Ghosted after interview

[SaffaQueen]

Currently on maternity leave, last few months before returning to work. Towards the end of last week I got an email about a vacancy within my company - effectively would be a promotion but a role i’m very qualified for & have been waiting for. I was quite excited and actually started planning how i’d be returning to work earlier etc!
Anyway, the interview was on Monday where I was told that the were only 3 internal candidates & they would be making a decision by Tuesday. The interview itself was ok, I was a bit rusty & had a smattering of baby brain. Walked out thinking I could have answered some questions better had I had been fully in “work mode”, but it was not a car crash by any means.

5 days later and I have not heard anything. Been totally ghosted. Obviously that means that I have not gotten the role given the urgency to make a decision, but how freakin’ rude is it of your own employer not to let all the unsuccessful candidates know or give any feedback?

I am fuming and considering sending an email to HR calling them out on the ghosting. Returning to work can be stressful & stuff like this can really dent confidence. It has left a bitter taste in my mouth as I now feel like they only let me know about the role/let me interview to prevent any complaints about being overlooked whilst on maternity, & that the role was already a given for someone else.

Not feeling like a valued employee at all, nor returning to work anytime soon!

While ghosting people who have been interviewed is pretty common, I think you are jumping to conclusions here. every interview I've ever had, or for that matter, given, the decision making has taken longer than planned. I think it would be totally okay to send an email to HR, but I wouldn't send something aggressive and annoyed. Rather a polite email asking if there's an update would be appropriate.

As you already work for the company, you will be in touch with them either way and you will be going back to work, so jumping to negative conclusions is not a good idea.

Perhaps they are still waiting for the contract to be signed by the successful candidate before contacting the others. In my work it can easily take a week to be told formally. I know it must be disappointing if you haven't got the job but at least you got interview experience.

Last time I had an interview and was told I’d hear sighing 2 days, it actually took them 4 weeks! I didn’t chase as I wasn’t that bothered about it, but as they did send a couple of sorry it’s taking so long emails, I gather other candidates were more proactive. And I did get the job by the way. Just call HR and ask for an update, no need to go in all guns blazing, especially as you already work there.

Sighing?! Within two days!