak for anyone else, but it's because we're really, really busy and every job advertisement is now, quite understandably, getting far more applicants than we've ever had before. It takes time to sift through them all and discuss potential candidates whilst not ignoring our day to day work.

I got a rejection last week for a job I applied for in December. Didn't get to interview stage.
They are still recruiting for the role...

If you only interviewed a week ago, then I think you're being unreasonable. Interviews may be spread over a few days. Managers have to get together again to discuss how the interviews went, and there may be a lot to go through. Also, it's normal to approach the successful candidate first. If they turn it down you can move down the list. But that candidate might want some time to think about it. So one week later isn't a lot of time.

Go for the other interview.

In my team, we get a lot of applicants but only a few get through to interview. Rejections hear back quickly. The bigger challenge is getting enough suitable people usually. The interviews need a senior manager and a manager from our team plus a lot of suitable candidates used to travel from other countries for the interview so scheduling was tricky. We tried to explain timelines in interviews but it could easily be 3 to 4 weeks from first person interviewed to last then its second interview then final decision. I get its frustrating but I think most people going for the roles seem understanding. We always give feedback if requested too.

I'm finding NHS ones are the worst - closing dates were weeks or even months ago and not heard anything . Have had one job offer and I wanted to confirm something before accepting and emailed them 3 days ago and nothing back ?

One week? That really is impatient. However, they should have given you an indication of what other interviews they were holding/next steps, and YOU shouldn't be so naive as to pause your search on the basis of waiting for an answer.

I think it's fine to not personally get in touch with every unsuccessful applicant so long as the application is limited to a CV and cover letter.

But it's all communication - why employers don't put the information clearly in the job advert on deadlines, expected contact etc I don't know.

(you'd be amazed at how many people apply without following very basic instructions such as "please quote the job reference number in your application email" - it's a good way of filtering out the time wasters)