You know the drill. You get the interview. You ace the interview. In fact, it was the best job interview you ever had! You head home dreaming of the offer for the new job you’re pretty sure you just landed. And then…you wait. And you wait. And you wait some more until you just want to scream! And then maybe you do scream. And rant a little. And even think of all the things you’d like to do to that stupid company you once thought was so perfect for you.
But before you decide the company is made up of former Guantanamo guards trained to torture you in some sick waiting game, take a deep breath and let me take you behind closed doors. It’s time you learn more about the mysterious steps of the interview hiring process – what goes on inside the secret rooms – and why you aren’t getting any feedback from the company even though you send e-mails and call them hoping for even the tiniest clue.
Hard as it is to believe, sometimes there are good reasons – really! – why a company’s interview hiring process steps take so long – and why all too often you have to wait forever (or so it seems) before you hear back from an employer after a job interview.
So what does go on behind the scenes after an interview?
I was recently asked to guest post on the Pongo Resume Blog, and decided this would be a great topic since I get sooooooooooo many e-mails and comments about how painful the waiting game can be. I once even wrote a post begging Human Resources people to be more considerate. But sadly, for many reasons, the torture continues and you’re still waiting.
I hope by telling you about what goes on behind the scenes after the interview, you might be able to relax just a little more knowing one week, two weeks, even three weeks or more of waiting can be perfectly normal.
Possible reasons you’re still waiting after the interview:
Here’s an excerpt from my guest post:
- Sometimes HR controls all communication and that means people you write to are advised not to respond to individual candidates. Why? It could be a mandate from legal to prevent any miscommunication. (A poorly worded response from the company could be construed as an offer when none exists yet.) Or it could simply be HR wanting to call all the shots. It happens.
- Someone critical to the process (aka SCTTP) may be sick or called away. Why not work around the person? They could, but sometimes the company prefers to wait for the sake of continuity — even if that means you wait too.
- Our SCTTP may suddenly have been put on a top-priority project that’s taking all their time. Even if they said they want to hire quickly, the hiring process can get put on the back burner. I’ve seen this many times.
- Our SCTTP has been fired or quit and must be replaced first.
- The department is going through a reorganization — again.
- The job is being rethought and possibly needs to wait for HR to approve a reclassification. Why? Sometimes they find a specific candidate (maybe you) whose skills are even more suited to their needs than their original concept. Or they find two people they like and decide to split the job into two different positions.
- Hiring may require numerous people who did not interview you to sign off on various steps of the process. Meanwhile, you wait.
- Sometimes it simply takes weeks to find room on everyone’s calendar for the next round of interviews.
So if you’re stuck in the waiting game, try not to get caught up worrying about things you can’t control…like all the stuff behind closed doors. Instead know you’ve done your best (that’s all anyone can do), make sure you’ve sent a great thank you note and, after a couple weeks have passed, follow up with a polite e-mail and/or phone call saying you’re still interested and would love to know your status. You might even ask if they need anything else from you.
Other than that, you just wait. As long as it takes. I once waited four months and I was their top candidate!
Meanwhile, do what you can to keep yourself busy and diverted so you aren’t obsessing about the wait. Also…keep looking! Not only does the action help you stay sane, but you may actually wind up finding an even better job in the process.
Good luck finding the right job for you.
Ronnie Ann
Some other posts you may find helpful
12 Ways to Stay Sane After a Job Interview
I Got the Post-Interview Temporary OCD Blues
How to Tell If a Job Interview Went Well
I Messed Up My Job Interview. What Can I Do?
First and foremost great article and follow up posts. I’m feeling the waitng game pain as we speak!! I went for the biggest opportunity I have had in a longtime on Friday and had to present a formal case study of a recent project I was managing. It was a daunting interview and one that I believe I aced. Rapport with the panel felt good and the interviewers at the conclusion, did a lot of referral to me being in post. They even said that here a number of opportunities. As the interview was Friday I had an agonising wait through the weekend believing that a call would follow early this week. I headed all advice (stupid of me) and contacted yesterday, where I was told it would next week until they would inform me of he decision.
In short I’m now beginning to doubt whether I aced the interview and that they have decided to hire a more seasoned PM. The one thing I have in my information search so far, is that they would have told me yesterday if they thought I was unsuitable. The waiting game sucks and the demons in my head are beginning to slowly drive me insane. If you asked me after the interview what my confidence level was, I would have said 90%, now in down to 30% and it’s only technically 3 working days WTF!!!
Hi Paul,
Don’t doubt yourself. There are internal processes at work here — that have nothing to do with you. As much as we’d like decisions to be made immediately after an interview, it typically takes time for the org to get decision makers together — especially in the summer months.
I once got an offer three weeks after I was told a decision would be rendered. When I got the offer, they said I was the unanimous choice. You just never know.
Hang in, and good luck!
Best,
Chandlee
I’m also feeling the pain of waiting to haer if I was successful for the job interview that I attended on Thursday 29th June 2012.
I went along for the interview and it really went well I knew one of the interviewer very well and she was so nice and kind she gave me a lovely cuddle and told me not to be nervous and made me feel at ease.
I felt that the interview went very well I answered all the question’s that was asked in a clear confident manner I was in the the interview for around 30mins. At the end of the interview I was told that they were going to be still interviewing for the next couple of days and that I would hear if I had been successful or not with in a few days but I still haven’t heard anything.I hate the waiting game I wish they could just tell you yes or no as soon as possible.
I went on an interview 21/2 weeks ago. Ther interview went very very well, I thought so. My only worry was the lack of experience that I have for this position, but was confident that my work history and knowledge of the job would take me thorugh. The interview lasted about 1 hour and it was a 2 panel interview, very difficult questions and I nailed it. When the interview was over one of the interviewer walked me out and was very happy that I did so well in the interview. So a week past by and I didn’t hear anything, so I gave her a call to ask about the status and she said that she was in the progress of checking my references. Another week past by and I sent her an email regarding the status after checking my references and she said that everything went well and that she would be contacting me shortly. I sent another email this week and ask was I still under consideration for the job and she said that they hadn’t made a decision yet. I will not send another email or call her because I read that this would annoy her, so at this point I guess I will just have to wait and see. Should I just give up hope? Does anyone have encouraging advice for me?
Hi Donna,
I don’t think you should give up hope but I think you should continue looking too. I had this interview 3 months ago, we had the interview on a lunch which was pretty cool because we talked a little more than 2 hours. I knew the CEO liked me and he promised me to contact me for all the detail but he never did. So I emailed him again after 3 weeks and he told me that the position still open. The weird thing is that he never rejected me and I kept emailing him every week and he does responded me from time to time but still didn’t reject me. Guess, he is trying to get me tire and leave on my own? I don’t know. I know it’s kind of annoying but it might work. I am not giving up but I am also looking and having some side jobs in the meantime. You need to do something to pay off the bills right?
Sometimes you never know what are they going through internally, so be patience and you might find something along the way.
Don’t get discourage because of it. The economy and the market tough so just hang in there.
Hope everything works out for you soon. Good luck!
Donna,
It can simply take a long time — or there could be a snag. Either way, recommend you continue to apply for other jobs as well. It’s always good to have as many options as possible.
Good luck,
Chandlee
Hi Diane,
Sorry you are playing the waiting game. But it would also feel unfair to you if your interview was cancelled before you had a chance to interview — because they had interviewed a candidate the day before right?
Be patient and hopefully you will get the answer you seek. In the interim, I encourage you to continue to apply to other opportunities as well.
Good luck.
Best,
Chandlee
I went in for a job interview at subway on Monday the manager said she would call me and that she had more interviews after. I waited until the week after now its Thursday I’m starting to worry if she not going to call should I give up and look for another job or continue to wait another week?
Antoninette,
You should always keep up your job search after an interview as there are no guarantees in life; that said it probably wouldn’t hurt to follow-up with the manager and let her know you remain interested in the job.
Good luck and all the best,
Chandlee
Hey, everyone…
Just wanted to share my thoughts in this spot. I’ve recently re-joined the looking for work crowd…I spent seven-ish years at a big media company (we’ll call them company A), but was one of about 20 unfortunates who were let go about a month ago because of budget cuts. I have a decent severance, but in this job market, I’m going to hoard it as long as I can. It’s surprising how you realize what you don’t really need in your life when your back is against the wall.
Anyway, I was able to land an interview with another company (company B) in the same industry a week after getting let go (could turn out to be perfect timing). The interview setup process was very efficient. Got an e-mail, had a phone interview that went well, completed a test they sent me after the phone interview, then got set up for an in-person interview a few days later. I met with more people than I was supposed to (good sign), stayed longer than I was supposed to (good sign), was shown around the office at the end of the interview and had people describe it to me as “where you’d be working” (good sign). Then at the very end of the interview as the hiring manager shook my hand when I stepped on the elevator to the parking garage, he said “we still need to talk to a few other people, but we’ll be in touch by the end of next week (yikes). That was three weeks ago, and all I’ve heard since is silence…despite sending one follow-up e-mail to both HR and the hiring manager. Reading some of your posts on here have kept me sane, and I think the best measure of “revenge” you can take on someone for not getting back to you is to use it as determination fuel to keep looking and find an even better position. A few things to keep in mind as I slowly give up on Company B…bear with me as this is kind of a catharsis for me to write all this out…
1. The process can be drawn out for a number of reasons beyond your control. Budgets take longer than expected to get approved, key people go out of town at different times, everyone you interviewed with has to get their crap together, etc. But that still doesn’t excuse a company for not taking the time to send you a very brief status update. I spent my first year at Company A as a temp, and they expressed interest about hiring me on six months into my tenure. In other words, it took them six freaking months to get everything sorted out…all while I was working inside the building. I’d have long forgotten about them when if I had interviewed and not heard anything for six months. Oh, and ever since the layoffs, I’ve heard the department I worked for in Company A has turned into a total trainwreck. They are way understaffed, but when your only goal is to “cut the budget”…well, you get what you pay for.
2. One time back in the day, my dad interviewed for an engineering job…and received an offer three YEARS after his initial interview. You read that right. The company he was interviewing with was out of state, and they continued to ask him to come back to meet this VP, that VP, etc. They picked up his plane fare every time, so he went back and forth about a half a dozen times. He ultimately said no to them after finding a better paying job between the final interview and offer, which is kind of comical to think back on. Three years certainly isn’t the norm, but things can take a lot longer than planned.
3. I know so many people are dying for any kind of job they can get nowadays, but don’t forget you are also interviewing the company when you speak to them. It isn’t a one-way street, and if they totally ignore you after the interview, you may want to think twice about working for a boss who can’t be bothered to simply take 30 seconds out of his day to follow up with a courtesy e-mail. One question I like to ask everyone who interviews me is “why did you join the company, and what is it that keeps you here?” It gives interviewers a chance to talk about themselves (which they love to do), and also gives you a break from answering questions for a bit so you can collect your own thoughts. The answers you hear can give you some insight into what it’d be like to work for that person.
4. Always, always, always ask everyone you interview with if they mind if you would request to add them as a LinkedIn contact. You may see another job you’re qualified for a few months down the line, and sending a direct e-mail to your new contact will probably put you ahead of 99% of the people who just apply online.
That’s all for me. Everyone here will be in my prayers…I know how hard it is out there, and I never once forgot how agonizing it can be to hear nothing but silence after you think you nailed an interview. Believe me, you will find something if you keep making forward progress.
Oh, one more thing. Until you hear a firm ‘no’ from a company, there is no reason to believe you are out of the running for a position. The last thing you want to do is develop a chip on your shoulder, because a negative attitude will come through in an interview. Just keep applying everywhere you can until you hear a yes from someone.
Jason,
Thanks very much for weighing in. Your insight and observations are spot-on: I wish you luck in the process of finding your next opportunity, you clearly have a great attitude and practical approach to the process. I particularly appreciate your careful delineation of the difference between what happens on the other side and how it feels in the interim!
Good luck and keep us posted,
Chandlee
Hey Jason, thanks for sharing with us. You seem a great guy and I believe good people would be rewarded. Let’s all hope for the best, including for me.
OUTSTANDING article !! Gives me a small piece of mind. I have sent the “nice” follow-ups with the interviewers and with the recruitment firm.. NOTHING,, not even a reply that the process is continuing.
Common courtesy seems to take a back seat when employment is the issue.
But, MOVING ON is the only attitude to have. Companies will continue to treat employees & potential employees as chattel.
Hi There again,
Could someone please advise me, I am very stumped.
So I did a series of interviews for a company, it was not an open position… but they are expanding and hiring for a position that already exsists but the current employee was going to be moved to another position. I got the job, and they wanted to start me part time into full time, I said that was great and will help with the transition. She said she would send over the contract ect… it never came so I followed up and she apologized then said she would send it by end of week, Again I never got it so I followed up yet again and she said she was sorry and it has just been taking more time then expected to “get their ducks in a row”. I am a very understanding person… however at this point i have not signed anything and I am worried if I still have a job or not…… I was supposed to start part mid june… it is not August and I have yet to sign anything. I dont know if I should call this time and find out or>???? as I have put my job search on hold considering i thought I had a job. PLEASE HELP….
Thank you!
Hi Fennek,
That’s frustrating. Recommend you continue your job search as you wait for this to come through. I’d see if you can set up an in-person meeting time with her for next week — let her know that you very much want to work for them but if they are not ready to move forward within the next three weeks, you plan to begin focusing your job search on other opportunities.
Good luck and all the best,
Chandlee
I had a phone interview Monday. At the end of the interview I was told my resume would be sent to the hiring manager. The interview went well but the wait is killing me. I was told it could take a week before hiring manager gives any feedback. Being unemployed,applying for job, and waiting for any response is killing me.
Hi Mcfly,
Yes, the waiting can be excruciating, but you need to wait AT LEAST a week before you re-contact them – not before Wednesday or Thursday.
If you didn’t follow up with a thank you, send that thank you now, ASAP.
Keep looking! Don’t wait for a decision on this one because the answer may be “no” or you may never hear another word out of them. So, there aren’t any other options EXCEPT to keep looking.
Good luck!
Susan
Hi
I wonder can anyone give me an advice? I am on a similar boat as Fennek! I had my interview almost 4wks ago and have filled in all the application paperwork.
The manager came back to me and confirmed reference and clearance are good but need to wait for her director to sign off the paperwork then she can let me know when I can start my training.
Now it’s another week I’m waiting for her call and email to confirm.
I’m getting very frustrated and need to work asap.
Just wonder why it’s all gone quiet? The manager seems keen and serious about offering me the job when I last spoke to her on the phone aboutr 2 wks ago.
Shall I email her again? I don’t know what should I do now?
Please help!
Thanks.
Hi Mollie,
Recommend you give her a call and follow-up. Don’t leave a voice mail or email — see if you can speak to her in person. Be polite and express your continued interest in the job. Good luck and let us know what happens!
All the Best,
Chandlee
Hi Chandlee,
Really appreciated for your prompt advice.
The manager seems very busy all the time, Shall I email her first rather than calling her? I find it a little strange that at the beginning she reply to my email straight away, but not recently when I chase her for update she didn’t reply then I gave her a call on her mobile which she answer and told me about paperwork need to sign off by a director.
Do I really have the job or not? I feel very confuse… How should I start on my email requesting for an update by not too pestering her?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thank you so much.
Hi Mollie,
As I’m not in the organization, I can’t say whether you have the job or not. I can say that most companies do go dark in between the time they decide who to hire and an offer is an approved. Typically most companies don’t allow employees to make offers UNTIL the hiring decision is approved by a senior executive. Sounds like this may be happening here.
Hang in there and good luck.
All the Best,
Chandlee
Hi Chandlee
I have sent an email to the manager asking for an update and she hasn’t reply to me at all.
So…what should I do now? Shall I send her a last email saying if she don’t reply this final email; This mean I am not successful?
I feel so frustrated that I have been waiting and stopped looking for job for a month, because I thought I will start my training soon as was told by the manager, which is not happening.
Many thanks.
Regards
Mollie
Mollie.
That is frustrating. I’d give it another week, than follow-up with the company’s HR office to let them know of your continued interest in the job. When you follow-up, reiterate your interest in the job — and let them know that you are ready and willing to provide any additional information they need (such as contact information for references).
Don’t send a follow-up email to your contact — you don’t want to hound them.
I know this feels awful and not fair — it is likely the manager wanted/wants to hire you but doesn’t have official approval. Many companies have policies of not communicating with candidates until they have the former offer letter so that candidates don’t have to experience what you are currently going through.
Continue your job search in the interim.
Good luck and all the best,
Chandlee
Hello WorkCoach,
I stumbled onto your website while doing wild searches like “chances of being called up for 2nd interview”, and now, “chances of being selected after 2nd interview”.
I am a fresh graduate and have recently been to several interviews, some of which I had no interest, but merely went because talking to people was obviously better than staying home!
Then, there come this position in a company that I really really wanted to work for and I was so happy when I got called up for interview. I was always unfazed by interview because I have utmost confident in myself. Well, and so I thought…. So I went for the 1st interview and I think I did ok, not as good as I would have liked to have done or not as good as my previous interviews. Nevertheless, I thought both the interviewers were extremely nice bosses and I really liked them. Nevertheless, I went home nerve wrecked! I guess its because I really wanted the job isn’t it? So, I sent a thank you email once I got home and patiently waited.
On Wednesday, 08-August-2012 11am, I got a call asking if I could make it for the 2nd interview and obviously, I SAID YES and I was so over the moon and I think if I were to jump, my head would hit the ceiling! And so I went for the 2nd interview. The 2nd interview was with the Manager’s Manager and I was prepared for some tough drilling or so, but surprisingly, it was short but pretty in-depth. I was basically on the receiving end and I paid 101% attention to what she was saying. She was, or would be a fantastic Boss I would say. She was nice. I asked her how many interviewees she would still be seeing vying for my job and she said about 2-3 more. She also said that she would try to wrap things up by Friday, 10-August-2012. Well, I’m from Singapore and 09-August was a National Day and it was a Public Holiday.
So this is now Friday, 10-August-2012 and I had been beside my phone the entire day, not to mention I haven’t been sleeping well over the course of the waiting days since the first interview. I really want this job so much and this is the first time ever I’m feeling like this, with myself every so optimistic and positive. I know its out of my control and should not fret about this. But well, when it means too much to you, it would mean so so much. AH! So I’m still waiting.. I wonder if they are still interviewing people or are wrapping things up as she said, or that she had gone on leave today to make a longer weekend. I sent another Thank-You note this afternoon at lunch time because I really wanted to let them know how much it means to me, how much I want to be part of the corporation.
Still troubled/wondering what could happen… AH!
TBW,
Good luck but do yourself a favor and step away for the phone for a few hours. A watched phone rarely rings, and hiring searches almost always extend longer than the date by which they hope to make the offer. Give yourself some time off from the anxiety. Get some exercise. Apply for other opportunities. Spend time with friends. Because the reality is — once you get and start a job, you’ll have less free time.
Good luck and all the best,
Chandlee
Thanks Chandlee. Your reply is ever so prompt. I just hope you’d be all our interviewers of a company.
Its someone comforting (in a consoling way) that many people in the world experience such interviewing issues too. I was feeling all the anxiety there is to feel until I came here and see many people encountering these problems and of course, the advise you have provided. I mean, it is comforting.
Well, I just hope that when my interviewer said she’d wrap things up by Friday, it actually means they will conclude the whole selection process by that day and then leave it until the following Monday before working out with the HRs, and ultimately to notify us. What do you think? Could this be possible? Maybe to them, its much better to start all the communicating again on a fresh new week? Hmm…
Again, thanks Chandlee. This site is fantastic.
TBW,
It’s not unusual for a week to ten days to pass between the time a candidate is selected and the time that an offer is extended.
All the Best,
Chandlee
I am currently waiting on a response from a government agency. I had 3 phone interviews and one in person interview and they all went very well. The whole process started May 25 2012. Now they are checking my references. I got an email saying that they heard from one of my three references and that once all three were contacted they would be “moving forward” (which I think means an offer). This was 4 days ago. My question is this: should I contact my references (who are very high powered, busy people) to remind them to get back with the hiring manager, or should I bite my nails some more?
Thanks,
James
Hi James,
Call your references, if they pick up and it is a good time — tell them that you anticipate that they will be contacted. Ask them if they need any updated information from you.
If you don’t reach them and don’t hear from the employer by week’s end, follow-up beginning of next week with HR and ask if they need additional information from you. Good luck!
All the Best,
Chandlee
Oh how wonderful it is to know I am not alone in my insane rumination! I had an interview a month ago — full day at the Company, which I thought went well and was told it would probably be three weeks before I heard back….well three weeks was last week…..then the Company announced an acquisition this week….which actually made me feel more optimistic…..but now I am back in the UGH mode (but only as a result of my own efforts).
It is important to keep in search mode. I had an offer earlier this year. The offer came two months after my final round….and ultimately we couldn’t come to terms. I was okay with letting that offer go because I had started some consulting work which looked like it could ultimately more than match my old salary – if I was able to get up the learning curve. Got up the learning curve just in time to find out that they are limiting hours….so while I have income….I have to seek out more.
I’m not sure that there is a real point to my rambling. Simply point out that it is really important to keep up the search, expect that there are delays, and try to ride the rollercoaster of emotions as best you can.
YoungSally,
Thanks for sharing your experience. I agree with you, “it is really important to keep up the search, expect that there are delays, and try to ride the rollercoaster of emotions as best you can.” I’d also add, “surround yourself with people who care about you and accept and appreciate you just as you are…”
Best,
Chandlee
Help me read between the lines. Im so tired and frustrated with job hunting already and this seems to be my last hope and with a company i really like
“dear kat, you passed the final interview however we are waiting for the GO signal of the hiring manager
if we would proceed with the offer”
Gosh — how frustrating. Assuming that you met the hiring manager in the process, it would seem all is well….and it may simply be a matter of paperwork/budget type approvals….Just my sense. Good Luck!
Kat,
This is not your last hope. It sounds like the company is still in the process of making a decision, and it’s possible you could be offered the job. The message that you received indicates that you are not out of the running.
I recommend you stand by and wait to hear — and that you continue to look at other opportunities in the interim as well.
All the Best,
Chandlee
thanks chandlee,
i got so tired after numerous interviews, i guess i
should wait for a while and rest.. while waiting for their decision.. will not stop searching for other opportunities
Good luck, Kat. Please keep us posted.
All the Best,
Chandlee
No word from them yet. I was wondering if I could call and ask for an update, or this would be too soon as I called them about a week ago
Kat,
Too soon in my opinion. Calling and asking for them to give you an update now is unlikely to influence them towards hiring. I do think you could follow up again and ask if they need additional information in a week.
Good luck and all the best,
Chandlee
Hi Everyone,
Im currently depressed. I got a word from them that even if I passed the interview, they would not proceed with the offer because the team is full already. I really dont understand why go all through the fuss of interviewing me only not to pursue at the end, isnt it a waste of time for both parties?
They told me they would endorse me to another team, but I am very disappointed with what they did.
I still have pending interviews with other companies, but this experience is really heartbreaking.
Kat,
If the team is full, then they likely can’t hire. Sometimes things happen inside companies that are beyond the control of the hiring team and the interviewee. Like another pre-existing team could have been moved onto the team AFTER interviews had taken place. That they are endorsing you to another team is still a very good sign.
Keep your chin up — it’s possible that the interviews you still have may work out to be great opportunities for you.
Best,
Chandlee
Bummer Kat –
Been there…and it never gets easier. I would defer to Chandlee, but it sounds like they had budget to hire another person and something recently changed…..all of a sudden the funds aren’t there (maybe they didn’t land a particular new piece of business or maybe it’s been a firmwide mandate to cut budgets). It certainly sounds like it is everything but a negative reflection on you.
I am experiencing an odd PRE-interview situation for an internal job I had applied for shortly past the deadline. I was told by the hiring manager that she already made an offer to another candidate but they are unsure if they will accept as they potentially have a promotional opportunity. So if the person does not accept, she would like to interview me for the position.
Two weeks later, I followed up on the status of this, and the hiring manager tells me the candidate STILL has not responded to the offer. Is it typical and/or acceptable to not respond to a job offer for potentially 3 weeks? Delaying this long would make me think the candidate is not enthusiastic about the position, and I am not sure why they’re hanging on to this person. Should I just give up on the hope that I will get an interview?
Hi Gina,
Often companies extend the courtesy of an extended hiring decision timeline to potential hires. It sounds to me that it is quite likely that you will be offered the opportunity to interview if the other person doesn’t accept.
Good luck and keep us posted.
All the Best,
Chandlee
About three months ago, a former colleague of mine contacted a mutual friend of mine asking if I was still looking for a job in our somewhat niche industry. I have been working, but in a job that touches on my preferred industry very lightly – and has turned out to be not at all what it was advertised to be. So I passed my updated resume along.
A few weeks later, she emailed me about a position that was open in a department that she is not a part of and asked if she could forward my resume to the head of that department. I did not hear anything for two months or so after that. Then, two weeks ago I received a phone call from my former colleague. She has been put in charge of a different department and asked if I’d be interested in a position with her directly. I was enthusiastic about the opportunity and told her yes – unfortunately I was on vacation and wouldn’t be available for an interview until the following week. She sent me a predictive index survey and a iq like test designed to determine how well you learn.
The Friday after, I finally was asked in for an interview. This was last Tuesday (6 days ago). I interviewed with three people including my former colleague. They first addressed my test scores – much higher than average but not “so high that we will think you’re strange”. (I had to chuckle at that.). And the predictive index put me directly in line with the personality type they would like to see in this role. In fact, the person who would be my direct supervisor compared our PIs and said they are nearly verbatim exact. The interview seemed to have gone well – it lasted an hour. Then when I left, I was immediately called because they had forgotten to show me around the building. I went back in and was introduced to a fair amount of the staff, the majority of people I would in theory be working with and shown where “my desk” would be.
The next day I sent out thank you emails – which I also received a positive response to. And not a peep since. I happen to know that the owner of the company will be out until next Tuesday – so when is it appropriate for me to follow up again? Is it appropriate at all? I would love to work with their company and feel after the interview that I would also be a great culture fit – I want them to know I’m enthusiastic about the opportunity, but I don’t want to seem overly pushy or annoying.
Hi Barbara,
It’s pretty normal for there to be a delay between an interview and before an actual offer and hiring decision is extended! If you’ve already sent the thank you note, follow up next week — after the company owner is back in the office. Then ask if they need additional information.
All the Best,
Chandlee
So I am adding to my own ruminations….less than one week later. The good news is that I reached out to a former colleague (after keeping only tangental contact for the past eight or nine years) and he not only gave me some insight on an opportunity I am looking at (as well as a direct connection to the hiring manager…or part of the committee). So that’s one new opportunity potentially in the hopper.
In the interim, still waiting to hear from my previous interview (it’s five weeks now was expecting three weeks..but there has been an acquisition in the interim). I am playing phone tag with another colleague who is connected to someone I interviewed with last month and separately, there was some big news (a surprise CEO resignation) at one of the Company’s primary competitors. Does it make sense to use either as a reason to just touch base with a “still interested” and “what do you think?” email to the people I interviewed with…..(unlike most roles I’ve interviewed for, HR has coordinated the process)….or is it borderline stalking and/or the musings of a crazy person?
YoungSally,
Sounds like you’ve got a promising lead, and one that’s getting more frustrating…I think you could follow up one more time in a week or so. Acquisitions can wreak havoc on hiring plans — you may want to follow up with a phone call rather than a phone call so you can get the unedited version of the follow up when you are ready for it.
Keep up the good work sourcing opportunities from different directions.
Good luck and all the best,
Chandlee
I’m kind of in a predicament, as well. Reading this article calmed me down a bit, but I’m still kind of letting my mind wonder.
I currently work for a grocery retailer and I applied for an admin position at the regional office. This is my 2nd attempt, as my last attempt, I didn’t make it past the first interview. This time, fortunately, I made it past the phone interview and then she passed me down to an interview with 2 experienced workers from the office. All in all, the interview went pretty great, at least in my opinion. I answered EVERY question with confidence and I know I have a bit of a work history to back me up.
Anyway, it will be exactly 1 week today and I don’t know whether to call or not. I haven’t heard anything back yet. I made the mistake of not asking about their timeline when it came to contacting interviewees. Usually, they take about 2 weeks to contact people if they indeed got the position. (I applied for an internship last summer and I’m going off of that). And the same thing goes for their management positions, 2 weeks is how long the process took according to a co-worker of mine who made it into management. So, I’m currently going by the motto that “no news is good news”.
My last attempt at this position, I was e-mailed a few days after giving me the rejection. Again, 1 week and still nothing. I don’t know how I should take that just yet.
So my question is, should I make a call already or just hope that patience will get me through? Again, the company I work for has had a track record of notifying applicants regardless of positive or negative news. Usually, negative news comes sooner. Hmm… I believe I’m answer my own question. Hahah. Still, I’d like to know if calling 1 week after the interview in my case would be annoying or unnecessary. Or is patience the key?
Mark,
Patience is certainly a virtue. Based on where you are in the process — and the fact that you know that it is usually two weeks — I would recommend giving it the full two weeks before you follow-up.
Good luck and keep us posted.
All the Best,
Chandlee
Thanks! I actually let my curiosity get the better of me and I phoned in earlier this afternoon. First off, I embarrassed myself and ended up calling the wrong department so they transferred me and then the secretary told me she will check and put me on hold. I was on hold for what seemed like forever and then she came back and said that the recruiting manager was actually going to contact me today with details on the position so to expect a call before 5pm.
Literally, 5 minutes later I received a call (fortunately, I wasn’t in class, yet) and the recruiting manager gave me the good news! I was ecstatic! I don’t know whether or not my call was necessary, but I’m sure it picked up the pace on her delivering the news to me personally. She had spent time letting my original department managers know of my new position and asking for my release to a new department.
So, all in all, in worked in my favor. But patience really is a virtue. I probably could’ve waited a couple of more hours or even another day or 2, but I got impatient. I was only planning on calling once, either way. That’s all that I would have allowed myself to do so I wouldn’t feel like I was being an annoying guy. I start my new position on the 10th!
Congratulations, Mark! So happy to hear that it all worked out. Good luck in your new position.
All the Best,
Chandlee
Hi Chandlee, It’s me Kat
I just had that interview from that different team they endorsed with me the other day. I still went with my chin up and did my best and with a smile on my face (even if i went there with a broken foot)
I finally got the job offer the following day! On the company I really want to work for, only in a different team as they promised!!!!
I am so happy things worked out… I was so depressed and felt hopeless already!
Your website helped my application a lot!!
Oh thanks also to YoungSally and the rest of the site visitors here who responded
Congrats, Kat!
Good luck with the new gig. I’m still waiting on mine….but maybe the planets are realigning.
Kat,
Congratulations, what wonderful news. Delighted to hear that you’ve landed a job — hope that you love it. Many thanks to you and community members including “YoungSally.” I’m inclined to think that helping and encouraging one another brings good karma, you?
Good luck!
Best,
Chandlee
Yeah I agree.
One should never give up
Reading this article has put a lot into prospective but I to agree that hiring managers should take a few seconds to update you on your status. I applied for my dream job on July 10, 2012, was contacted and did and unexpected phone interview on Aigust 6, 2012. I really wasn’t given the opportunity to ask questions but she did say that they are not focused on time but more concerned with finding the right person. So I said thank you, sent a thank you letter, then 2 weeks later, sent a flow up letter and of course no response. I haven’t sent any correspondence in the last 2 weeks or so. All I have to go on is the fact that my application status on their website states ” under review by department”. So now I just wait and it’s very painful especially since this job is so perfect for me. Well, I just needed to add my two cents and maybe even vent a little.
Hi Lakisha,
Yes, it is and can be very frustrating. Can you get involved with networking groups and perhaps do an informational interview with someone who works for the company? If yes, you may be able to get a referral inside the company — something that often strengthens your chances of getting recommended for a job. Good luck!
All the Best,
Chandlee
I am so glad I found this article. I was recently laid off from my job. Very soon after I interviewed for a job I am extremely excited about. I was at the interview for nearly 2 hours. It was extremely casual and at the end of the interview, the hiring manager told me I was an excellent fit and they would be in touch next week, the interview was on a Friday.
Come Tuesday, I received an e-mail indicating I was the top candidate for the position and was asked to provide three references. I know for a fact they called at least one of my references the following day.
It’s now the following Monday and I haven’t heard anything. Should I forget about it?
Hi Chelz,
It’s too soon to forget about it; I would not rule out an offer. The hiring process often takes a while. What I would do is contact them later this week and ask if they need any additional information from you. Reiterate your interest in the job. If you don’t want to seem pushy, you could send this via e-mail but it might not bring you the rapid “yes or no” that you may want.
Hopefully, you’ll hear from them tomorrow!
All the Best and Good Luck,
Chandlee