to expect the courtesy of a call or letter after a second interview ...

[seriouslydisgruntled]

... to let me know I haven't got the job or is it common practice these days to let job applicants work that out for themselves?

Second interview was last Wednesday and two other applicants were also short listed. At the end of the interview I was informed that a decision would be made that day and I would hear the following day. There was no call last Thursday but on Friday I had a voicemail message just after 10am asking me to call the Department Manager back. I promptly returned the lady's call within 30 minutes, but there was no reply and I was put through to her answerphone (which is shared with a couple of other colleagues) and I left a message. Having heard nothing all day, I bravely tried to contact the Manager again at 4.30 and spoke to her colleague who advised me that she had left for the day. I gave my name and explained that I was returning the Manager's call and that I had left an answer phone message around 10.45. The colleague apologised and took a message saying that she would get the lady to call me on Monday.

Well I have had no call or letter. Clearly I haven't got the job (no way Sherlock!) but I am thoroughly unimpressed that no one has had the courtesy to let me know. AIBU or is this normal practice these days? Granted it was only a part time admin post but it was a second interview. I think it's rude not to let me know and I'm quite upset.

Rant over. As you were

Erm, they did call you. On Friday.

It's more that they have been crap about returning your message.

Forgot to say - I hope you have got the job

YANBU! When I was applying for nannying jobs, I.applied for 147, had 27 interviews....heard.back.from 3!!!_

Perhaps they have offered the job to someone else but that person hasn't definitely accepted yet.

The company won't want to tell you definitely no until they are certain they have filled the position.

YANBU. I once had confirmation I hadn't got a much-wanted job when a couple of days after the interview, an email went round a group mailing list I was on saying 'congratulations to X (the successful candidate) on her fabulous new job blah blah blah'. I think it's the height of rudeness on the part of employers - if they're down to the final shortlist it's hardly a massive task to phone everyone to tell them the situation and give them feedback.

Hmmm yes minipie I guess you are right! They did phone on Friday morning but unfortunately I was driving and couldn't answer, however, they haven't contacted me since. Thank you for your optimism though

MilkNoSugar, that's awful . It's so much better to be told you haven't got the job than to wait in hope for a few days for a phone call or letter that doesn't come.

libelulle your experience is truly awful too - you must have been furious. Yes there were only three of us back for a second interview so it wouldn't take long to contact all of us.

5foot5 I briefly wondered that myself but somehow I am more inclined to think that they have just 'forgotten' to let me know.

Thank you for replying

seriously- you are so right. I think its really rude that companies can't be bothered to at least dash off a polite standard letter when you have spent time and effort at an interview (or three).

On at least two occasions I have been for three interviews, taking up a total of three hours plus travel. In each case, I lost money as I was a temp at the time. In one case the company never contacted me again even though the shortlist was me and one other and in another case I rang the agency ten days laterand they just said quite casually, didn't get it,oh well.

At the very least, its bad PR and bad manners. Anyway in this day and age- how long does it take to send a flipping email?

I mean three interviews for the same job (including HR interview, typing test, PC test and board interview). Not sure if that came across.

I hate it when applying where it states that due to costs if you haven't heard anything 4 weeks after applying assume you haven't been successful.

I don't expect a letter, but seriously how hard is it to send a bulk email saying sorry you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Yes the "if you haven't heard within four weeks of the closing date assume ..." line is really common nowadays tyler but I guess employers are inundated with applications for every vacancy. I agree though, a bulk email to unsuccessful applicants really shouldn't be to arduous to organise.

NestaFiesta your experience is way worse than mine. Thank you, you've made me feel a little better! It is costly to attend an interview; petrol, parking charges not to mention the cost to my mental and emotional health and sleeping routine

This reminds me of an interview I attended some years ago. I was unemployed at the time, on benefits, an I was trained in what was a narrow speciality. I decided that to get a job, I would apply for any admin type jobs, as I can do that sort of thing quite well, and it would give me a wider range of jobs to apply for.

So I get an interview to one company about 15 miles away, and when I got there was told "we actually think you're over qualified for our job, we just wanted to meet you and find out why you applied."

Of course, I wasn't happy and as it was clear I wouldn't be getting the job, I asked for my expenses to be reimbursed, the bus fare hadn't been cheap.

They did have the grace to blush and pay.....