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Not heard back, WWYD?

4 replies

Jen1090 · 26/04/2017 15:44

This is going to be half just a rant and half WWYD...

On Friday I had a second interview for an amazing job. It's the kind of thing where similar opportunities are like gold dust, and they will have had hundreds of applicants I'm sure.

I had to do a lot of work for this interview (preparing a presentation, getting two references submitted ahead of time) and I traveled for several hours at my own expense to get to it as it wasn't local.

After the interview they said they were hoping to make a decision very quickly and that they'd be in touch by the end of that day (Friday) or Monday at the latest.

It's now Wednesday and I'd still heard nothing. So I had a peak at the company on Twitter and found some other guy's tweet about how he'd been offered the job. The tweet was from Friday evening. And yes, it's definitely the same job and there was definitely only one spot.

I'm actually not devastated to have (apparently) not got the job, as I felt some doubts creeping in after the interview for various reasons. But I'm beyond pissed off that a) they've clearly offered it to someone else and haven't bothered to contact those who weren't successful, and b) that this guy thinks it's appropriate to go blabbing publicly about this on Twitter, before the company has told all of the rejected candidates.

Due to the nature of my industry I'm bound to cross paths with these people again at some point, but I'm dying to email and say something like 'I gather from Twitter that you have now offered the position to another candidate, it was lovely to meet you, please let me know if you have any feedback on my interview' (obviously I'd phrase it better than that!)

Is that a horrible idea? I just hate the idea of them carrying on in total radio silence on the matter when I (and presumably other candidates) put SO much into this process!

OP posts:
sausagedogrolls · 26/04/2017 17:15

Yes, it's tempting but it's not worth it. Just let it go. Be grateful that you have dodged a bullet.

Perhaps they are waiting for a signed contract from him before breaking the news to you. Either way, it's a bit crap when they said they would contact you either Friday or Monday.

maggiethemagpie · 02/05/2017 22:00

I had this happen to me a week ago. Never heard back, after a week assumed I'd not got the job. Then emailed the hiring manager and got her out of office to say she was on annual leave. Aha.. but what did I find in my handbag? Yes, the director's business card which he handed to me in the second interview. So I very sweetly emailed him to say lovely to meet you, not heard back so assume I've not been successful would it be possible to get any feedback?

Within an hour I had an email from hiring manager's colleague saying sorry we haven't got back to you excuse excuse excuse blah blah blah you haven't been sucessful. So I like to think the director must have had a word, he probably had no idea the unsuccessful candidates hadn't been told yet.

So, not a million miles away from your email (but don't say I gather you have offered...), and will not shoot you in the foot if they actually do want to offer. IME if you've not heard back within 48 hours it's probably a no. You may well be second choice, as I was. But sadly there are no prizes for coming second....

Tottyandmarchpane1 · 02/05/2017 22:04

They will be waiting for contract to be signed. We would before rejecting unsuccessful candidates. HR can also be very slow!!

Jen1090 · 03/05/2017 14:30

Thanks everyone. I did end up emailing and was told I had been their second choice (but pretty sure they always say that!)

Personally I think waiting for a signed contract is bullshit. If you've told people they're going to hear by X day then there's absolutely no point keeping them hanging beyond that. They'll assume they most likely haven't got it anyway, and it'll be causing unnecessary stress and/or resentment.

Even if for some reason the first candidate fell through before the contract was signed and I ended up getting the job, I'd far rather be told 'we've offered the job to someone else' by the specified date, and then be approached later with the job offer if that's how it played out. Why keep people hanging around?

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