Can I assume I haven't got the job?

[Afo]

I had an interview for an NHS team leader post on Friday past (no time at all I know!). In my heart of hearts I know I wasn't successful but how long does it normally take for them to let me know? Ive always been offered a job from any other interview I have attended. Do they wait until the successful candidate has accepted and had references checked etc before telling the unsuccessful ones in which case it could be weeks?! Driving myself mad here!

Did you not ask/they give an indication at the time? Otherwise very difficult to say. Were all candidates being interviewed on that day? It would be very early for you to assume that you haven't got the role but generally yes, they will probably at least offer and wait for an acceptance before informing everybody else. I think you have to wait at least until end of this week before thinking you haven't got it.

Most interview panels tell you when and how they will communicate with you. I always do this when interviewing. It is bad manners not to. Good luck!

Thank you! I didn't ask no, they have an onine recruitment site, and under the FAQ it said all correspondence relating to the post will be via email, so I have been obsessively checking! My line manager was on the panel and I thought they would let me know informally, (they have before, but then I was the only candidate then) but they haven't. The interviews were held over 1 day. I just feel I didn't do myself justice, I'm on maternity leave and felt I just couldn't engage my brain properly!

I've waited longer than that after an interview to get a job offer before now, particularly in the public sector. After the interviews they have to go back over the scores for all the candidates, discuss it, make sure everyone agrees, possibly get additional approval from a more senior manager or HR person, etc. Depending on when those people are available to have those conversations, it can take quite a while. So don't worry just yet.