Ghosting after 4th interview

[pooeylouie]

Hello, I had a fourth final interview for a role I was super interested in, about a week and a half ago. I was told I was down to the final two and I was progressed quickly through the stages up to interview four with the boss, which went well then bam… nothing. I was even told they are hiring for two roles, so kind of indicated even if the first role didn’t work out the second role was also a distinct possibility so I was beginning to get quite excited by the fourth interview I had met with so many members of the team.

I sent a short super polite follow up to the hiring manager yesterday morning, no response. I’m so completely baffled 🫤 I have been lucky in that I haven’t had to job search for over 15 years, but is this really the state of the game now- 4 interviews, lots of time, prep and energy then…. nothing… not even a thanks very much for your time but it’s a no?? 😭

Who the fuck makes someone come for 4 interviews?????? If they can’t recruit the right person in a couple of visits they are crap at their job. I wouldn’t have gone a forth time sorry not much help I know.

Two of the earlier interviews were more informal culture fit type meetings so I thought by interview 4 the chances were extremely high. Now complete silence, I’m so baffled 😢

wait til monday i guess

That sounds like really unusual recruitment tactics to be honest.

What usually happens is that an employer advertises a job with a closing date. On closing, they go through the applications and pick out the top ten. Of those ten, 5 will probably still be interested so five first interviews. After that, pick off the final 2 for a second interview, interview them and make their decision.

I've never known anything like the procedure you describe but it doesn't sound as though you've got the job, no. Not sure I'd want to work there anyway they don't sound at all professional.

This is such a pain - my guess is either you’re second and they’re waiting for the first choice to decline. Or, they’ve had to speak to internal applicants before they offer to you. Or there’s some sort of hiring freeze discussion ongoing, and they’re trying to work out how to get round that. It could even be that the other applicant had their final interview a few days after you, and then there were another few days till decision makers could get in a room (assuming with 4 interviews it’s a fairly senior role).

The first two of these have happened to me, and I’ve been involved in the third. They’re all crap scenarios for you, but also quite difficult to send a holding response to. Don’t take it to heart quite yet, although I agree the state of limbo is truly rotten.

If they really don’t contact you after that much effort on your part, then you definitely don’t want to work there!

It sounds like they have made an offer and they are sorting out the paperwork so it's finalised before telling you it's a no. Sorry.

sounds like the other candidate has the role and they won't communicate this to you until contracts/ references are agreed. So then you are waiting in the wings. Tough but you have to wait, sadly doesn't look v promising . 4 interviews is ridiculous!

There’s a small chance it could be something like the hiring manager has fallen sick or had a bereavement or something.

Really disappointing if that’s it though, I sympathise - you’ve had to put a lot of work in.

Yes the start of the process was pretty formal, the job was advertised with a closing date as you state, i applied before said date, job closed all fine.

About a week later I had an email to notify I passed the initial screening, then from the internal recruiter inviting me to first ‘technical’ style interview. After the first interview the hiring manager took over contact and invited me to a further cultural fit style interview, then another, before a final email inviting me to meet with the actual boss. During the process of the four initial interviews was told there was another candidate (who I have a feeling is internal) and about the other very similar role which is available.

totally confused but yes as folks suggesting perhaps they have offered internally first and waiting for that to progress.

They have offered the job to the other person, now wrangling about money. They don't want to deal with you until the other person either signs the contract or walks away.

Be patient. Be polite.

Yes agree this is likely what’s going on. And yes good advice, thank you 👍

I just hope I get an answer either way as the ambiguity and silence after so much time and effort is awful 😢

Please be patient. In my team we make people go through at least 6 interviews, 7 or 8 if they are an international hire to ensure team fit. Then we have to wait for ages for final approvals to come through before we can offer. Global organisation. It’s absolutely crazy which is why id always have at least 2 pans in the fire so to speak.

Unfortunately its becoming normalized. 99% of the time you haven't got the job and they are being rude, but if it gives any hope my brother had 8, yes 8 interviews with a company recently, skilled technical role but not particularly senior, he was then ghosted for 2 weeks before they came back with a lowball offer. The jokes on them tho as during that time he got a better offer elsewhere and told them to do one. So 'unghosting' after a few weeks can happen.

I really hope this isn’t the case as so much time and effort invested - if I haven’t got the job that’s ok but I just want to know either way so I can move on in my head.