How long after interview...

[WhiteCat1704]

I had a job interview last week. They were recruiting for 3 posts, had 14 people to interview. It's public sector. After the interview I have asked when I can expect to hear from them and they said this week.

I have emailed the recruiter on Thursday asking for an update and got a quick reply that it's a hard decision to make, I impressed them, they haven't made the decision yet but I'm very much being considered.

My anxiety is through the roof as my company has just announced possible redundancies and I need to tell them next week if I want to go for redeployment or would accept voluntary redundancy package..

Why wouldn't they made a decision in over a week? All interviews were concluded by Wednesday last week.

Is this with the company directly or via an agency?

It's directly with the company.

My anxiety is through the roof as my company has just announced possible redundancies and I need to tell them next week if I want to go for redeployment or would accept voluntary redundancy package.

Decide what is best for you financially and career wise, and give your decision to your current employers as if you hadn't been for the interview. Keep your options open. Look after your own best interests.

Bear in mind if you opt for voluntary redundancy, you may need to comply with your current employer's timelines and may not be released in the timescales you need for the new job, so it would be a good idea to get the facts about the terms of the voluntary redundancy with your employer.

The ideal scenario of course, is to negotiate a release from your job, qualify for the redundancy and then have the new job lined up. Public sector are often more flexible to hold on for you provided your skills are what they need.

2 weeks after the interview I got a phone call that the hiring manager is off sick and it will be another 2 weeks...I was told I was shortlisted to final 4 (for 3 positions) and the person who called was trying to progress it but might need to wait for the hiring manager to come back. There won't be another round of interviews.

How do they make those decisions in public sector?? Why would they even tell me I'm so close if there is nothing I can do..

That's really shit.... i hate it when you go through all the hoops and then they keep you waiting on tenterhooks. its not that hard to decide surely... why do they need 4 weeks to do it?

Ah well at least your odds are good, you're more likely to get it than not.

How stressful!! Fingers crossed.

I suppose the one advantage Whitecat is that with a four week delay, one of the other candidates may have got offered elsewhere which will improve your chances almost to 100%.

My previous job I only got because they added in a further stage of interviews and the candidate I was up against dropped out. Ok well I may have got it anyway but my chances went from 50% to 100%.