Had second interview then heard nothing - is this rude or normal?

[mydoorisalwaysopen]

I had an interview and then second interview for a senior position in a local company - all went well, I thought. But that was two weeks ago and I have heard nothing. I obviously assume I am not going to be offered the job but I think it is rude that they could not take the time to send me an email and let me know. Is this just the way it is these days - I have been in the same job for 5 years so it's been a while since I went for an interview.

I do feel for you and I do think a lot of companies have extremely poor HR functions, failing management structures and managers that can't communicate with HR. It is so rude when companies do this and they should have some decent manners and either tell you whether or not you've been successful, or inform you if and why there appears to be a delay in coming to a decision.

So, yes it is rude, but sadly in my experience, it appears to be normal.

I was recently in a very similar position. Like you, I had a final interview for a senior position. Previously I had passed the application stage, an on-line assessment of my management style, a first round interview and then I had been given a task to do. I was asked to write a "cabinet paper on reforming public services", I put about 20 hours into this task. I had my final interview and was told I would be told the outcome by the end of the following week. I allowed two weeks to go by, and heard nothing.

I contacted the company's HR department and was told I'd receive an update soon, but the original person was no longer dealing with it. I waited a week. I then contacted him back and asked for details of the person who was now dealing with it. I emailed this person and waited another week. Heard nothing. I emailed them again to get an apologetic reply stating that the manager that had interviewed me wasn't responding to them. Another week went by, and I chased again to be told they were trying to get a response from the second manager who had interviewed me. Another week passed, and I chased again and was told I would receive a response by the end of the week. I emailed them at the beginning of the following week to be told I wasn't successful as it had been decided that they didn't think my skills were transferable from the industry I had worked in. I was livid . I felt like responding, with words to the effect of, "what, you mean you need managers who can't make decisions, are unable to communicate with HR, cannot provide constructive feedback and waste a lot of time?"

My advice would be to contact the company in writing or by email, and politely ask if they could communicate whether a decision has been made with regard to the position. It may be that they haven't made a decision (but it is best practise to communicate that there is a delay), it could be that you are second choice and they are waiting to see whether their first choice candidate accepts or rejects (although again it would be best practise to communicate this to you), or it could be that they have a shoddy managment structure and a complete failure in communication, in which case, do you really want to work for them?

Whatever happens, I think you have the right to know the outcome of a second round interview, and receive constructive feedback if you have not been successful. You've put time and effort into the interview process; they should thank you and reciprocate.

I really do hope there has simply been a delay in communicating to you or making a decision. If there has been, best of luck.

PS Sorry if I sound so overly negative - my personal experiences job hunting of late haven't been good!

Thank you for your answer and advice. I feel cross about it as I put effort in - researching the company, juggling work to attend interviews, arranging extra childcare etc.

I'm not surprised you were livid at the treatment you got from the company you were applying to - it sounds like the process you went through was quite intense and would give the impression of a place that knows what they're doing - but clearly not ultimately.

At my first interview they made quite a thing about the fact that I had not had the exact job title before which I thought we had got through especially when invited back for second interview - although it seemed to be the sticking point again.

A lot of places don't actually turn you down until the first choice has officially accepted, which can easily take two weeks with correspondence.

So it doesn't look like you are first choice, but you certainly were placed IYSWIM

You may here in the next week or so. But I would probably contact someone.

Yes, it is rude but sadly all too common these days for this to happen.

I have had this happen a lot with first interviews (even where there was a short list of people being interviewed). Some I have chased up and have never heard back from.

Have not had this happen with 2nd interviews, though, and bearing in mind the amount of work you put in, they are appallingly rude.

Definitely follow up and persist until you get an answer.

Couldn't agree with you more DancingHippo about following up and persisting until my doorisalwaysopen gets an answer.

In my situation, I pestered until they gave me an answer. I remained completely polite and professional. I've just checked back trough my emails.

I had my final interview on 25th May. I sent 6 emails to the company between 7 June and 7 July. I was finally told on 7 July. Actually I still feel so angry about the situation I am thinking of writing to the CEO of the company and complaining.

Mydoorisalwaysopen I really hope things work out for you and you don't have the same experience I had. Your situation does sound quite similar to mine in that you hadn't had the exact job. I too thought I'd got through that on first round, but they cited it as a reason for not giving me the job at final round. But, an employer is beng naive. If you had the exact job, the new role wouldn'tpush you and you'd probably be looking for something else more challenging relatively soon. If they are looking for longevity in their staff, then they ought to consider that you are looking to move roles for a new challenge.

Please come back and tell us how you get on. FX'd

I have sent a follow up email, politely asking when they will be in a position to communicate their decision. Will let you know if/when I have an answer.

Did they get back to you, mydoorisalwaysopen?

Both rude and normal, I'm afraid.

I think it is despicable. I can accept no reply to sending in an application, especially if it is stated upfront "if you have not heard by X then you have not been successful on this occassion" But to attend for 2 interviews is awful.

Best practice is to ring the successful candidate first, preferably on the evening of the final interview, and then ring round the unsuccessful ones and give feedback on why they didn't get the job. V Bad Form from this company!

I think it is quite rude, but also quite common, i'm afraid!
I was recently in a similar position so I put a call in and they'd 'overlooked' contacting me.

I was not impressed as it was a fairly senior role in a very well known charity, who I have supported for many years and, like you, I'd done loads of research, a presentation etc.
Won't be so patient next time!

Gosh. this thread makes depressing reading, doesn't it?

The job I'd gone for when I had a similar experience was with a private company that tenders to run front line public services (think welfare to work - oh the irony). That's what me. They reckoned they could "manage them more effectively and innovatively".

You'd think companies such as that and charities would have a bit more empathy in the way they treat people.

Hi. The company did respond to my email to tell me I hadn't been successful (no shit!), no explanation or feedback but he did apologise for "forgetting" to inform me.

I am really sorry to hear you didn't get the job.

However, that is awful behaviour of the employer. I feel really on your behalf. I'm going to be cheeky here and suggest that you email them back expressing your disappointment that they "forgot" to inform you and request feedback. Best practice states that they should have made notes in case they are challenged by a candidate at an industrial tribunal.

I second KC - ask for feedback, after all the hard work you put in, it is the least they can do.

They sound crap. Sounds like they have done you a favour. I wouldn't want to work for a company like that and I wouldn't even bother to ask for feedback. They sound like a bunch of morons.

Good luck in your search. Something bigger and better will come along shortly.

Rude but sadly often happens. I once heard nothing after an interview for 8 weeks. By the time they sent a 'no', I was thinking 'I had kind of figured out by now...' I later found out they'd always had someone in mind for the post and the 'chosen one' spent weeks messing them around, asking for more money from their current employer etc before accepting. I thought then that I'd actually had a lucky escape as they would have been crap to work for. Same for you.

I'm not going to ask for feedback. I can't see I would get much out of the process other than making them squirm a bit. I think you are right when you say I had a lucky escape although I'm not sure I would have accepted even had they offered me the job - just would have nice to have been told in good time and/or been the one to say no.

They are mind bogglingly rude and unprofessional. I've just been through the process (for a year!) and all the second interview companies got back to me, although there were two first-interviewers who didn't.

With standardised email merge, it's no effort, they just have truly terrible systems.

Good luck with the next one.

I have just had 2 unsuccessful interviews and the news was broken to me in very impersonal emails from HR. When I have been unsuccessful in past job interviews, the head of the interview panel has always phoned to break the news - not a nice job, but it does demonstrate some courtesy. After reading the messages here, I think I'll email a reply to both companies and ask for some constructive feedback, (not that I think I'll get it).

Can I put another perspective on this, I agree that non response is appalling. I find that this happens all too often for me as well, but in a different way. I am a childminder & when I get prospective parents coming for a visit/intervieew they all say they will get back to me once they have decided, BUT very rarely will they do that unless I chase them. It makes it very difficult to know if you have filled your space or not & you might end up turning work away because you have thought you had a very positive outcome from the previous visit. I have had this several times recently & find it rude & discourteous of parents to be like this, and yes I am still trying to fill my vacancy

This is really crap, isn't it? I spent the best part of a day the other week giving constructive feedback to five "bright young things" who had been unsuccessful at interview. Two thanked me - said it was very helpful for future interviews and two argued the toss - quite nastily, which I didn't think was very bright, and confirmed that I had made the right decision. I also ring to break the news if possible - otherwise head of HR does it for me and offers for me to provide feedback. I've been in the "hanging on for weeks" situation, and it is unbearably stressful.

The other day I posted my annoyance at the impersonal way I was told that I had been unsuccessful in 2 job interviews and thanks to MN, I asked for some constructive feedback from the interviewers. I'm pleased to say that I've received replies from both HR departments now. Comments from the first were really helpful in that they will help in my preparation for future interviews. Comments from the second were rather bland but still left me with a more positive feeling about myself. Needless to say I've writen back to thank them both.