Interview then Silence 🤫

[PineapplePrincess]

I applied for a job with a closing date back in mid-July. Did a short 30 min video call in August, then face to face interview at the start of September, which I thought went well. But I haven’t heard back on a decision.

This is a senior position, at a FSTE100 company.

At interview they said they wanted to make a quick decision, and would get back to me by the end of the following week. They didn’t, and given the passage of time, I assumed I wasn’t successful and they were just rude not coming back.

Four weeks post interview, I received an email to say that their recruitment was taking longer than anticipated and they expected to make a decision early the next week. Nothing the following week.

As I was going off on holiday, I emailed them to advise I would be non-contactable for a period. In the email I politely noted the passage of time, their lack of response and, assuming I was unsuccessful in the post, wished them well with the successful candidate.

I got a curt email back, saying they still hadn’t made a decision and would be in touch. That was two weeks ago.

I’m aware I’ve probably dodge a bullet here, but it is so frustrating just being left hanging. I just want to know, I hate the silence and the stringing along with broken timelines. I don’t expect to be offered the role, but tempted if they were to come back at this stage and offer, to tell them where to go.

I’m happy in my current role, so not desperate to move. This was just an interesting opportunity, that I was considering.

They couldn't be trialling other people first, could they?

It sounds like they're waiting for confirmation for funding of the role or for someone else to say yes or no and they're keeping you as a back up.
It's rubbish of them to keep you hanging on and doesn't bode well for them as employers. I would swerve them if they ever get back in touch.

@Dotto I don’t think so. It’s not the type of job you could trial someone on. It would take a significant period of time to effect the changes need to measure/gauge success in the role.

@tulippayou are possibly right. I would have expected funding to be in place before going out to advertisement, as that what I usually do when recruiting - but who knows how others operate. If this is the case, as would prefer them to say and at least indicate if I am the preferred candidate.

My worry is I am being used as back up, which I can understand for a reasonable period of time. This wait feels ridiculous, surely another candidate will have accepted/declined in the last 8wks.

I only found out I hadn't been offered a quite large job when a month later I received an email asking if I was still looking for new opportunities. The application and interview process was quite rigorous - application with a lengthy personal statement, presentation, panel interview, various online tests. I really believe the presentations from candidates would be collated and the ideas used by the company. Probably by an internal candidate. My feedback was polite but blunt. Totally unacceptable conduct.

Maybe their first choice candidate hasn’t signed the contract yet.

I think you can cool your heels. Does it matter it takes so long as you are happy in your job and can wait? I'd chill and let things take its course rather than force a reply that is not needed. Senior roles take a longer time to fill. It is a bit like a courtship. It is the nature of the beast.

You can take comfort from the fact they called you back to keep you warm. And they still kept you warm after you tried to cut it off. Maybe they have another candidate in mind, perhaps an internal one. Does it matter? You were going to walk away anyway. I don't see the point in burning bridges because of pride.

My current role took 7 months from start to finish and I was left hanging, I left them hanging and then people went away for summer etc, then another candidate could not wait and dropped off. I finally got an offer and a very decent one at that. They accommodated my requirements. I am still at the firm, my boss was lovely (now retired) and this is my last big job before I retire.

You can always refuse to progress to the next step, if they come back.