TheJobBored

57 responses so far ↓

• 1 Kevin // Dec 5, 2007 at 3:53 pm

  I agree with the policy of waiting one week. But I think sending a short ‘thank you for your time / look forward to hearing from you’ note or voicemail just after the interview is a good idea as well.

• 2 Anonymous Poster // Feb 28, 2008 at 4:56 pm

  Like Kevin stated, following up within 1-2 days with a thank you letter is important and very professional. However, when a company tells you someone(or a specific someone) will get back to you within a certain time frame, its important to be patient during this time period. Once you are nearing the end of the period, at this point, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by initiating contact with the company again. But, remember to be professional and confidant when speaking, as the other person will sense this.

• 3 Will // May 14, 2009 at 5:49 pm

  I had a second interview and was informed it would be 2 days, and have heard nothing. I am almost sure it went well because I was told the salary and location I would be placed. Should I call or just wait?

• 4 Sara // Jun 10, 2009 at 12:57 pm

  same situation here: I had a second interview. I ‘ve sent a thank you letter a day after and knew that destinators read it.. I was informerd that decision will be taken within a day and I have heard nothing.. what should I do!! waiting till the end of this week or calling them!!!

• 5 Joshua // Jun 18, 2009 at 2:35 pm

  Same situation, Sara.

  I just had my interview on June 12. I was told by the HR manager that I was the only one that the department managers wanted to bring in for a second and so she’d probably would be calling me soon. I went through a recruiter and he read me an email that was passed from the QA Manager to the HR Manager to him that had all positive responses from her. So NOW I’m waiting until Friday (tomorrow) to call. They didn’t give me a definite time frame though for a decision.

• 6 Ryan // Jul 29, 2009 at 8:13 pm

  I interviewed for a civil service job with the city and this was on July 7th. Its been 3 weeks. Should I follow up? I know that during the interview one of the panel members mentioned that there was a significant amount of people that applied.

• 7 Alex // Aug 7, 2009 at 8:59 am

  To Ryan, I feel sorry for you. Civil Service job placements are often false. The person has been picked already. The interviews are to satisfy legal requirements. They are also very rude people and never get back to you. I should know I have been working for the City of New York for 22 years. There is no harm in contacting the interviewers. ns are otorious fn

• 8 hickory // Aug 14, 2009 at 9:39 am

  i went to an interview with bank of america yesterday and after the interview all the interview told me was “it was a pleasure to meet you.” What does that really mean?

• 9 hi // Sep 3, 2009 at 10:43 pm

  It aint good^^^^^

• 10 Shawn // Sep 17, 2009 at 12:36 pm

  I think, if an employer really finds interest in hiring a job applicant, there is no reason not to make an offer or inform the applicant within a couple of days that there is a potential job offer and stay put. I understand certain jobs require background checks which may cause delays, but these things can be done after a conditional job offer.

  If an employer finds a qualified candidate that he/she needs to hire, and then waite for days or weeks to get back to the candidate after 1 or two interviews, then that employer may be far from an ideal employer. To make an analogy I would say: if one gets hungry and there is food available why avoid it?!

• 11 How Long To Wait For Approval On A Vacation Request | TheJobBored // Sep 29, 2009 at 4:58 pm

  [...] it seems my “how long to wait” answers are very popular. [...]

• 12 Andy // Sep 30, 2009 at 5:46 pm

  I agree with Shawn. If they are going to hire you, there are going to get back to you in a very short period of time, almost always within a few days. While it is technically possible that you may get a job offer weeks and weeks after an interview, I would say that those cases are very rare. If they tell you at the end of your interview that they are still going to be interviewing for a while and don’t know their decision yet, it means that either you or your qualifications didn’t wow them enough for them to stop their interviewing process. Simply put, if you are going to be hired, they are going to let you know very shortly after the interview.

• 13 Matt // Oct 1, 2009 at 12:26 am

  But say you have two interviews, write your thank you notes and then follow up appropriately (with thank you letters and then emails) and still hear nothing back… what do you do then? Isn’t that just rude on the employers part?

• 14 Laura // Oct 16, 2009 at 2:23 pm

  However, sometimes there are delays due to HR. Once, i interviewed and didn’t hear anything for 3 weeks- then suddenly was passed to 2nd interviews. After I received a verbal offer, it took 2 more weeks to get the written. Turns out they offered me a job they hadn’t made available to the public and due to company policy, they had to interview at least 3 people.
  So much of it depends! But yes, it is so rude of companies to not let a person know either way.

• 15 Layla // Nov 5, 2009 at 10:57 am

  I hate this idea that employers could deliberately wait to see if the interviewee chases them up and is therefore eager – that’s sneaky! Personally, if an employer doesn’t get back to me within 1.5 weeks then I’m concerned about their reliability, care of staff and efficiency and will think twice about taking the job.

• 16 Lisa // Nov 11, 2009 at 9:52 am

  I went for an interview for a PA to MD job on Monday – seemed to go really well – I sent a thank you email today (Wednesday) but because 2 days have elapsed i’m thinking maybe its not a good sign?? ahhh i hate playing the waiting game! :0(

• 17 Jack // Nov 11, 2009 at 11:31 pm

  I was told that they would call me on a certain date. It is now 2 days past that date. I’ve decided to wait a week after the promissed call back day. Why? well things happen. Maybe they got busy. Maybe he was out sick for a few days. Maybe HR is dragging their feet and holding up the works. What ever it is it is pure torture! If they don’t want you they should say so and not leave you hanging.

  Another thought. If they want you they will call you! It’s not like you’ll call them and they will say: Oh, we are sorry for not calling sooner, but we would like to offer you the job! THAT NEVER HAPPENS. If you don’t hear anything after 2 weeks you can bet (90% of the time) you didn’t get the job. So, like I said earlier, wait a week after the interview or a week after the promised call back date.

• 18 Fritz // Dec 6, 2009 at 10:41 am

  My experience,…
  Sometimes there is an affirmative action “goal” attached to a position in a company, especially if that position is in mid-level management. If you are chosen for the job and do not fit the pre-defined “goal” there will likely be an internal battle between the manager who wants to hire you and his/her own HR department. Sometimes the manager wins,..most of the time HR wins. It depends upon how hard that manager will fight to hire you. If you get caught up in that process it could take a while before you hear anything, especially in public sector jobs (three times for me now, and third time was finally the charm). Each of the three times it was at least one month before I heard anything after the second interview. Anything that gets sent to a human resources department is going to be dragged out endlessly.

• 19 jf // Dec 19, 2009 at 12:39 am

  I had a video conference interview and it was a week ago, how long should I wait.

• 20 TJ // Jan 12, 2010 at 4:56 pm

  I think theres no magic number of days to wait for following up. I base it on the company and it’s habits. If it’s a small firm (a few 100 employees), I’ll follow up a few days after and keep following up with the hiring manager about once a week. Especially if it’s a sales gig as you are expected to be persistent. If it’s a large company that has their own internal recruiters, I typically send the hiring manager a thank you email within a day after the interview and then wait about 2 weeks before contacting the recruiter. All of my contact is with the recruiter. Hiring managers at large companies usually don’t like dealing with candidates. Note that I have broken my rule in the past and contacted the recruiter within a week after my first phone interview, and although I can’t say it hurt me, it certainly didn’t help. Both times the recruiter said that they didn’t have any feedback yet from the hiring manager. Both times the recruiter did contact me at a later date and I progressed all the way through to the final candidate stage. I don’t think I’ve ever heard back from a recruiter within the timeframe he/she laid out for me when they first contacted me. Recruiters get bombarded with resumes and emails. Also many times they haven’t followed up with the hiring manager by the time I’ve contacted them. They truly had no information to tell me. Oh, and I’d also advise not to get worried if you haven’t heard right back from a recruiter. In my experience if you were not a good fit for the position, they will call or email you and tell you right away. This gets you off their radar while they work the other open positions that they need to fill.

• 21 Narendra // Jan 15, 2010 at 4:12 pm

  I was interviewed on last month,i have also sent them thank you email,After interview the HR manager asked my salary slip and after producing that salary slip,they didnt replied me.
  one of my friend inside that company told me that the company made the decision to hire me but my existing CTC is little more.
  Still i have not done any follow up,please suggest what should i do?

  regards

  Narendra

• 22 hatethewaitinggame // Jan 22, 2010 at 2:37 pm

  I had my first interview with employer on Jan 12 with the Hiring Manager, VP of the department I’d be working for. He said he loved me and my work, and set up a second interview with the team I’d be working with on Jan 14th. The 2nd interview was with 3 different members, 90 minutes total, all of whom I’d be working with, and they all went really well from my perspective. I sent a thank you email the next day (Jan 15th), and have not heard anything back. I am working with a recruiter who landed me the interview, and he said that he would get back to me if he heard anything. Nothing yet. Yesterday, I saw that the job I was interviewing for, posted on some job boards. What does that mean? It’s been a week since my 2nd interview and this morning I sent a follow up email to the hiring manager to express my interest in the position. The second interview was set up so quickly, and went well ( so I thought) , I’m wondering why I haven’t heard anything yet.

• 23 REALDEAL // Feb 12, 2010 at 11:04 am

  hatethewaitinggae… when you think you have done really well in a interview, theres always some shroader that comes along and wipes everyone off there feet and does better, thats happened to me b4. But if your good at interviewing, hell find something else while your waiting, but enough with the thank you and emails, they will prob get annoyed.

• 24 B // Feb 16, 2010 at 4:22 pm

  I solely manage the HR function at a smaller company and handle all the emails, job postings, interview scheduling, phone screens, etc. To be honest, I get so bombarded with emails and resumes and follow ups and phone calls, if you came for an interview and we didn’t see a match, its really common to just put the resume aside and be done with it, leaving no follow up. I am not saying this is the best, but it does happen a lot (I try to NOT do that, but….) But also sometimes, thing just take a bit longer….and thank you letters are KEY, as are proof reading

• 25 Summo // Mar 3, 2010 at 12:24 pm

  I was interviewed with company 3 times and 4th time it was with CEO. Sent them Thank you email and was told that i will hear in a week or so. Its been two weeks havenot heard any thing back. Please suggest what to do

• 26 Vikas // Mar 4, 2010 at 5:08 am

  Narendra,

  Im assuming ur based in india..in india
  CTC matters to HR dept..in USA,
  its never that way,companies pay top $ for best in USA.

  In india , policy is not hire to the best..but rather the cheapest who meets the minimum critieria and also lot of preferance for regional
  candidates..ie; if must speak the local
  language..(eg; Marathi, Kannada)..

  I had similar experience where i quoted say Rs 19lakh/yr expected CTC
  while HR person could match only 12-13lakh/yrs..i

• 27 Sally // Mar 8, 2010 at 2:04 pm

  I have a similar situation. I had a good interview with a vocational institute here in corpus christi, texas. It was for their career service department for a career/resume counselor. I was told that I would be contacted for a second interview. I have not been contacted yet. How long do you usually wait to follow up with them and see if they are still interested in a second interview?

• 28 Mitch // Mar 10, 2010 at 5:05 pm

  Hoping you can help…interviewed four times with this company, they phoned my references last Thursday, told me the salary. Yet I haven’t heard back from them? what gives?

• 29 Z // Mar 19, 2010 at 11:57 am

  Hey guys! I’m confused myself! I had an interview two weeks ago. The hiring manager said I should hear from them in a week but I didn’t so I followed up a week later and the HR lady said she would chase it up for me. Now it’s been 5 days and I still haven’t heard anything. Should I give them another follow up call or just wait?

  Thanks

• 30 It's a small world! // Mar 30, 2010 at 10:14 am

  After the interview, it was said to walk me out by someone else.

  Does that mean I didn’t get the job at HP?

• 31 waiting patiently // Apr 2, 2010 at 5:26 am

  Hello,

  I attended a group interview with a recruiter last week, and that same evening she called back to schedule an interview with the actual hiring manager. I went to the interview, and nailed it (at least I thought I did). From what it seemed like the Manager and Asst. Manager really liked me. The 2nd interview was on a Thursday. I was told that someone would get back to me by the beginning of the next week, but I received no response. I emailed the recruiter, and she told me that she hadn’t heard back from the hiring manager yet… It’s been over a week now, what should I do???

• 32 Reese // Apr 5, 2010 at 5:22 pm

  I had an interview on March 15th with the people I would be working with and then a second interview with the VP of the department on the 24th. I then sent follow up emails the same day. Both interviews went well and include praising me for having the skills they were looking for with the position. SO WHAT’S UP?

• 33 Elva // Apr 6, 2010 at 2:16 pm

  I work for a Fortune 20 Health Care IT company- It took a month between submitting my resume to get an interview, 2 weeks between 3 interviews and a month of background checks to get hired. Waiting these days is commonplace. And- get this- I was the ONLY qualified candidate for my job. HR does not live up to courtesy standards that most of us are used to, and yet they have us (and our companies) by the balls. It’s a mess. I wish it were better regulated internally. Good luck everyone.

• 34 Mari // Apr 6, 2010 at 3:03 pm

  I when on an interview at the beginning of March and then I was called back two weeks later to interview with a second person. Since I was referred by someone from within and who I worked with at a business level, they were pretty impressed with me. They have two postions available. They later sent me an email to complete an application for them to do a background check. I was pretty honest, but because of the current economical situation and being unemployed several time last year my credit is not good (586) and I will be working in a Financial institution processing checks. It is now over two weeks and I am getting nervous because I have not heard from them. Does that mean that I did not get the job?

• 35 PC // Apr 30, 2010 at 1:41 am

  I just had a interview with a company. There were 4 interviewers and I think interview went quite smooth. The 4 interviewers are the managers/leads in the same department that I am applying for.

  After the interview, I was brought to see the MD straight away. Ran through some small talks, but I think I did nothing wrong.

  On the same day, few hours later, the department manager (one of the interviewers) called me up and told me that I am actually more suitable for another position, but the position will not be opened until 1 month later. So they can’t give me any kind of confirmation at this stage.

  It is a good MNC that I hope to work for, but I am not sure if I can trust them that they will call me 1 month later. So should I wait or forget about it?

• 36 hsb // May 11, 2010 at 2:27 pm

  I am in the same situation….interviewed by 3 people…went well…..told to wait a week.

  Advice…..if you have waited the window of time they requested and followed up then move on to another opportunity and try to forget…the problem of not knowing is there isnt closure on the interview.

• 37 hsb // May 11, 2010 at 2:31 pm

  Those of us out of work in the IT sector are facing the most difficult job market in our careers becaause of the economy

  As a result, just to get an interview is significant….the employer knows its an employer market and can get the pick of the crop

  We must be aware of this…..

• 38 Julie // May 12, 2010 at 12:09 pm

  I had an interview with a large Regional Bank on April 22 (Thursday) with the hiring manager. I sent my professional follow up letter the next day. On April 28th I received the online test for the company and completed it along with a background check. On May 4th the hiring manager thank me for my letter and asked if he could set up an 2nd interview with another Regional Manager. I had the interview Friday, May 7th and I sent an email thank you. She said they were still interviewing and may be a week or two and that HR or the hiring manager will call me. The hiring manager seemed Very enthusiastic. How long should I wait to call? or should I be patient?

• 39 hsb // May 12, 2010 at 12:39 pm

  make a point of staying in the fore front so that they will forget…since your this far along in the process it wont hurt to be agressive

• 40 hsb // May 12, 2010 at 12:40 pm

  make a point of staying in the fore front so that they wont forget…since your this far along in the process it wont hurt to be agressive

• 41 hsb // May 12, 2010 at 12:44 pm

  To PC….dont wait for any one in this hiring process

  This job market is ugly because of the economic times…keep looking and until somone makes you a written job offerr you have absolutely nothing regardless of what was said to you

• 42 hsb // May 12, 2010 at 12:49 pm

  Reese

  Whats Up????? Whats up is that regardless of what is said to you in a job interview its a lot of poo poo…..until you get a written offer of employment you have abolutely nothing….it should include start date, your function, compensation etc and signed by a corporate officer

• 43 Jem // May 20, 2010 at 9:12 am

  I’ve got the same problem, I went for an interview last Friday morning (its now Thursday afternoon) and it went VERY well. They said they would be in touch next week.
  The interview process is very fickle….

• 44 Ke // May 25, 2010 at 3:27 pm

  I kinda agree with hsb until you have a written confirmation nothing is true. I had my interview on last tuesday and i sent a couple of thank you letters as well to the interviewers, However today is Tuesday again and I am yet to receive a reply.!

  The interview went so well that he actually discussed how my commute would be short one and all that., and now no reply . This wait game is a big pain in the …

  Tomorrow anyways i am gonna send a follow-up.

• 45 Happy // May 30, 2010 at 11:36 pm

  It’s a small world:

  So you manage to get the job? HP also asked me to wait for 2 weeks before they get back to me.. by when they will contact me? Could it be earlier or is their standard procedure to wait for 2 weeks?? Anyone know about that?

• 46 Happy // Jun 1, 2010 at 3:51 am

  Feel so depressed for waiting the interviewers’ reply. Anyone has experience to obtain the job at hp?

• 47 FAVOR // Jun 3, 2010 at 12:41 pm

  Please don’t let this get you down ‘happy’. I too have interviewed for a position and still waiting on reply. My case a bit different. I got notice of an interview invite 05/17. It was never confirmed, so I emailed Hiring Manager to see if she received it on 05/20, she responded same day that she got caught up with work and was sorry for delay. She sent another email interview invite, and it was scheduled for 05/21. I was told she her last interview would be 05/24, and that she would make a decision 05/25. Well of course we had a holiday 05/31, so I was expecting something by 06/01. However the recruiter has been out of the office all week and this is the recruiter for that area. 06/03 I decided to email another recruiter, hoping they could give me feedback, and I’m still waiting for that. Whatever the outcome I just rather know versus sitting and waiting, and hoping. If it’s not for me, God Bless, but I definitely will not let a job opportunity get me depressed. The interview went VERY well and she commented on my responses and my resume. This was my second interview. I felt I did my best and my best is all I can give. The rest is up to God.

• 48 saskum3 // Jun 4, 2010 at 5:46 am

  Just attended two interviews for a senior managerial position and after having attended a couple of interviews throughout my career I have come to the realisation that the interviewing process is by no means a flwless and excat science. Sometimes the and purely on account of the inherently subjective nature of the interviewing process the best candidates are actually not hired. I stronly believe that in a competitive job market luck certainly does have sometghing to do with whether you are hired or not. I would therefore implore anyone who doesnt get an offer n never to take it personally. I have been rejected before and I know its never easy. The least an employer should do is notify canditdes of its decision as soon as is practical. This is common sense and basisc courtesy. There is no forumlar as to how much time is too long before an employer reverts to a candidate after an interview or vice versa. All correspondnece from either party relating to an interview follow up should be professional and courtious at all times. If the employer is facing legitimate internal bottllenecks during the decsison makin process then the employee must be well informed at reasonable intervals on the progress in the decision making process.

• 49 followup // Jun 9, 2010 at 12:30 am

  My advice to everyone here is who is playing that “waiting game” to just follow-up with the employer. You really have nothing to lose, so the key is to sound confident and interested. It’s true that sometimes employers get caught up in workload and meeting with so many candidates… a follow-up is a great reminder that you’re on top of your stuff, pro-active, as well as tenacious. Besides, it’s all part of building a relationship with a recruiter/hiring manager. Even if you’re not a good fit with that particular team, another opening on another team may open up and they will consider you again. They will remember you.

  By staying quiet and not writing back, it becomes too easy for an employer to forget about you and move on. Be confident that you’re the best candidate they can choose from.

  It is also true that an interview can take months from start to finish, especially if they aren’t in a rush to hire anyone. Even in the fastest hiring processes, it still takes a couple weeks to get to the paperwork stage. The best thing you can do for yourself is to keep your options open and apply to several places at the same time.

• 50 Becca // Jun 21, 2010 at 11:38 am

  I am waiting for a response from books-a-million after two interviews that I thought went great last week. The first interview was Tuesday after submitting an application Monday, then I got a call Wednesday for a second interview which I had Thursday. They said someone would call within the next couple of days. It’s Monday now and I’m getting worried because of how fast they responded before. Because they have a new location opening, they will need a couple of employees. I’m trying to wait until Thursday to call back for a follow-up but it’s too annoying. Any suggestions?

• 51 Roger the Rabbit // Jul 27, 2010 at 3:57 pm

  I interviewed with the hiring manager, two weeks ago. The next day they called me to fly me up to see them. That was last Thursday. The hiring manager told me he needed to hire someone by August 13th or ideally early August. He asked me if I would relo., and I said yes. Not sure if that is a good sign or not, because why ask if he doesn’t care. I interviewed with lots of ppl during the day, and he was going to chat with his team. I was thinking about following up Thurs – being one week. Any thoughts?

• 52 Melissa // Aug 4, 2010 at 3:57 pm

  I went and took a drug test and a physical screening friday do you think they would go back on what they said. They offered me a position and told me what shift. How long does it take to completely hire someone after a drug test is submitted?

• 53 TBone // Aug 9, 2010 at 12:44 pm

  I interviewed recently for a job with a major insurance carrier. The position is management, reporting to a director in one of their most prestigious departments. The director who interviewed me said that they were going to narrow the field down to 2-3 people and then hold second interviews for those people because apparently they had a flood of applications for the position. I got called in for a second interview, but that was over a week and a half ago now. How long do you think I should wait before following up? This position could completely change my life, the salary is almost 30K more then I make now when it is all said and done, so needless to say it is a difference maker. What does everyone think? Should I wait it out to the 2 week mark and then follow up? I have already sent a thank-you letter already as well, just waiting for my job offer. What do you think?

• 54 roland e. ebhoaye // Aug 22, 2010 at 10:43 pm

  I attended a group interview with a recruiter last week, and that same evening she called back to schedule an interview with the actual hiring manager. I went to the interview, and nailed it (at least I thought I did). From what it seemed like the Manager and Asst. Manager really liked me. Till now, neither the recruiter non the manager has got back to me. What sould I do?

• 55 roland e. ebhoaye // Aug 22, 2010 at 10:46 pm

  I attended a group interview with a recruiter last week, and that same evening she called back to schedule an interview with the actual hiring manager. I went to the interview, and nailed it (at least I thought I did). From what it seemed like the Manager and Asst. Manager really liked me. Now two weeks has gone past, but I am yet to called. What could have been opossibly wrong?

• 56 Shanna // Aug 23, 2010 at 1:24 pm

  I recently had an interview for my dream job, the interview went well, but I believe there were concerns on my age. The interview was on a Thursday and I was told they would let me know the results by Monday. I wrote a thank you email, as it was only a few days until the decision would be made.

  I didn’t hear back on Monday, so I emailed on Tuesday and was told “I am still exploring options on an internal candidate so need a few more days to see where we are. Should know the direction by end of the week. Thanks.” I did not hear back by the end of the week… How long do you wait to do a second follow up?????????

• 57 Buffalo Wings // Aug 26, 2010 at 3:38 pm

  If an outsourced recruiter of the company I hope to work for scheduled the interview (and I have never met her), but I interviewed with a panel of actual managers at the company:
  a) whom do I thank for the interview? just the interviewers, or also the recruiter for scheduling?
  and
  b) with whom do I follow-up? the recruiter who set it all up but whom I’ve never met, or the managers I actually interviewed with? it *seems* all has to be done through HR recruiters, but I don’t know…
  Thanks

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