To think they’ve changed their minds?

[IWantAShitzu]

i was interviewed by a large organisation (think along the lines of the NHS) back in March.
they interviewed a lot of candidates, it was quite a gruelling process, for a job I have been working towards for years. I was very grateful to be offered the position - it’s life changing for me and my family and I have been really excited to start.

I know that the processes within the organisation aren’t quick, all DBS checks and references have to be returned and complete before a start date can be given.

the DBS is sorted and all references are back but they need to verbally confirm one of them, which is from an old manager of the same directorate.

I was told two weeks ago that it would be finalised but I have not heard anything. I did phone and leave a message with the person carrying out the checks, and I have emailed but I’ve had no response. I don’t want to get in touch again as I don’t want to seem like a pain!

no issues in previous jobs so I know the references themselves wouldn’t be an issue.

AIBU to think something has happened and they no longer want to employ me? I’m an anxious
person as it is and I would just rather know. I need to make childcare arrangements so I have the childminder waiting on date changes too, so I would prefer to know sooner rather than later.

Public sector hiring is notoriously complex. In my experience they are probably just jumping through endless hoops.

If it's someone like Border Force type agency , they are know for taking a ridiculous amount of time to complete the process.
A friend actually gave up and got another job whilst waiting to start at BF

Checks take ages and can drag on. hR staff also change like the weather, so if you can’t get in touch with your the advisor you need to speak with someone else in their department

They won't have changed their minds, it's just that it's far more important to you (understandably) than it is to them. It'll be hanging about on somebody's desk/lurking on a to-do list somewhere.

If it's local authority or NHS adjacent they take bloody ages in my experience so don't panic.

Don't worry. These are ridiculously long processes.
It's so difficult when you have to arrange childcare. There sould be an easier way, quite discriminatory.

It’s the Civil Service isn’t it? 🙈

I waited 6 months for my start date after being accepted. 6 months! I had job in the meantime thankfully and honestly had carried on looking. They copped an attitude when I said I had to 4 weeks notice too, like the last 6 months hadn’t happened.

If it is... Expect to wait MONTHS. The checks are not the quickest!

My husbands work is like this, they took months to sort out his last job change. If they dont want you anymore they would have told you, try not to worry it will all work itself out in the end.

I probably wouldn't chase it again so soon though

No idea about public sector but the vetting in my large private sector company is an absolute nightmare and takes months.

don’t despair, keep trying to get in touch, email will probably be better.

If it's the civil service(which it sounds like 🙈) it takes months especially if your an external candidate.

I was coming on to say this 😅

If it is, they are notoriously slow. I received my job offer in the April and didn't actually get to start the job until the December, and I've heard considerably worse stories than that!

These things can take time

DH was civil service and it happened to him because there was an unexpected recruitment moratorium and they didn't know whether or not they could employ him.

DH currently in the same position with local authority, has been waiting nearly 2 months for a start date and still nothing confirmed but he was told to expect a long wait

I understand your frustration and they really should return your email, but there's every prospect that the job offer is still good.

It is a big negative of going to work for these big organisations. Anecdotally waving another job offer at them can speed things along...

I absolutely would keep chasing. They won't recind the offer based on you wanting updates. It sounds like an ineffective HR team more than anything.

I worked (briefly!) for the prison service. It took six months to clear my multiple squeaky-clean references and my equally squeaky-clean Disclosure and Barring Service check.
Working in the Service was a complete eye-opener. Bullying of staff, theft, collusion with inmates and racism were rife. Amongst my colleagues. I was sacked on a completely trumped-up charge with the most basic of references. Dates worked and role.

It was cold comfort to read in the National newspapers that the people who bullied me were sacked for behaving in a totally inappropriate way with some of the inmates and their junior staff.

This happened to me - it was only when my future line manager discovered I hadn't been able to resign yet as HR hadn't sent me all the paperwork and so the clock hadn't even started ticking on my 3 month notice period, that things started moving!

One of my colleagues was offered a job with HMRC and it took nearly 8 months before he started. I don't think it is unusual.

Person they need might be on holiday

Thank you all for your replies! Yes it is civil service 🙊 finally got an email back this morning saying checks are all complete and the recruiting manager will be in touch to arrange a start date. So I feel very relieved now! Xx