Job - they're not getting back to me

[undertheglassceiling]

I applied for a job - the perfect job for me - a couple of months ago just before the deadline. Heard nothing and assumed I hadn't been successful. At the start of December I got a call to ask if I could interview that day - within hours. And if not then the next available opportunity was not until a week later. I (perhaps foolishly in retrospect) agreed to interview that day so moved things around to make this possible.

There are plenty of things I beat myself up over with regard to the interview once I logged off (Zoom). But all in all I THINK it went well, and I know I have the niche skillset they are looking for.

The interview lasted for about 90mins with three interviewers from the organisation. I was one of three who made their shortlist. The chief interviewer said to expect to hear about the second round of (more structured) interviews the following week, but when asked when they expected to complete the process and for an estimated start date they were vague. It's a newly-created job so they were a little vague on a few things.

A few days later I sent off my thank you emails to the three interviewers and the recruitment person. Only heard back from the recruitment person (the next week) who said she would come back with an update early the following week as the chief interviewer was on leave. She apologised for the delay and said she knew the interview had gone "really well" though.

This was last week and still haven't heard a peep. I know it's the end of the year, but I believe the organisation to be reputable so I'm feeling I haven't been successful if they're being this flaky about getting back to me within the timeframe they proposed. That being said, the organisation is rapidly expanding so I'm sure it's hectic.

Argh...I really, really want this job

Hive thoughts? Or just positive thoughts?

I think at this stage near to Christmas then nothing is happening until the new year, positive or negative. I always find it a nightmare to do interviews about now as everyone is on leave or diaries are very very busy.

I’m not sure why you emailed all the interviewers afterwards though - that’s a really odd move imo and no need to do that again for future ones.

Hi OP, I think they are not a very organised lot, as the agent said it went well and they will be back with an update.. Also with the holiday season the chief interviewer might be off till 4th of jan. I am keeping my fingers crossed for your and hope you will get the job.

They sound very disorganised. I’d worry about this as a new potential employer TBH.

Though, it may be to do with time of year. I was called back for a 2nd interview on the same day I’d had the 1st many years ago. This was the week before Christmas. It was tricky as I’d arranged time off of the 1st interview but not the 2nd. It was because the big boss who needed to sign off on hiring me was off for 2 weeks after that day so they needed to get it okayed asap. I worked there for over 4 yrs and all was well in the end.

I doubt you’ll hear until January now to be honest. At least the recruiter confirmed it went well! Just try and put it out of your mind for now as it’s outside your control.

I think emailing the interviewers is fine by the way. I’ve never done it myself but if I received one after interviewing someone I wouldn’t think it odd.

To be honest the fact they took so long to offer you an interview - and it then be at ridiculously short notice - suggests that whoever is running the recruitment process is either not very good at it or massively overworked. Perhaps that reflects the culture of the company as a whole. Either way it's not that surprising they've not got back to you yet given their prior form.

Often the person doing the recruiting is doing so alongside their full time job. When work is busy, end of year deadlines approaching for example, anything that can be put off is. Letting a candidate know is low down the priority list I'm afraid, because although it is undoubtedly infuriating for the candidate concerned, there's no comeback for the recruiter themselves.

Having been on the other side of interviews, there are some extremely disorganised people who assume that everyone is desperate to work for their company.

I suggest you assume you're not going to hear this side of Christmas and possibly not until the New Year. You might not hear at all.

If they do invite you for another interview, be available when it suits YOU. Do not make life difficult for yourself. They should be pursuing you not the other way around.

Also, the fact that you got an interview a couple of months after the deadline suggests to me that you might be a second choice candidate.

I'd be wary that someone was appointed and didn't work out.

I'd also be wary working for somewhere so disorganised!

@ShopoholicIn

Hi OP, I think they are not a very organised lot, as the agent said it went well and they will be back with an update.. Also with the holiday season the chief interviewer might be off till 4th of jan. I am keeping my fingers crossed for your and hope you will get the job.

Thanks, I appreciate that!

I work in recruitment and have clients I out forward for jobs in November that still that arent doing stuff until the new year. It's frustrating but some people are just slow.

@purplemunkey

They sound very disorganised. I’d worry about this as a new potential employer TBH.

Though, it may be to do with time of year. I was called back for a 2nd interview on the same day I’d had the 1st many years ago. This was the week before Christmas. It was tricky as I’d arranged time off of the 1st interview but not the 2nd. It was because the big boss who needed to sign off on hiring me was off for 2 weeks after that day so they needed to get it okayed asap. I worked there for over 4 yrs and all was well in the end.

I doubt you’ll hear until January now to be honest. At least the recruiter confirmed it went well! Just try and put it out of your mind for now as it’s outside your control.

I think emailing the interviewers is fine by the way. I’ve never done it myself but if I received one after interviewing someone I wouldn’t think it odd.

Right?! It does have a good reputation but the disorganisation has thrown me. I do wonder if its a smokescreen for them working out the details of the successful applicant's contract before they let me know I've not got it. But I'm hoping that's not the case.

Thanks, I thought it was normal to email interviewers! That being said, I haven't had an interview in a loonng time and don't remember sending one in the past.

DD was made redundant in the summer and so applied for lots of jobs and got interviews for several.
It’s actually completely normal nowadays to go for interview and never hear anything at all from the company! These are not just casual interviews, but ones where she completed an application form, had a zoom interview, carried out a project then travelled 100 miles for an interview.
I was absolutely gobsmacked at this but it appears to be standard in lots of companies most of which you will have heard of.

@flowersforbrains

Having been on the other side of interviews, there are some extremely disorganised people who assume that everyone is desperate to work for their company.

I suggest you assume you're not going to hear this side of Christmas and possibly not until the New Year. You might not hear at all.

If they do invite you for another interview, be available when it suits YOU. Do not make life difficult for yourself. They should be pursuing you not the other way around.

Thanks to you too. I do forget it's a two-way interview. I will keep that in mind.

It could easily be a Christmas thing -

People always overestimate what they can get done before the end of the year, and a job like this is especially hard to complete because people have to come together and discuss.

Try and put it out of your mind and chase them on the morning of Wednesday 5th.

Gawd. Sorry for your DD @Fairyliz. That's ridiculous. I'd be gobsmacked too.

I had thought to email this week to chase up but I'm glad I didn't. I'll definitely wait until the new year @Luredbyapomegranate

Yes, I'd leave it. Hopefully it'll be a lovely way to start 2022 :)

I work for the NHS and it’s like this, it’s a shambles, no one makes a decision and it drags on for weeks. Sounds like a rubbish HR team to me.

@AlbertBridge Fingers crossed!

Asking to interview on the same day is a big red flag! And not having an exact start date is worrying too.

This happens so much, I hate it. I know recruiters are busy but does it really take much to email an applicant to say they've not been successful, or that they are working the logistics of a second interview out?

@Fairyliz

DD was made redundant in the summer and so applied for lots of jobs and got interviews for several. It’s actually completely normal nowadays to go for interview and never hear anything at all from the company! These are not just casual interviews, but ones where she completed an application form, had a zoom interview, carried out a project then travelled 100 miles for an interview. I was absolutely gobsmacked at this but it appears to be standard in lots of companies most of which you will have heard of.

@Fairyliz Some companies use the "interview-process" to get freework from applicants. They just keep intrviewing them, taking their work, selling it to customers and move on to the next candidate.

It's very important to set firm boundaries beforehand as to what you are willing to do for an interview.

My list is as follows:

• No more than two interviews and there needs to be some flexibility from both sides to scheduling them.
• Only one short assesment, related to the skills required for the job. I don't do IQ- or personality tests.
• No " sample" work, then again I am not an artists or a designer. But even if I was, I would assume my portfolio would speak for itself
• No lateness. If the interview doesn't start within 15 minutes of the scheduled time I am out of there.

Always have multiple application processes running at the same time so you don't fred over just one. Also, there is no such thing as a perfect job. In the end, even doing something you love gets old day after day, hour after hour.

@CaptSkippy that's really good advice, your confidence in your own worth is an inspiration.

I've had a few pisstaking interviews.

One, the interviewer had me shown into the room while he was having a chatty phone conversation and kept it going for 10 minutes with me sat awkwardly in front of his desk. Should have walked out at that point as it didn't get any better! Asked the standard question about possibility of progression. He grumbled that everyone asked that and the job was what it was, no promotion prospects. I replied in that case I won't waste any more of either of our time as the job just wasn't what I wanted, and walked out. Then told the agency that hell would freeze over before I considered accepting that job.

Another, had three rounds of interviews plus online tests, seemed to go really well. Then I waited and waited for a decision. The agent couldn't get hold of anyone, they avoided his calls for a month. Eventually got a call from another agency asking if I wanted to be put forward for exactly the same job! Told them no chance and why. Turns out they had a new FD start and he completely rewrote the job spec and started the whole process again. Didn't even bother letting the original agency know. About 6 months later they finally appointed someone. They finally recruited someone 6 months later but a couple of months after that Covid hit and the whole company collapsed. What a lucky escape that was!

How a company treats you during interview tells you how you’ll be treated if you work there imo

So I would keep looking