to think this is shoddy after a job interview?

[LindorDoubleChoc]

Had job interview early last week, after a preliminary phone interview. I was there being interviewed by two people for nearly 2 hours and had to complete some written tasks (like a simple test).

When I left the woman who interviewed me said they would let people know by the end of the week or possibly Monday. I asked how many they were seeing and she replied "4".

So I haven't heard anything and just feel in my bones that I'm not going to by the end of today. If I don't, AIBU to think this is an absolutely unacceptable way to treat the unsuccessful candidates, given that there were such a small number?

I WAS sad at the thought of not getting the job, now I feel I'd sooner not work for a business that is so ... rude? is that the word?

Ok so what are you going to do about?

Things happen unexpectedly. Someone is sick a work emergency arises etc.

@PollyBell - I'll leave it another week and then email the woman who interviewed me and the boss of the company and let them have my opinion.

Lots of reasons it might take longer than they estimated. They aren’t going to let the unsuccessful people know until everyone has been interviewed and their first choice has accepted an offer - in case they need to go with their second choice.

So the delay could be that candidate 4 had to delay their interview for some reason.

Or it was a very competitive pool and they are still discussing who the best fit is.

Might be double checking references of their first and second picks.

Might have made an offer to their first choice and the candidate is negotiating for a better offer.

Better option would be to email tomorrow with a positive email. Reiterating how enthusiastic you are about the job, how nice it was to meet them, and that you’d love to know if they’ve made a decision yet as you are keen to move on with other options if they have chosen someone else.

I'll leave it another week and then email the woman who interviewed me and the boss of the company and let them have my opinion

I had someone who did this. We were running behind with the process due to some urgent priorities arising and recruitment was pushed aside for a few weeks. At that point they were the top candidate. Needless to say they then went in the bin.

It is the norm in some places but i think that says a lot about the organisation as a whole.

I had similar. Went to an interview in January and did their cruddy 1 hour 'task' with not enough pink paper and a crappy pen.

Interview was 2 hours and not a word back. I didn't like the place but feedback would have been appreciated.

Conversely other interviews have called immediately with feedback.

A short email to explain this would have been professional though surely.

They were your top candidate and you didn't even have the courtesy to drop them a quick email to let them know things were still in train? What sort of shoddy company are you running? You talk as though its such a "gotcha" for them, but you lost your best candidate.

Ya sound a bit fresh to the modern job market to be honest! Ghosting is the norm, even after two interviews, one of which you drove hundreds of miles for at your own expense. It's soul destroying, but the way it is now.

Not really - the more professional option for the candidate was to enquire what the situation was - not berate their potential employer.

I’d be wary of a candidate who was so reactionary over a short delay. I’d worry they’d be rude to colleagues or clients when things go wrong.

What happens if you phone the interviewer or HR person and ask for an update / feedback when it feels like you’re in danger of being ghosted?

@GladHedgehog The reply below by the other poster nails it. We don’t believe we missed out on the best candidate, but dodged a bullet and glad we found that out up front. Wouldn’t have had a problem with a polite mail enquiring about the progress. Sometimes when crises hit, and you swing into working 18 hours a day for several days running, you literally don’t have ‘a few minutes’ to let all candidates know things are running behind. In such a situation, you do accept you may lose one or two, meanwhile they may be offered another position and accept for example, but so be it. If people want to send through shitty emails, basically a ‘thanks for nothing and glad I didn’t get the job’ when it’s in progress, more than happy to place them in the bin, as this gives you info that resumes and interviews don’t!

Not really - the more professional option for the candidate was to enquire what the situation was - not berate their potential employer. I’d be wary of a candidate who was so reactionary over a short delay. I’d worry they’d be rude to colleagues or clients when things go wrong

the last time i went for an interview i heard on the day

God don’t do that. You’ll look really unprofessional and a bit unhinged. They’re either running behind for whatever reason (can be common in small businesses), or you are second choice and they are waiting for first choice to be confirmed.

You are not being unreasonable and I agree, it is shoddy!

I recruit people and everyone gets a yes or no email in a very timely manner. It's common courtesy.

Good luck with your job hunting.

What do you think was your more professional option?

No, because the candidate might ask for more money or you tailor the offer to what you think is appropriate given their reported experience.

Of course it’s shoddy. How hard would it have been to send an email letting the OP know timescales have been delayed slightly and you’ll be in touch by the end of the week.

And to the poster who said you’d be concerned the candidate would be rude to colleagues, I’d be concerned your shit communication would be reflective of how you treat customers and employees in general.

I once attended 2 interviews for a company and then I heard nothing back, at the time I was deeply annoyed by this having spent lots of time including filling in forms, taking holiday from my job to attend the interviews etc so I was determined to get a response ...just a no you didn't get the job was fine but I felt my time deserved a response. My persistence paid off as they had chosen another candidate but he then left within a month and they offered me the job. I spent over 8 years there in a great job.

Immediately if you’re unsuccessful?

As the employer in this situation I’d have given myself a bigger window for the decision. So “we’ll probably make a decision by Monday but it might be the end of next week.”

If delayed longer than expected I’d expect the candidates to follow up. Unless there was some serious crisis which had taken the job off the table for a while.

As a recruiter I always phoned all the candidates and gave them specific feedback.

As the candidate I’ve always sent a follow up email the day after the interview (unless an internal candidate) thanking them for their time and letting them know I am happy to answer any extra questions.

Then if their estimated deadline had passed I’d do a follow up email checking in politely.

Ghosting after an interview wasn’t really a thing back then though - which is very rude. I’d stick be wary about berating a ghoster in many industries it’s not worth ruining a potential networking contact.

I interviewed for a job a few years ago; it went extremely well, and I was told I definitely had the position and they'd be in touch by the end of the week latest to firm up the start date and salary.

That came and went! Another week went by until I had a one-line email saying someone else had been selected.

I thought it was extremely unprofessional - not only to mislead me by saying I was selected, but then radio silence afterwards.

They called 6 weeks later offering me the job; their selected person had started and left! I said I'd get back to them by the end of the week.

I took great joy in waiting the same amount of time they left me in limbo, and sent a one line email saying I had chosen another employer.

Petty but hugely satisfying.

Of course it goes both ways - it might well be a sign that an employer isn’t a good fit for you as an employee but they might still be a good networking contact or you might come across them in a different role at some point in the future,

Telling them off for a short delay will just alienate people.

Perfect!

op, have you not thought about the fact that 4 people interviewed and they can only recruit you? The other 3 may want the job just as much as you. YABU.

please don’t send an angry email. You may burn your bridges with this recruiter and there might be other jobs if you impressed them!