Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Flip

Original poster

How long to wait after interview?

22 replies

teaandcakeat8 · 24/04/2017 14:26

I interviewed at two jobs the day before good Friday.

Job 1 is a small company - got back straight away and requested second interview. I had this last Thursday and they said they would be in touch this week.

Job 2 is a huge huge company - supposed to be two people present at interview but one was unavailable so they would need to discuss.

Both told me they were on holiday until Friday last week.

Applied directly but via internal recruiter/HR. Have heard nothing since.

How long is acceptable to wait? I know I need to continue looking but I so badly want this job and don't want to give up until I know it's a no!

OP posts:

daisychain01 · 24/04/2017 18:00

It can take weeks, esp with all these bank holidays coming up.

I wouldn't get overinvested in any job, at least not until you get past the 2nd interview stage.

Original poster

teaandcakeat8 · 24/04/2017 18:36

There isn't another interview - for both jobs this is the final stage.

It's all very well saying don't get invested but realistically how many great jobs come up and it's so difficult to arrange interviews around work.

I am still looking but feel like I'm in limbo. Both said they wanted to move quickly too.

OP posts:

EwanWhosearmy · 24/04/2017 19:12

If they were both off until Friday then you'll probably hear by Wednesday this week.

It;s horrible waiting, isn't it. I had an interview the week before the Easter holidays (so 3 weeks ago) and still heard nothing.

DevelopingDetritus · 24/04/2017 19:26

I went for a interview with a national company, application and interview all done via online system, attended interview, then nothing, not even an automated rejection email. Bloody rude! I'm talking about you Holland and Barrett.

DevelopingDetritus · 24/04/2017 19:27

*interview appointment time arranged via online system I should say.

Original poster

teaandcakeat8 · 24/04/2017 19:31

What level was the job at? It's a head office job and I have been in contact with an internal recruiter so I may call him.

They have an online portal and the status is still 'interview invite'.

OP posts:

maggiethemagpie · 24/04/2017 20:04

I sympathise OP - I had a second stage interview last Thursday and not heard a dickie-bird since. I'm not sure how the interview went but keep thinking that if they wanted to offer they would have done so by now. They've probably offered to the best candidate and are keeping the 'also rans' hanging on.

I don't mind too much if I don't get the job, I do want it but what I want most of all is to know the outcome one way or another!!

Original poster

teaandcakeat8 · 24/04/2017 20:19

The interview seemed to go incredibly well so I'm not sure if it's just a case of large company, lots of management tiers etc.

I have recruited people before and it's a pain in the arse.

OP posts:

sniffle12 · 24/04/2017 20:26

As a recruiter, no news means one of two things (and you will drive yourself mad trying to second guess which so best not to bother!):

Job has been offered to another candidate who is um-ing and ah-ing so they don't want to turn down the other candidates
Decision is delayed for various reasons (usually absence of decision-makers)

I'd say a week is a fair time period after which to politely follow up. If we didn't have a decision after a week, I'd usually try to send the candidates a polite message explaining so.

maggiethemagpie · 24/04/2017 20:26

Maybe... in the past I've always heard within a day or so whether I've got the job or not - particularly if I've got it. The job I went for involved different interviews with different people, all remote working so I'm kind of hoping maybe they've just struggled to get together to discuss, but it's not looking great that they've not got back to me one way or the other after two whole days. Usually managers want to 'seal the deal' with the successful candidate IME. Maybe I've just been lucky beforehand and always found out relatively quickly.

It's not nice being kept hanging on waiting and wondering is it!!

maggiethemagpie · 24/04/2017 20:28

sniffle do you think it's within reasonable timescales to not hear back by now for a second interview last thursday (interview was at end of day)?
Would you say most interviews at final stage feed back sooner than this?

Original poster

teaandcakeat8 · 24/04/2017 21:07

I know they interviewed others.

Both guys interviewing me were away until Thursday last week. Then they had to involve a third to make the decision. Then obviously inform HR.

I will call at lunchtime tomorrow to follow up.

OP posts:

sniffle12 · 24/04/2017 21:24

A lot of people were off last week for Easter - so today has been first day back for some, they may just be clearing inboxes etc. Sometimes, although the panel interviewing you know who they want fairly quickly, they have to run their decision past some other (more senior) decision-maker. So all of these can contribute to a delay.

I wouldn't worry until later this week probably!

daisychain01 · 24/04/2017 22:23

As a recruiter, no news means one of two things (and you will drive yourself mad trying to second guess which so best not to bother!)

That's kinda what I was getting at when I said not to overinvest .

I used to spend days agonising over job interviews, but more times than not It was pointless. There are soooo many variables at play. I remember one that went extremely well, got on with everyone, role spec was exactly right for me. But then nothing.... I was 100% convinced they would offer me, they promised to get back by the end of the week. Not a sausage and I'm still waiting 12 years later

Best thing to do is keep applying, its like buses they come along in 3's!

sniffle12 · 24/04/2017 22:40

I was 100% convinced they would offer me, they promised to get back by the end of the week. Not a sausage and I'm still waiting 12 years later

If you get absolutely no response, definitely always give them a nudge. Reminds them that if you've put in the effort of several days prep and travel to/from the interview, the least they can do is have the courtesy to get back to you.

Original poster

teaandcakeat8 · 24/04/2017 23:20

I'm not very good at 'what ifs' - in jobs, relationships, whatever. I need a yes or no!

OP posts:

maggiethemagpie · 25/04/2017 17:38

Did you hear back tea and cake? I have had another day of radio silence.. in my mind I've given up now and written it off but feel like I need to hear back from them before I can really put it to bed. Even if there was some amazing reason why they hadn't got back to me yet, like one of the panel was suddenly off sick or something, they could at least have let me know there'd be a delay. This really does feel like the job world version of being ghosted!

Original poster

teaandcakeat8 · 26/04/2017 20:35

Still nothing for the job I really want but the other have called and want me to go and meet the department head on Friday...

OP posts:

maggiethemagpie · 27/04/2017 19:17

Well, I finally emailed the recruiting manager and she's gone on leave! So I definitely don't have it which I kind of knew anyway but what utter bastards to leave me in limbo and not even get back to me before going on holiday! If this is how they treat their candidates then god only knows how they treat their staff, so maybe I had a lucky escape there.

Original poster

teaandcakeat8 · 28/04/2017 11:44

I've been offered a role but not enough salary so I'm seeing if they will negotiate...

OP posts:

daisychain01 · 28/04/2017 12:44

maggie you have definitely dodged a bullet there. Just imagine you could have started with them and theyd have treated you like shite. I bet when you do get a new job you'll think Thankgawwwwwd for that, onwards and upwards

Good luck teaandcake !

maggiethemagpie · 28/04/2017 12:49

Well I finally heard back! After emailing the HR person and only getting her out of office I was going to give up... then I looked in my handbag and found the business card from the director who was on the panel for 2nd round in my handbag. Ha ha! I thought - opportunity to show the HR person up here.

So I sent him a very sweet email thanking him for his time and saying I assumed I had not got through as I hadn't heard.

A short while later I got a very nicely worded rejection email from the HR person's colleague. So he must have said something along the lines of why haven't you fed back yet.

So I still haven't got the job but at least I got a smidgen of revenge for having to wait in limbo so long !!!

Flip

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.