Ghosted after interview?

The Young Wan

In January I was made redundant when my department closed down. A couple of weeks later, I saw a similar company, with whom we would have competed, advertise a similar position to the one I had previously been doing. As my old company no longer had any skin in the game in the market, I decided to apply.

I went through a phone interview, a task, a Googke Hangouts call, and an in person interview in their head office. I thought everything had gone really well. I wasn't being cocky, but I knew this was a job I could do, and had the skills and experience for.

That was on a Monday, I was told I would hear back "by the end of the week."

Well, it's now two weeks later, I haven't heard anything back from them, and the posting is offline. I have been driving myself insane trying to think what aI could have done or said wrong to make them completely ghost me.

At this point, IDGAF whether I got it or not. Just be polite and tell me. Because, candidates talk.

Has this ever happened to anyone else here?

Oryx

Probably deciding on candidate, or offered the role to someone else and youll hear you havent got it once they accept.

is_that_so

Ghosted is not really word for a potential employer. Some of them just don't reply and some forget. The end of the week just doesn't specify which week!

_Brian

Two seeks isn’t an extraordinary length of time Not to have heard back.
Politics, red tape, sick leave, annual leave are all things I’ve seen drag the process out by weeks even months.

You could contact them and ask for feedback on your interview.

messrs

Anything could have happened for them not to get back in touch, maybe the person who was supposed to get in touch with you is out on sick leave and the work hasnt been handed over - maybe they have to have a meeting with someone else to make the decision and that person isnt available or is overseas. Would you contact HR direct yourself and request an update?

The Young Wan

I messaged them last Tuesday but there hasn't been a response.

is_that_so

The Young Wan wrote: »

I messaged them last Tuesday but there hasn't been a response.

Message as in text or email? Messaging apps are not the way to do it. Emails are always better as even if they claim not to have received them you have a copy you can refer to.

The Young Wan

I emailed.

Peanut2011

OP, do you want to work for the company which treats its potential employees like that? I've had places where they never replied after interviews and even when telling if you don't hear from us feel free to contact us.... I know I would never work for company like that.

Its basic common courtesy!

is_that_so

The Young Wan wrote: »

I emailed.

OK, if it were me I'd contact them this week again (Tuesday or Wed), just to check they received your email. Otherwise you're looking at close to the end of next week with Paddy's Day in there. Hope you find out soon one way or the other.

the_syco

The Young Wan wrote: »

That was on a Monday, I was told I would hear back "by the end of the week."

One of three things;
Their budget no longer exists, thus they can no longer hire you. Openly admitting this would be foolish, though.

They got someone else, but are waiting to hear back before telling everyone else "no".

Bureaucracy; anything from the shot caller being off sick, to them not having the go-ahead to hire you. Or the interview process took shorter than expected, and their expected start date won't be for another week, and until then no budget exits. Red tape can also be very silly.

If you don't get it, it was 1 or 2. If you do get it, blame 3.

bfa1509

Seems like typical HR behaviour to me. I heard before that HR don't call back unsuccessful candidates as they don't want to risk saying something that the candidate could interpret as discriminatory. Also, unsuccessful candidates aren't worth their time calling back.

Or if it's anything like the company I work in, they take between 1-2 months to let the successful candidate know they got the job (at which point they have since found another job)

Perifect

People in many walks of life have no respect for others. It's especially through in the employment world I find.

skallywag

I am afraid that such stories are all to common, and the trend is getting worse in recent years based on my own experience.

When we interview someone we will always come back to them within the time that we had committed to, even if it just to say something along the lines of 'Our apologies, but we need more time to consider your application' etc.

I fully understand that sometimes it is not possible to come back to candidates within the time frame that was originally committed to, but there is no excuse for not sending a short email, etc. saying the same. It's extremely unprofessional and something which would annoy my if I was a candidate.

OMM 0000

Who did you e-mail?

Is it direct to a person, or to a general mailbox?

I ask this because maybe the person is out sick.

Why not just give them a ring?

The Young Wan

OMM 0000 wrote: »

Who did you e-mail?

Is it direct to a person, or to a general mailbox?

I ask this because maybe the person is out sick.

Why not just give them a ring?

It was both. To the jobs@ email address, and the direct email address of the person I was interviewed by and had regular contact with previously.

It's all making me pretty sure they've given the job to someone else. If they wanted me, wouldn't they have been in conact by now?

OMM 0000

Yeah I'd move on.

seamus

As others have said, bureaucracy, holidays and illness can all cause things to fall through the cracks, but if you've tried to get in touch, there is no excuse for not replying with a "Sorry for the delay, we're still working things out" response. Or even an out-of-office.

I've heard lots of people across a lot of industries say that this seems to be common over the last couple of months with companies holding interviews and then taking weeks to come back with a decision. It could be down to companies being so busy that gathering the interviewers together is hard, or it could be down to Brexit-related uncertainty.

I too would advise moving on. Always keep applying and keep interviewing until you have a signed contract in your hand. Until that point, never assume anything.

Ohmeha

I'm still waiting to hear back from a couple of well known companies after interviews from 5 years ago...

Totally frustrating but move on, let them do the chasing from now on if anything is going to happen