Hiring manager ignored me after referral

[theworriermum]

Has this ever happened to anyone or any advice appreciated.

An ex colleague who I didn't know personally but worked with, contacted me on LinkedIn to say the company they now work for have a role which they thought for me for straight away.

Indeed it's exactly my role and region, so made perfect sense to me.

I explained I was away for 2 weeks but keen to learn more and asked what was required.

A personal email address for an intro to the hiring manager (VP based in US) and my CV, then this person could officially refer me in.

I explained my CV wouldn't be refreshed until I was home but sent my email for the intro. It went quiet. Just under a week later he said thanks, he would let me apply directly and would make the intro. Nothing. I left it a few days and said 'look forward to the intro'.

Eventually it came and was a glowing referral. I was touched by the kind words (Chatgpt probably helped). I emailed back to the hiring manager and explained I was away but would be back on x date the very happy to meet in the meantime and be flexible around her schedule.

That was a week ago and she ignored me. As I have been away I didn't follow up but plan to do so tomorrow.

I just feel if she had a candidate pipeline problem she wouldn't have ignored me. I also find it rude she hasn't event responded. Firstly someone in her reporting line emailed the into and then I emailed back, she missed both?!

Any thoughts?

My partner works in the same industry and I just reminded him last night that I didn't get a response and he said it's really weird.

Also said not sending a CV isn't an issue. Did say I could follow up with an application and CV but finds it odd in a company of less than 2,500 this would be an issue.

Her org can't be more than 50 people, she will know the guy who recommended me.

Her org can't be more than 50 people, she will know the guy who recommended me.

You seem to be putting a huge amount of weight on this recommendation. But if I was hiring, I'd still wait until I had all the information - your CV - before doing anything. You seem to expect that the recommendation should be enough to whisk you through the system, but I don't think it works like that in most fields.

Every company has different processes and norms for hiring and different positions will have different timelines. Getting frustrated that they're not doing it the way you've done it elsewhere in the past is pointless.

They asked you for a CV to start the process and said you would need to apply directly, so take care of those pending tasks on your end if you think you're interested. Otherwise just let the opportunity go, but don't waste a bunch of energy mind-reading and critiquing this hiring manager you've never spoken with. Maybe the hiring manager is just on a relaxed timeline and is happy to wait until you're back from holiday and have had time to send a proper CV and application before getting on a call. Maybe they're not actually that interested in you because they have someone else in mind. Maybe they're just not a terribly proactive communicator. Maybe they're an unreasonable manager who thinks going away on holiday without your laptop makes you a poor prospect. The best way to find out is to send in your CV and the formal application as requested and see what they do.

@KrisAkabusi not to be whisked through the process but an acknowledgment of the fact I've emailed her and offered to meet even when on holiday.

OP even though you are on holiday in another country. If this is a great opportunity, you get yourself to the nearest pc or laptop and update your cv there. I am sure the country you are in has computers and internet connections, unless you are in the middle of the Sahara dessert in a tent...It depends how much you want this. I would find all this being away irritating and a feeble excuse...

I agree with you. We get to a certain point in our careers where jobs come from recommendations and word of mouth. I haven't formally applied for a job in a decade, I am always contacted. Due diligence and references have usually been done before I am asked to apply. Sounds like you are the same. If you are now back I would send a one liner saying so and asking for next steps.

You seem to think that you are guaranteed an interview and/or a quick response because you have a contact there but thats not necessarily the case.
Your application (or lack of) will probably be treated like everyone elses and the referral will just help if everything else stacks up too or its between you and one other for example. It won't mean you get special treatment.
For all you know the hiring manager doesn't even like or respect your contact.
I understand why you haven't been able to send your CV but if there are already lots of good candidates you may not even be in the running compared to people who HAVE properly applied.
It also could just be that the process is slower than you might have liked and you will be contacted when they are ready.

@Doggymummar finally, someone who understands. Do you therefore think this is somewhat 'off'?

I probably should have added that I am also not junior.

@Hoppinggreen the contact has just been promoted to manager level. They are more junior than me for sure but looks like things are progressing nicely for them.

Ok but that does not mean that their "interference" in the normal hiring process will be appreciated. The company or hiring manager may prefer people to stay in their lane.
Of course their opinion may hold a lot of weight but my point was that you can't assume that.
Hopefully it IS the case and it gives your application a boost

If you are now back I would send a one liner saying so and asking for next steps.

If you're interested in the position please do not do this without attaching the CV that was already requested and which you said you would send when you return.

I don't care how senior the position is I'm hiring for, emailing and asking for next steps without completing such a simple first one would reflect poorly. I'm happy to talk to candidates before receiving a formal CV or their submitting any of recruiting's paperwork, but if they've said they'll send me a CV on a certain timeline then they need to do that without an additional prompt.

@Hoppinggreen I don't think there is hope because if there was, she would have replied. I will of course formally apply and keep everyone updated. Will happily eat my hat but this all seems very odd to me.

@GravyBoatWars thanks for your input and I agree. If you don't need a CV to have a conversation, do you find it strange she hasn't replied for an entire week to just set up a time to chat? Or even acknowledge my email.

I don't think it would be fair for this hiring manager to start having introductory conversations with people who haven't even officially applied. For all you know the person who referred you might be little more than a tea boy in the eyes of that manager?
I'm not saying that's the case but you shouldn't be expecting special treatment as it's unfair on the other candidates.

I find it slightly below optimal communication and utterly pointless to try to read into.

You established that you were on vacation and would send a CV when you get back. As I said above, maybe she's just in zero rush (common for hiring at higher levels) and saw no need to be engaging in professional talk with you during you holiday, maybe this particular company has a more formal hiring process than you're used to (I don't require a CV to talk to candidates but that doesn't make this The One Right Way), maybe she's just a slack communicator, maybe she's not interested... who knows. It's a complete waste of time to try to overanalyze this with so little information. Updating your CV should be quick and it's always useful to have a new one anyways, so take this energy you're spending and do that. Then you can see how she responds and try to draw some impressions that are actually useful.

Kindly, you are coming across as very pushy. You aren't the only candidate I'm sure and I really wouldn't follow the other posters advice who said you should contact them again. It's quite common for people to recommend people they know, however it's never a guarantee. You being senior has no relevance, they'll have to treat everyone under the same process.

You seem to be arguing with everyone's comments here bar people who agree with you. Just to add as well, she might be waiting for all cv's to get in so that they can set up "intros" not having conservatories here and there all week. A week is no time.

No! You have said that you will do something that you haven't yet done, and also that you are on holiday. I don't understand why, with 99% of responses all telling you the same thing, that you don't get this.

@KrisAkabusi I told the person who referred me that I would apply and send my CV. I've not said anything to the hiring manager but as I've said multiple times above, I will apply today.

Yeah this !
I wouldn't do a thing until I saw a CV, and unless you're applying for a job most people aren't on LinkedIn that often.

Sorry went to the hairdresser's. I think perhaps they were waiting for you to return from holiday and follow up. Pip them a msg then you will know.

By way of update, I applied directly online and I followed up with hiring manager. Told her I appreciated her for her patience, kept it very brief, sent CV and cover letter. Thanked her for her time and consideration,

Crickets.

I suppose you had nothing to lose and they may respond
Best of luck

@Hoppinggreen thank you. I still find it highly strange she couldn't even reply to either of my emails. Especially when someone in her team personally connected us. Maybe she didn't like my approach of assuming she wanted to talk by giving her my whereabouts (holiday or otherwise) and connecting on LinkedIn which she has not accepted still.

I have taken it personally which many people on this thread not to. It's beyond anything I've seen or heard of before and DH thinks the same.

Maybe the manager is keeping options open and feels you've been assuming you'll get the job? I could see that happening in places ive worked where someone has suggested X to the manager but the manager is considering all applications.

It's possible you've given the impression you're assuming the job is yours, which could have put backs up.

@Idontknowhatnametochoose I think you're right. To not even reply would suggest she didn't like my approach and thinks I'm above my station.

My ex colleagues email did sign off 'I will leave you both to find a time to connect'. Which is why I jumped in to say I'm on holiday why not meet when I'm back or if you're pushing ahead with the role then here is my time difference vs yours in the meantime.

I wonder what a better reply from me would have been in hindsight. Maybe 'nice to be connected, my CV will be with you in a week' then send it and say nothing about meeting?

If it was met with silence then I'd be kicking myself for not being more forthcoming.

Ah the mind games I play on myself.