Are there really multiple sign-offs needed to make a job offer?

[OfferPending]

It’s mad to me how long it takes for some places to make a job offer. You do the interviews, feel like it went well, they say they’re keen and then silence for weeks.

Is it true that there are multiple “sign-offs” needed? Like senior managers, HR, finance, maybe someone who’s not even met you?

Or is it more that they’re stalling or keeping options open? Feels like it shouldn’t be this complicated to offer someone a job.

AIBU to think the whole thing could be streamlined or is this just how things work now?

yes there can be, certainly in some industries or bigger companies

Yes, can be all those things. Depending on time of year a manager might get sign off to do recruitment, go through the process, but then wait for some revised budget figures to go through to make sure the company still has that role in the budget and get it signed off again

100%
Certainly where I work - pretty corporate, household name grocery head office
A million people to sign off the hiring process to begin with, then the same when an offer is to be made

Beyond frustrating, so I feel your pain, but if it helps it's highly possible that it's genuine

Yes it’s definitely true and sometimes it’s just waiting on the last one of those people to sign off

Some companies, especially large ones, don't seem to realise that cumbersome recruitment processes dent the employer brand. Delay is also disempowrtung for the hiring manager.

I work in a large global professional services firm and our recruitment function is the bane of our lives, I’m always on at our boss to raise it at exec level - apparently it has and has improved slightly but it’s the opposite of any use. Same with general HR support.

My point being this is a massive organisation and it’s terrible, there is money to invest it yet it is still like banging your head against a brick wall. The people who actually interviewed you may feel very similarly.

In my company, yes. A large part of that is because of the nature of how our work is organized.

Absolutely.

Where I work,

3 sign offs for standard replacement hire.

4 where there's a headcount change or upwards budget change

Yes that’s the case with us. We have checks and balances in place to ensure all managers have followed a fair process. Not all Managers recruit often and there’s significant liability for the employer if you get it wrong. Or if a manager tries to offer a role to someone you have recently dismissed…. Or the panel don’t agree etc etc. I’d never leave a candidate waiting weeks though, you’d lose them if they’re any good. It’s sometimes same day approval, max a couple of days.
A recruitment process is two way and tells you a lot about the culture. If they’re messing you about apply elsewhere.

Yes. It’s called process and controls. Critical for any organisation.