AIBU to think I didn't get the job?

[FlappicusSmith]

Job interview on Tuesday. Went pretty well - don't think I could have done much better. They said they'd let us know by 'end of the week'. At least 3 other candidates, maybe 4. It's Friday, 3pm and I haven't heard anything...

I didn't get it, right? My theory is they've offered to someone else and are waiting confirmation before sending out rejection emails.

A bit of context - it's not a sector where ghosting happens. It's also one where HR processes have to be followed, so I guess a legitimate reason for not hearing back is there's an HR backlog.

Anyway, I'm going mad with the torture of not knowing and all attempts to distract myself aren't working.

What do you think?
You are being unreasonable = you got the job. Or maybe you did - HR is just taking ages.
You are not being unreasonable = sorry chuck, you didn't get it as you would have heard by now if you had

I don't think so as there were more candidates.

Gosh, that sounds painful for all involved!

Good luck. There is still time

Maybe the collective power of MN rooting for me will swing the decision in my favour!

Fingers crossed for you, OP!

I'm hoping for a good update to this!! Day ain't over yet...

I'm in the same boat too (do hope it's not the same job!) but they did say it might be early next week.

I'm trying not to expect anything 😶

I hate the waiting. Everytime I have had to wait it was a rejection. Sorry OP I think this one is dead.

I would say your not first choice.

The first choice has been offered today, and has asked for weekend to think about and negotiate terms and salary. Or use as a bargaining tool at current job.

You are back up in case first choice declines.

When I interview we always call first choice first and wait for acceptance before rejecting other applicants.

4.30pm - still no news.

The agony!

(But yes, I'm in agreement with people saying no news is not good news. Am assuming they've offered to someone else and I believe HR process is that they don't send out rejection emails until the offer recipient has accepted)

Gah. So annoying. I hate the apply/interview process. All that prep, all that build up, the effort and energy of the interview itself (cost too, as this one was in person) and then the slow deflation as you wait for news.

No news isn’t good news I think- sorry!

I’ve found though that places sometimes reject that absolute nos quite quickly but might hang on saying a final no until they’ve firmed up the preferred candidate. I almost find this worse as you assume you’ve been rejected but are kept hanging on in case of some hope. My husband recently had 4 interviews for one job in quick succession. Obviously had to put in loads of time, sort annual leave etc and they left him hanging for 2 weeks and only told him when he chased. The last interview guy had also suggested he’d go through so It left quite a bitter taste. It was a really senior role and I think their approach was rude and shoddy. The feedback given was useless as well.

I had one role when I took 3 weeks to reject me. They did actually give me really thorough and helpful feedback and I’d obviously done better than I’d expected as they were hanging on until winning candidate had a signed contract before rejecting me but it’s still a bit annoying.

No one can say.

It might be that they are waiting for someone to accept before letting everyone know. Or the deadline may have been unrealistic. Or there may be lots of other stuff going on behind the scenes.

I was involved in recruitment last week (also a very strict, accountable process). The 3 candidates were told they'd find out within 4 days. Unfortunately there was an issue which meant an interview had to be rescheduled, the head interviewer's pc with the data on was corrupted (major panic!!!) then there was a misunderstanding about who filled in what form and a few other issues, all of which meant the results went out over a week later. We did tell the candidates they would be delayed as soon as we knew but I dont think that is standard practice.

As an ex-Managing Director of a couple of large businesses, I'd say that something possibly came up to throw a spanner in the works during the interim time.

The working weeks are short, and time flies by so fast that if an operational issue has come up that's nothing to do with the hiring process, it could have diverted a couple of key people away from the selection process.

It was not great of them to be so specific about when they would be letting people know, but I wouldn't yet think you don't have the job. It could also be a simple matter of two key people preferring different candidates. I have seen that a few times, and that's a tough one to resolve. Rarely does the decision rest with just one individual.

On one occasion, we had to have further calls with the candidates.

EDIT to say I 100% agree with the poster directly above me, who describes things perfectly! These are the real-life incidents that happen.

I hate how companies treat unsuccessful candidates.

Most recruitment is done online, there is absolutely no reason why they cant just send an automated "thanks for applying but we wont be interviewing you. We can't give feedback" email.

As for not letting people know after they've gone to the time and effort of interviewing, that is just so rude. Ive had that and there is just no excuse for it. Luckily both times it was quite obvious I hadnt been successful so I wasnt sat waiting for an email but they still should have had the courtesy to make it official.

I'm now doubting myself. Was it that the panel chair said they'd let people know by the end of the week, or that they would make a decision by the end of the week...? If the latter, then completely feasible I wouldn't hear until next week as even once the panel has decided it then has to go through their lengthy HR process before the decision is communicated.

Anyway - after 5pm so unlikely to hear anything today...

If it makes you feel any better I once waited 3 weeks to get a job offer. I figured there was no way I’d got it by that point but hadn’t had a rejection, then they randomly called and offered it me.

I found out a couple of years later they’d initially offered internally and the internal candidate took a few days before turning it down and then they just got swamped before calling me to offer.

I and the internal candidate are still friends now😆

This feeling is awful. The waiting period, the anticipation. I've been through it with 1 employer just waiting and waiting it was torture.
Like someone said id technically say it's not the end of the week just yet. Id wait till end of Monday to hear back and then I'd give up.

I think liklihood is you're not first choice, unless their decision making was very delayed by absence or something. Sounds to me like they're confirming an offer before letting others know. Sorry :(

I think it's too soon to say, but if you don't get it I suggest following them up

I didn't initially get the job that was advertised where I work now, but I thanked them and expressed interest in being considered if they were ever hiring again, and six weeks later they decided they needed to create another position in the same role - I got it. Been there five years now.

Never anything to lose by showing enthusiasm. But I hope you did get it!

Preferred candidate could've secured another job. That happens. So they are now making a decision based on the top couple beneath that person. If there's very little to distinguish each one and they all look good there might still be several in the running, including you.

Wait till Monday afternoon. Then politely chase it up.

I’m with you OP I’m afraid I don’t think you’ve got it. Whenever I’ve had this situation (feedback/decision not arrived by the expected time) and had a gut feeling I was unsuccessful I’ve always been correct.

From the other side - obviously I don't know what sector you're in but sometimes the interviewer gives wrong information, or something happens to delay contact. I hate when people are left hanging for the outcome of their interview, it's not professional at all, and the reasons for it are many and varied. But ime sometimes (ok, fairly often) the interviewer will say 'you'll hear by Friday' but then it turns out some person involved in signing off on the preferred candidate is on annual leave. If you haven't heard from them by Monday if it was me I wouldn't have any problem with an interviewee getting in touch.

I’m in recruitment and I’m often told by clients we will have final decision by end of Friday. So I tell candidates that and then it doesn’t happen! And it’s infuriating. It can be such a variety of things - could it be that your second choice and they are waiting to hear from first choice? Yes. It happens. But I’ve got sooooo many clients off poorly atm that’s delayed it, so many processes get delayed due to needing an ‘unexpected sign off’, hr red tape, there are literally a million reasons. It’s understandably the only thing you’re thinking of, but it’s one of many many things they are working on. They may just simply have been too busy! I hope you hear soon. I know it’s torturous then waiting over the weekend.

Yup, you all speak sense!

I mean, I've been on the other side (on hiring panels) in this sector. One time we (the panel) made a decision quickly and communicated it to HR who then didin't communicate with us further - as in I didn't know if/when they'd let the 'winning' candidate know, etc. I had to nudge HR, to find out they'd had no response from the 'winning' candidate (after some days), I then got in touch with the candidate (I knew them professionally) to push the process along (turns out they were waiting to hear on another offer - ultimately they turned our offer down and we went with the second choice candidate, who'd probably waited at least 2 weeks to hear back).

TLDR - hiring processes are sometimes lengthy and inefficient!

No idea, but will you let us know next week?