Grrr - why do interview panels say we'll let you know by friday

[basildonbond]

And then don't

Now I've got to twiddle my thumbs over the whole weekend

I suspect I haven't got it as am overqualified but it would be nice to know one way or the other

I always let people know by the day I've said I will. If I couldn't for any reason, I would still call to explain that there was a delay. I think it's common courtesy - people have made an effort to get to the interview after all.

I think some interviewers actually mean that they'll let you know by Friday (or whenever) if you've got the job. I tend to ring the successful candidate on the same day, though.

FWIW, I have never not employed someone for being overqualified. If they apply for the job, I assume that they have their reasons for wanting it. If they happen to be overqualified, then I would consider myself lucky to have found them!

If you haven't heard, it doesn't sound too promising, but I guess you never know. Good luck with your job hunting!

Agh I had the same over my birthday weekend once. Didn't want to spoil it by constantly checking my phone and email so got to 5:30 on the day and assumed I hadn't got it and decided not to check emails again.

Got a phone call on the Monday offering me the job yay, oh didn't you get my email on Friday saying we'd had to delay, umm no, she'd sent it at 5:45 doh!

Well I didn't get the job - reason given to the agency was I was too experienced and over-qualified

Having worked in HR, it is very common to notify successful candidates that they have been successful and have them accept a conditional offer before notifying the candidates that will be rejected.

If a company calls up person A tells them they are successful and then calls person B & C that they are unsuccessful, if person A then declines the conditional offer, it is very awkward for the company to re-offer the position to persons B &C.

Thus they will tell the successful person on Friday and wait until they have accepted the conditional offer, before then rejecting the other candidates later down the line. If person A declines the conditional offer, then the company have left themselves with the option of offering it to persons B or C if they wish to do so.