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Original poster

No response after six stages of interview

37 replies

EezyOozy · 29/09/2021 15:55

Hi, wondering if somebody could give a little insight. I'm feeling really sorry for my husband! He is currently looking for a new job and recently got through all the stages for a very senior technical role: in total he did six stages, including technical assessments, the final interview being chat with the CEO. This went through recruitment agency and he got excellent feedback, the company said that they were very keen and were just working things out/were very busy and will be back in touch soon. This was two weeks ago.... Basically radio silence since.

Husband has been in touch with the recruitment agency who have said that they "don't think this length of wait is normal but they have no reason to believe the vacancy has been filled, and remember the CEO is extremely busy" etc, which I'm sure they are.

Two weeks without a yes or a no seems very long to me? This is a London based recruitment agency / role but mostly WFH. Is this normal for this kind of role? I think at this point he would just like to hear that he hasn't got the job, if he hasn't got it, so that he can move on psychologically.

It was a huge investment of time on his part and all interviews went well, but now he is feeling a bit ghosted ! I've only ever been self-employed or had jobs that required 1 to 2 interviews, my husband has been largely self-employed just as a consultant (and hasn't had formal interviews for many years) so that neither of us are really sure if this is normal! He has been applying for other things in the meantime, assuming the worst.

Should he just assume he'll never hear back and move on? Is this a standard amount of time to wait? Grateful for any perspective.

OP posts:
FrankGrillosFloof · 29/09/2021 15:58

I’m not advising this but just suggesting it as an option you may want to think about (as there could be pros and cons). He could try telling the recruiter that he has another offer to see if that prompts a response.

Original poster
EezyOozy · 29/09/2021 16:01

Thank you so much for replying, he's made the recruiter aware that he is applying for other rules and also asked them if they could pass on anything similar… Hopefully they'll get the message he's not just hanging about waiting. I've never been employed through a recruitment agency or for this level of rules so I don't know how much clout the agency actually have, maybe they are just the messenger…

OP posts:
Original poster
EezyOozy · 29/09/2021 16:01

Rules = roles 🙈

OP posts:
Camandmitch · 29/09/2021 16:02

Six stages! They interviewed a lot of people and have stolen their ideas. There is no job.

Original poster
EezyOozy · 29/09/2021 16:05

I know, unbelievable isn't it! I think these multistage interviews are growing in popularity. I hope you are wrong, but I suppose it's a possibility that this is what has happened! Seems a bit brutal

OP posts:
Smartiepants79 · 29/09/2021 16:09

From what I read on here being abominably rude to people you’re trying to recruit seems to be the norm these days.
I think it’s awful that employers can’t be bothered to contact people and let them know what’s going on.
It says all sorts of bad things about them as a company to me.
I hope he hears soon.
Maybe obvious but has he actually contacted them directly and chased it up??

Original poster
EezyOozy · 29/09/2021 16:11

He hasn't contacted them directly no, it has all strictly gone through a recruitment agency to date. I will see if this is something he wants to do, thank you for your response.

I agree it is shocking that employers don't get back to people , even just one sentence in an email "I'm sorry I've not been successful on this occasion, thank you for your time" would suffice!

OP posts:
Twickerhun · 29/09/2021 16:14

I think he needs to firmly chase with the recruitment agency and directly to the CEO. Just something similar like - It was lovely to meet you and I would appreciate an update on the recruitment process at your earliest convenience.

RedMarauder · 29/09/2021 16:14

Is this normal for this kind of role?

It isn't a normal time to wait.

With technology positions if a company wants you they tend to tell you quite quickly otherwise you may accept another offer.

They may have a preferred candidate who is dragging their heels so they are waiting for that candidate to accept or decline their offer.

Your husband needs to start interviewing else where.

Original poster
EezyOozy · 29/09/2021 16:22

They may have a preferred candidate who is dragging their heels so they are waiting for that candidate to accept or decline their offer.

I think there is a strong possibility this is the case!

OP posts:
Smartiepants79 · 29/09/2021 16:25

@hassletassle

They may have a preferred candidate who is dragging their heels so they are waiting for that candidate to accept or decline their offer.

I think there is a strong possibility this is the case!

And this is fine- but they should be telling other candidates that this is the case. Is there a possibility that they may get offered the role at all?? Or is it a no? It’s just rude and unfair. Even just a message that says we’re still debating who we think will fit best in the role- you are/aren’t in the running! It’s just crappy.
Original poster
EezyOozy · 29/09/2021 16:29

@Smartiepants79 , I totally agree, I'm feeling quite indignant on my husbands behalf but I don't want to make him feel any worse! Fortunately he started applying for other things so hopefully something will come of those.... I just think it's the height of rudeness! It was 6 x 1 to 2 hour interviews and assessments involved in this, he has a full-time job and two young children so it was quite a lot of additional time and strain - they could send him a quick sentence! He has asked the recruiter directly what is going on but the recruiter seems to just be trying to ask him to be patient/how busy the CEO is. He's looking at jobs with other recruiters as well.

OP posts:
TuftyMarmoset · 29/09/2021 16:32

I would guess they have offered it to someone else but if they turn it down he's on their shortlist. It's so rude!

Hargao · 29/09/2021 16:34

I agree the most likely situation is they've offered to someone else and that person hasn't accepted yet (or the CEO is just busy but I reckon there's an offer our). I think in that situation it's fairly common not to tell the "second choice" candidate.

HundredMilesAnHour · 29/09/2021 16:36

I work in London in Financial Services where 4-6 interviews (or more!) interviews for a role is quite normal, especially as you get more senior. Actually I had a non-Financial Services 3 month contract role in London that needed 3 interviews (and nearly went to 4). So I wouldn't be put off by 6 interviews.

The radio silence could mean a number of things. Someone key in the process is absent (e.g. HR head who needs to sign off on the role is on leave), the role may be changing/disappearing (e.g. restructuring on the horizon or project cancelled or someone has resigned), someone has dropped the ball or they've offered it to someone else and are waiting for them to accept before proceeding. Or a variety of other reasons.

Key things to remember are that there are no guarantees (so don't put job hunting on hold in the meantime) and that the recruiter works for the client, not the candidate.

Unless the recruiter sounds genuinely concerned, I suspect that they know what's going on but can't come clean.

Tell your husband to keep looking.

Gizlotsmum · 29/09/2021 16:36

Are they putting together an offer and needing sign off? Maybe they are waiting on other interviewees? Unfortunately I am not sure what you can do but wait and keep looking

Original poster
EezyOozy · 29/09/2021 16:38

Unless the recruiter sounds genuinely concerned, I suspect that they know what's going on but can't come clean.

I suspect the same.

Thanks for all your insights, It's good to get an idea of what could be going on "on the other side" and thankfully he has started to apply for other things.

I suspect they have offered it to somebody else and contracts haven't been signed yet, so keeping DH dangling.

OP posts:
KatherineJaneway · 30/09/2021 06:52

but they should be telling other candidates that this is the case.

No one wants to know they were second choice though.

Moonflower12345 · 30/09/2021 06:55

My DH has been waiting since early July, and that was for a job that didn't need an interview. Some HR depts are just slow and incompetent. I'd give them a bit more time.

I've recently done 3 interviews with one company, each with 2 weeks in between. It's frustrating to see things move at such a slow pace but I know they are busy. Don't lose hope just yet!

Mybalconyiscracking · 30/09/2021 07:00

To be fair, it is just possible that a key member of staff is on a two week holiday. It does happen!
Also our HR dept is rushed off their feet at the moment, we have lost a lot of people as geographical considerations are no longer an issue and people are able to wfh anywhere in the country. Things are therefore quite slow as they are prioritising operational roles.
I imagine a senior technical role needs a lot of ticked boxes, don’t give up quite yet.

Shelddd · 30/09/2021 07:03

I did 4 rounds with one company including a take home technical assignment which took me about 6 hours to do. They ended up taking 6 weeks to get back to me with an offer. I don't know if they had someone else and it just fell through. I ended up taking a contract somewhere else though. So it does happen even with a long wait. This was just before Covid.

groundhogyear · 30/09/2021 07:07

@HundredMilesAnHour has it and that's exactly my experience, could be many things. That said, I had 8 interviews for a role a number of years ago, told it was between me and an internal. Then radio silence. Turned out that the person whom I would have reported into had resigned. They ended up restructuring and I decided to commit to the internal role I had been offered. That said I now know the person who resigned through another work angle and I still bear somewhat of a grudge !

BakedBeeeen · 30/09/2021 07:32

I have had many job interviews this year, mostly 2-3 stage. I’m afraid when you don’t hear anything, it is nearly always one of the reasons PPs have given above. There is a slight possibility that they haven’t decided, but remember the agent just wants someone in a job so they can get their cut, so they will likely be chasing the employer too. Also the agent doesn’t really want you to be looking for other jobs in case this one does come back.
PS I think this is awful behaviour given all the time your husband’s time on this opportunity. It’s just so rude of them, I’m sorry!

mdh2020 · 30/09/2021 07:37

My DD has had this happen to her on several occasions. Employers no longer think it is necessary, or polite, to at least thank you for your time but say the post has gone to someone else. On the other hand, when I left school , I had an interview at a large international company and never heard back from them. Desperate (as I had left home), I phoned them up and it turned out my file had been left on a window ledge and personnel had forgotten to contact me to say I had the job.

Aprilx · 30/09/2021 07:39

I think the wait and silence is pretty poor. But if it is a very senior role and perhaps a high profile (amongst staff) appointment, then the delay is not that unusual. I have seen appointments take months even when it is an internal candidate being appointed. Layers of sign off from all direction can really slow it down.

I’m not convinced that veiled threats about other opportunities are going to help if this is the scenario. That might work for more routine / junior appointments. For senior appointments they will avoid being bounced into a snap decision if they are not ready. So I would seek updates but without the threats.