Interview then strange phone call. Will I get a job offer?

daveg

I went for an interview with a department in one of the colleges last week. The department is seen as external to the college (research department) but is funded by the college. Went last Tuesday and it went really well I thought. They told me they would get back to me in about 2-3 weeks.

I got a call from them last night (1 week after the interview) from the main guy. He said he wanted to touch base to see if I was still interested. I said I was before the interview, now I said I'm 100%. He went onto say that I did a very good interview and that were very impressed. He said that all the duties required I had shown I was currently doing in my current job. He then asked about salary and notice period. We discussed more about the job (all good) and asked if I had any questions. I said that everything was covered in the interview that I needed to know and I asked what the next step was (expecting to be offered the job). He said they were meeting tomorrow (today) afternoon and a decision would be made and he would get straight back to me. He then mentioned that there were a few internal and external candidates he either had to touch base with or consider I cant remember which.

This is all very strange. I thought he was going to offer the job? What do you think? It seemed he was just making sure money wise I was within their budget (a salary range was advertised and he had no issues with me on this as I'll fall into that range). He is hardly going to ring all condidates and do the same thing is he?

WhiteWashMan

i can understand your frustration and wanting to get reassurance of some kind, but personally, my opinion is that they only person who knows that, is the guy that phoned you.

whatever was said on the phone call, im sure it was not a documented phone interview, it seems too informal, i really wouldnt read too much into it.
now, i know you will, as will anyone in your situation, and its to be expected, but i would just put the head down for the next few days until he comes back to you.

although, i do find it a bit strange to be having that sort of salary conversation with you like that. normally there is an expected salary rate, but if its negotiable, they will ask you what you are looking for etc, not just ask you what you earn.
perhaps they are trying to see if you fit into their budget. mentioning other candidates however could be seen as a sign that you dont fit and that he needs to build some amount of expectation management in case you feel youve been offered the job verbally (non binding by the way, in case you thought that).

and so i have started hypothasising!

anyway, dont read in to it. let them call you back, and only then, if you want answers, ask questions.

leeroybrown

The colleges tend to be strange places compared to the rest of the HR landscape. If I had to guess I'd say that they were interested in hiring you but had a few miles of red tape, etc to go through first. That said you'd never really know...

daveg

Hi WWM. It is very hard not to read into it. However he promised to get back to me today so I'll be put out of my misery today.

WhiteWashMan wrote:

although, i do find it a bit strange to be having that sort of salary conversation with you like that. normally there is an expected salary rate, but if its negotiable, they will ask you what you are looking for etc, not just ask you what you earn.
perhaps they are trying to see if you fit into their budget. mentioning other candidates however could be seen as a sign that you dont fit and that he needs to build some amount of expectation management in case you feel youve been offered the job verbally (non binding by the way, in case you thought that).

When the role was advertised the salary scale was mentioned. However they did not ask salary expectations in the interveiw. I get the feeling he was checking my expectations yesterday to ensure I was within the salary scale. When I told him my basic and benefits he said he was not concerned and that it would not be something we would argue over as I would fit into the scale they had in mind.

daveg

This is driving me nuts. Since the call last Wednesday I have not heard from the college even though the interviewer said he'd be back to me the following day (which was last Thursday). I caved under the stress on Friday afternoon and called the girl in HR who setup the interveiw. Someone else answered the phone and said she was not going to be in that day. I sent her a polite email just asking if there was any news as I had received a call the interviewer and that he had said he'd be back to me on thursday blah blah blah. I'm going round the twist at this stage. Stressed to the eyeballs. I even had a fécking dream about it the other night.

Miss Fluff

If he said he's revert to you Thursday and hasn't, phone again today and ask to speak with him. Be polite and show you are keen and apologise for calling him but that you are so interested and was worried why you hadn't heard.

daveg

Miss Fluff wrote:

If he said he's revert to you Thursday and hasn't, phone again today and ask to speak with him. Be polite and show you are keen and apologise for calling him but that you are so interested and was worried why you hadn't heard.

Thanks for the advice Miss Fluff but my gut instinct is to leave it until at least mid week. Even though it's killing me

Maynoothman123

Hi there.

I'm 95% certain that you did an interview to join our group (AO?). In that case I'd say wait for a little while more. The head PI here can be very, very busy. I don't get to see him much myself and as is the case he forgets to reply to people. But just in case I'd give it another week. Good luck anyway.

daveg

Maynoothman123 wrote:

Hi there.

I'm 95% certain that you did an interview to join our group (AO?). In that case I'd say wait for a little while more. The head PI here can be very, very busy. I don't get to see him much myself and as is the case he forgets to reply to people. But just in case I'd give it another week. Good luck anyway.

Thanks Maynoothman. It's not the AO but begins with NC in Galway

Are you based in Galway as there is a very closely linked group in Galway begining with AO

Maynoothman123

RIghto. Yes I'm witht he AO group. We were holding interviews at the same time last week for an industrial officer type role. If its the person I'm thinkin about in the other place beside us then good luck to you. That guy is a bit of a cowboy and not very good at dealing with people.

daveg

Maynoothman123 wrote:

RIghto. Yes I'm witht he AO group. We were holding interviews at the same time last week for an industrial officer type role. If its the person I'm thinkin about in the other place beside us then good luck to you. That guy is a bit of a cowboy and not very good at dealing with people.

:eek:

PM sent Maynoothman123

wyndham

Maybe he uses boards. He was probably waiting for you to start a thread about the phone call and see what you had to say before offering you the job. Good thing you didn't call him a c**t.

daveg

Got a call this evening from the company offering the job

Salary offer was below what I was expecting though Any tips on salary negotiations? I need to call back tomorrow. Base salary is nearly 2,500 more than I'm on now but benefits are less.

Ginger

Work out what the benefits are currently worth to you .. net or gross. then see does it match what you are being offered. 2.5K is not a lot to move jobs... aim for 5K+. If you dont ask you wont get

daveg

Ginger wrote:

Work out what the benefits are currently worth to you .. net or gross. then see does it match what you are being offered. 2.5K is not a lot to move jobs... aim for 5K+. If you dont ask you wont get

I rang him back yesterday and told him, taking current benefits into account, I'd be down money to move jobs. He is to get back to me today to as he is seeing what he can do. It's a bit of a pisstake really as the salary range for the advertised role ranged from -4K to +10K from my current salary yet not their saying the max they can pay is +2.5K above my basic.

Another, bigger issue has arose though as I asked him what the working week would be. Hours are surprising rigid and they appear to be very inflexible (8:15am - 4:45pm). This mean more commute time (which I can live with but my work/life balance will be very different) but it Fridays will be the big issue for me as I have a 7 year old in school and I have to collect him on a Friday at 3pm so would need to be finishing early on a Friday. My current company are very flexible and don't mind what hours I work once my 39 hour week is done. I've since learnt most of the college's are like this (rigid hours, no eaqrly Friday finish) and do not offer flextime options. I did mention that I had to sort out childcare and he said well, if you need to maybe you could just take 30 mins for lunch (which is an hour), but then he back tracked a bit saying they all took an hour and he would prefer to keep everyone uniform.

The role I've been offered requires a lot of flexibility from my side with occasional international trips but often visiting companies around the country. I thought the best approach would be to say we have a hit a major problem organising childcare for Fridays and if they could be flexible with me (only taking 30 mins lunch and leaving early on a Friday) that I will be as flexible as possible in return when having to travel.

Any opinions? Sorry if I sound like an indecisive tit but my son does come before the job. Those with kids will know what I mean.

WizZard

Definitely - family first, work second. I'd do as you say as this is a deal breaker for you. They have everything to gain (i.e. you) and you have nothing to lose (e.g. you can't take the job if they are inflexible)

leeroybrown

Those hours are even strange compared to the normal staff hours in the college, especially the early start. There is some discression in terms of working hours in areas of the college but this obviously isn't one. An early friday is easy to allow so it sounds like this guy doesn't want to have the 'hassle' of dealing with staff flexibility.

I find that some degree of flexibility in terms of working hours is important in a job and dislike having to work exact hours with someone clock watching. Unless you're in a rush to move jobs then maybe you'd be better off selecting quality of life and your family.

daveg

leeroybrown wrote:

Those hours are even strange compared to the normal staff hours in the college, especially the early start. There is some discression in terms of working hours in areas of the college but this obviously isn't one. An early friday is easy to allow so it sounds like this guy doesn't want to have the 'hassle' of dealing with staff flexibility.

I find that some degree of flexibility in terms of working hours is important in a job and dislike having to work exact hours with someone clock watching. Unless you're in a rush to move jobs then maybe you'd be better off selecting quality of life and your family.

There is some flexability in that I was told you can agree your hours, at the start (have to stick to your agreement hence not flexitime). You can start anywhere between 08:15 (to 16:45) to 09:30 (to 18:00). I currently work 07:30 to 4pm and 3pm on a Friday which allows me to work around childcare for my son.

The role I hope to start will require flexability from my side. I'll be expected to visit companies around Ireland and there is no way this can be done within the 08:30 - 5pm working day. It is only fair, imo, that they are flexable with me in return.