Week after job interview - no response

The Young Wan

I had an interview across the country last Monday for a position I felt I matched, and really wanted. Thought the interview went well. At times it swung between interview and casual conversation, there was an office tour, I met potential colleagues, they asked could I start earlier than the date I said, etc.

I was told I would hear "by the end of the week" but I haven't heard anything back. I worry it's because I didn't send a thank you note, or they found someone else, or cannot get in touch with me (I'm currently on holiday, something they know. I was even asked if there would be good coverage, which made me anticipate a phone call.)

Should I take some kind of action? An email, perhaps? And if so, what to say?

(Note: they also said they would cover my travel costs. Should I also bring that up?)

I'd send a quick email politely asking if they had made a decision yet. I'd not mention the travel cost until they confirm whether or not they plan on hiring you.

I wouldn't worry about the thank you card. It's not expected and not common practice.

el Fenomeno

Every job I've ever been successful in applying for, I was always told I'd hear back "by the end of the week", and it never happened. My first job, it was nearly 4 weeks by the time I heard back.

These things take time. Other candidates cancel/reschedule. Members of the interview panel are out of office and other interviews are re-arranged. A particular person in HR may be on leave. Or, the most common reason, someone sent someone else an e-mail and it's sitting there waiting for a reply... there's a whole multitude of reasons.

If you were good enough and they want you, they'll get in touch.

The Young Wan wrote: »

I worry it's because I didn't send a thank you note

This is 100% not the case.

OMM 0000

You have to remember, there are multiple people involved in green lighting a hire.

I'll walk you through how it worked for me in multinationals.

I interview someone and I like them.

I'd immediately walk over to HR and say "yeah I like this person, I think this is a go".

I'd then go visit the CIO (my boss at the time) and say this person was great, I want to hire them. He'd say great.

I tell HR to arrange hiring this person.

So HR would need to get the CFO, COO and CIO to sign off on the hire.

If the COO was away (he was always away), this might delay things by a few days.

After a few days I'd go back to HR and ask what's up. They'd say oh we are waiting for the COO to sign off.

I'd say: I need this person immediately. It's affecting our project. Can we ring the COO and get him to verbally sign off on it?

They'd say OK and arrange that.

It's now Monday and I'm thinking FFS this person is going to take a job in a different company if we don't hurry up.

So don't be too worried, these things can take a few days.

However if I were you, I'd send a super nice e-mail asking them is there any update.

Good luck.

The Young Wan

Ok, so yesterday morning I sent them a (what I hope was) pleasant email askong for a little update and re-stating my interest in the job.

Is there a time scale in which I don't hear back from that, that I should write it off as an unsuccessful application?

OMM 0000

The Young Wan wrote: »

Ok, so yesterday morning I sent them a (what I hope was) pleasant email askong for a little update and re-stating my interest in the job.

Is there a time scale in which I don't hear back from that, that I should write it off as an unsuccessful application?

I would give it a week.

No hard and fast rule on this though.

The Young Wan

The posting has been taking down from their website. . . I'm guessing that means it's been filled without them calling me to turn me down?

OMM 0000

Well some job websites automatically expire job adverts after X days, so they may not have had anything to do with that.

But I agree, it's not looking good.

I can never understand why HR won't just send a PFO e-mail. It takes like 15 seconds.