From Interview To Offer
August 31, 2007 by Darlene McDaniel
Filed under Jobs
From Interview to offer is a repost. The original posted back in March. I have added just a little more information to help a job seeker who finds herself waiting. Enjoy!
For most of us there is a long “pregnant pause” from the time we interview to the time we are given a formal offer of employment. Mind you, the pause can be as long a day or a few weeks, but for most of us whatever the timeframe it seems toooooooooo long.
So what do you do while you wait? First, thing I would recommend you do, is occupy your time. Don’t sit and watch the phone. It’s kind of like watching and waiting for a pot of water boil – it can seem like a VERY long wait. If you have the luxury of a vacation day, go for it and go do something you enjoy doing.
If you can’t take the day off, then go to work and give it a 110%. Busy yourself with the things that are important to you. The definition of waiting is waiting. There is no easy way to wait for the phone to ring. But you can occupy your time with fun stuff, work stuff, mindless stuff, productive stuff or exercise stuff. Just stay busy.
That being said, how do you convert an interview into an offer?
First, you have to decide whether you want the job. How do you determine whether you want the job? You must interview the interviewer. You must know what you are looking for from your next job opportunity. Otherwise, you may accept a job and wonder why you are there.
Second, if you know this is the job you want, then ask the question in the interview – “When will you make a decision?” or “What are the next steps after this round of interviews?” Both questions will give the interviewer the opportunity to tell you what they are thinking. Some interviewers are more transparent than others. Either way, listen to what is being said.
If the interviewer tells you, “I will be making a decision in the next few weeks.” Follow that up with another question – “When should I expect to hear from you?” This will again give the interviewer an opportunity to telegraph his/her feelings about you and your status.
Third, it is critical that you communicate to the interviewer why you are the best person for the job. It’s not so important that you use the words, “I am the best candidate for the job,” as much as you must communicate it. You communicate it by the answers you give to the questions, by the words you choose to use, by your knowledge of the organization and your ability to communicate your past experiences that will determine your ability to be successful in the new position.
I am right in the middle of my “pregnant pause” as we speak! And it’s painful!
I could not agree more – distract yourself. If you have an iPhone or Blackberry, ignore it or you will be checking it every minute.
Personally, I’ve been crossing off my household to-do/to-fix list, the one that no one ever finishes.
And playing some Wii Fit; might as well distract myself and get in shape.
Hopefully, this will soon all be over.
Hi Jen! Thank you for visiting Interview Chatter this evening! I appreciate your comment as well. Let me know when you can celebrate!
I am also waiting in this painful period.. can you tell me the typical time frame from interview to offer? if they don’t call you back after a week, is that a “NO”?
Hi Pink, Thank you for visiting Interview Chatter. The answer to your question depends on a lot of things. First, when did they agree to contact you with a decision? If they told you they would call you within a couple of days, and they haven’t called for a week, than it may be a “no”. But it depends. If they said they would call in a couple of days, and they haven’t, it is ok for you to contact them to find out the status. If they don’t take your call or don’t call you back, again, it could mean a “no”. When did they say they would call back? What type of job did you interview for? That may have something to do with why they haven’t called back. I await your response. Have a great day!
Actually I am waiting for 2 responses, During the interview with company A, the hiring manager said he still have couple people that he needs to interview, and that was 2 weeks ago. And I interview with company B this Monday, but they did not mention the time frame, so I am crossing my finger hoping to get a call this week.
As for the type of job, company A is for Financial Analyst, and company B is Operations Analyst in a hedge fund.
Hi Pink, Thank you for responding. For both jobs, they may take up to a week before you here back. They are professional level type jobs. Company A – You should definitely reach out to them. You will want to ask them about your status. Say:” I am calling to follow-up with you regarding the Financial Analyst position I interview for __________ (date).” then ask,”when will you be making a hiring decision?”. Wait for a response. That will give you all the information you need. They will either set up another interview or they will tell the position is filled or they will tell you they are still considering other candidates.
Company B – You can call them back too. What you will want to ask, AND you should never leave an interview in the future without asking is, “when will you be making a hiring decision.” Again, begin the call with, “I am calling to follow-up with you regarding the Operations Analyst position….” and then ask about the timing. You will always walk away with good information when you ask this question. Let me know how it goes.
I asked at the end of my interview what the decision timeline would be. I was told 30-60 days, which is painfully long!
I sent a thank you note immediately and also sent a quick note, restating why I’m the best candidate, attached to an industry article. I sent this about 10 days after the interview.
My question is – could/should I have any further communication with the hiring manager? I think the interview went very well and I want to be sure that they know I am very interested in this job.
With a timeline this long, not only is it torture, but is there any reason/need to let them know I am still very much interested?
Hi Jen C! Thank you for visiting Interview Chatter today. You ask an excellent question. My recommendation is that you do contact them again within the 30 day window. Given such a long time frame, I know that they are aware that other opportunities do come up for potential employees. By communicating with them in the 30 day window, you are not only expressing your interest in the position, but you are also expressing that you are still available should they be ready to make a hiring decision. Did they give a reason for the long time frame?
When you call make sure that you let them know that you are following up. You can say something like, “I met with ______________ on _________ (date of your last interview). I wanted to follow-up with to determine where you are in making a hiring decision.” If they are not sure where they are, ask the question again, “when do anticipate making a hiring decision for this position?” You can also ask where you as a candidate are in this process. You can ask if they are still considering you for the position. You do not want to wait 30-60 days if you are not a strong candidate for the position. If is ok to ask if they are still considering you for the position. Please keep me posted. I would love to know the outcome. It is rare for a company to take 30-60 days to make a hiring decision unless it is a budget issue or they are terminating someone who doesn’t know they are being replaced. I look forward to hearing from you again Jen C. Make it a great day!
I interviewed for a position last Monday (a week and a half ago). I had to drive out of state for the interview. 2 days after the interview (last Wednesday) I received an email stating that the company was putting together their offer and would be in touch soon. This Wednesday, I called the interviewer and left a message to which she never responded. Is that a no?
If so, why in the world would they tell me they were putting together their offer? Meanie faces….
Hi Lauren, I would not assume that the offer is not still forth coming. There could be a lot of reasons that the offer has not been sent yet. Here are a few reasons:
1. A change in leadership and/or approval for the position
2. An emergency that is unforeseen
3. A hold put on the timing due to financial issues in the organization
It may not be any of these things, however I would not jump to conclusions until you hear back from them.
Two recommendations for you:
1. Contact the HR person that originally set the interview for you. Ask what the status of the offer is.
2. Contact the hiring manager again tomorrow morning. If you don’t get the person on the phone, leave a message that says: ” I wanted to follow-up with you on the status of the offer. Please let me know if things have changed since our last conversation. You are welcome to contact me by phone or email. I would like to move forward with my job search if for any reason things have changed with your organization. I look forward to hearing back from you in the near future. Thank you for your consideration.”
That should get a call back and apology. Either way, if you do not hear back from them by Monday I would move forward. Someone in the organization should be calling you back with a status. If they can’t I would rethink about whether the organization is really a place you want to work. Let me know if you have any other questions.
I’m in the middle of that painful waiting time. For me it has lasted more than 30 days. I interviewed on September 24 at a law firm (associate position). The interview seemed to go well and I heard from others after the interview that everyone I interviewed with really liked me. When I heard nothing after a week, I politely emailed and asked for an up-date. I was informed that the law firm was to interview a few more candidates prior to making their decision. Additionally, I was given a time-frame for those interviews, approximately 2 weeks. I have kept in polite email contact with the HR rep and have learned that the hiring partner has not made a decision as of Tuesday the 28 of October. I know that he is incredibly busy (which is why he is attempting to hire someone) but should the fact that it is THIS hard for him to decide if he wants to hire me be a concern for me, ie does it basically mean a NO. I have tried my hardest to keep myself busy, but I feel as though I am losing my sanity. The HR rep has been fabulous throughout the entire process, but I feel as though even she is getting frustrated.
So my questions are: am I even in the running?
should I ask the HR rep if I am?
I have another interview in a few days for another law firm. However, the one I interviewed for in September is my first choice.
Trying to stay sane
Hi Kay, Thank you for stopping by Interview Chatter today and leaving a comment. I can hear your anxiety about waiting for the offer in your comment. Hang on, it is never over until it is over. I would not assume anything in this situation. If you have not received a letter saying, “Thank you, but we have selected another candidate…” you are still in the running.
Here is my recommendation for you:
1. Go to the next interview and give it your best. Until you have the #1 choice in the form of an offer letter, you have to remain focused and continue to pursue other job opportunities.
2. Continue to look for other potential opportunities that interest you. The best way to leverage an offer from a company you really want to work for is to have another offer in hand.
3. Evaluate why you want the job you want. What is it about the organization that you really like that is drawing you to them? Is it about the culture, the job itself, the potential salary, etc.? What is it that makes you want the job? Look for those qualities in other potential opportunities.
4. Invest time looking for other jobs for the next two weeks. If at the end of the two weeks they have not contacted you, I would contact them one more time. If you can get to the hiring manager, that would be ideal. If you can get to the hiring manager, express your interest in their organization. Ask, “when do you anticipate making a decision on this position?” If you can share something with the hiring manager that will help them make a decision about your candidacy.
5. Choose SANITY!! None of these companies are worth you going insane!!! You CHOOSE!!
Hi
I interviewed late last week and didn’t ask about timelines etc.
Followed up with a thankyou email and enquired about timing then, but they have not replied.
I have another interview with another company later this week, which is a welcome distraction, but would prefer the first job.
My interview went very well, they seemed very impressed by my cv, asked salary questions, office our, sold me the job etc.
I’m just not sure what to expect, and the silence is almost unendurable. I don’t know what the best action is to take now or when to do so. I could only email the recruiter who set up the interview not the manager who I would be working fro and wondered if would be worth writing her a card to say thanks and sending it – or if thats creepy adn ‘desperate/unpro’.
I keep replaying the interview, and felt really positive, my gut feels like I have a good chance, but the longer time goes on – the more doubt is creeping in…
any advice?
many thanks
Hi Missy! I apologize for the delay in my response! Thank you for stopping by Interview Chatter this week. My recommendation is to prepare well for the upcoming interview. Go to the next interview and blow their minds.
Why? Because there is no indication that the previous job is interested in you despite your interest in them. If the previous job was set up by a recruiter, the recruiter knows within 24 hours whether you are a strong candidate. The recruiter is your access point to the organization. If they were interested in you, typically your recruiter would communicate that to you fairly quickly.
Recruiters are paid based on their ability to get you placed in an organization. Focus on the new opportunity. If the second opportunity expresses some interest, now you have leverage on the first job. Go back to the recruiter and let them know about the second opportunity. If the first organization is interested, your stock increases significantly because there is competition for your talents.
Let me know if you have any additional questions. Please stop by and let me know the outcome of the job search!
Hi Darlene – Happy Thanksgiving! although we don’t celebrate it, and I keep forgetting the US is celebrating!
I think its important not to jump to conclusions here. I may not have made it clear, but there was not an independent recruiter involved in the first interview. I have deliberately held off asking for the outcome, as I wanted to attend the new job interview with confidence. If I am rejected for the first one it wouldnt put me in a good frame of mind, since the two interviews are a week apart.
Fortunately the 2nd does have a recruiter involved, so its good to know I will get better feedback from this one.
After that I will contact the first and tell them about the other as you suggested. However, as you said, they should have expressed some degree of interest by way of courtesy by now. Personally if they dont have the manners to reply to a thank you email, they aren’t the right company.
I think the way candidates are treated these days is appalling. Like cattle. A much older relative is going though the job ap proceedure, and I can see it is demoralising. People used to value simple etiquette through letter writing, and whilst the internet is great – it has apparently made some people able to take advantage of assuming a superior existence. I have read so many times how recruiters disappear after the interview. God knows interviews are tough, they should let us know so we can move on / deal with the outcome swiftly. Even if they get a lot of applicants, it takes no time to generate a canned response, I’m not suggesting a long letter and bunch of roses.!
Just my two cents.
Anyway thanks very much for your reply Darlene. I will take your advice.
Hi!!
Kindly give your kind suggestions..
I was interviewed on 3rd of this month and was given the feedback on the table with some very good comments that “they will be happy to have them as part of there team” . and was told that next week someone will get intouch with you for 2nd round of interview with G. and I did recieve a call on 7th that they might call me on 8th or 9th but unfortunatly i have not recieved any call again till now.
Kindly suggest if i should be calling them and checking out my status.
Regards
Taran Minhas
Hi Taran! Thanks for visiting Bizzia Careers! Absolutely call then back and follow-up. When you call, speak to the person that you spoke to before. Whoever called on the 7th. When you call let them know you are following up with them to find out when they would like to meet with you again. Don’t ask if they do, assume they do based on the prior conversations. Please stop back and by and let me know how things turned out for you!!
Have a great day!
Darlene
Hello,
I have been interviewing with a company over the past 2 weeks. I interviwed with both an HR rep (who at the end of the interview handed me an employee benefits package) and the woman who I would be directly assisting, the Editorial Director. At the end of my wonderful interview, the Editorial Director said that “You’ve had a very succcessful interview, you’ve presented yourself very well..I would like for you to meet my Design Director and Exec Asst to the President next week…probably end of June we will let you know something.. please let us know if you’re interviewing anywhere else…” I haven’t heard from them since, I sent both thank you notes and and update at the HR lady’s request. I’m concerned that I haven’t heard from them, my career counselor suggested I follow up on Monday or Tuesday (today is FRIDAY). I also noticed the posting has been removed from their website–although it’s still posted to the job boards. Does this mean they’ve lost interest? Will I seem depserate if I follow up although things have been going well?
Hello
I interviewed with a company…flew down, met 9 people and flew back. I got very positive indication from the Hiring Manager. She told me all benefits & details and said will get back to me the next week after getting everyones feedback. It been almost 2 weeks now….She was very pleased and excited on meeting me…also told me the projects i would be working on and gave me her card..i sent thank you notes to all who gave me their card ,,,,i have not heard anything in 7 days now and wrote the hriing manager a follow up email today stating my interest & abilities and requesting an update…what should i do if she does not respond…should i call her???
I have two other places where interviews are going on..but am really keen on this one…..
Can som one advise how long I should wait or what the next steps can be…..
vmvv
Hi Darlene
I interviewed with a company last Wednesday that I was really enthusiastic about. I researched the company beforehand and am aware that it is a good company to work for. They told me at the end of the interview that is everything works out in terms of the reference and background checks, which they are sure things will, they would like to offer me the position. They gave me a time frame between Friday and Monday. I found out from my references that 2 of them out of the three were contacted on Friday. Would the references have been contacted if the company were not going to make me an offer? If calling references is not a good indicator of employment, how can one tell if a compnay is interested? I have been to many interviews, many of which I left with a positive feeling but I didn’t always get the offer.
Hi Melanie! What an AWESOME question. Thank you for visiting bizzia Careers today. I a word, “YES” if an organization takes the time to contact your references these days, there are interested in you. It doesn’t guarantee an offer, but it is definitely a positive sign. As I recommend to my coach clients, I will say to you, don’t lose sight of the objective even when you have an impending job offer. Keep your other irons in the fire. Continue to pursue other opportunities until you have a job offer in hand and I even believe until you actually start the job. You just never know what will happen! Please keep me posted on your job offer!!! I love to celebrate!
Hi Darlene
Good Morning. I have had 3 interviews with this company which includes a phone interview, in person interview and an interview with Head of HR. They did check on my references a week ago, but I have not heard anything from them. How long does it take for the company to get back to you once they check the references? Should I send them an e-mail to ask when will a decision be made? I enjoyed talking with all three of the interviewers. It is definetely a company I would like to work for.
Hi Dalila,
I apologize for the delay in responding to your question. Once a company does your references it doesn’t usually take very long to get back to you with an offer if they are going to make one. That being said, you never know what is going on. I spent my entire week last week running a youth convention for over 200 people. As a result, I am behind in responding to email and comments on my blog. You never know what is happening with an organization. Something could have come up to delay them in extending an offer. Follow-up with them is always a good thing. I wouldn’t necessarily ask “when will a decision be made.” What I would do is follow-up and let them know you are still interested in the position and you would like to get a status on your application. Ask if they need any additional information from you. Keep it short and simple. Not desperate. See my comment about on July 17 2008. That should give you some language on how to communicate to the hiring manager your continued interest in the position. Please let me know if you have any additional questions!
Have a great day!
Darlene
Hi Darlene,
I’ve had two successful interviews with a company that I’m hoping to work for. One day after my second interview, the HR rep contacted to get my references. A week later I followed up with them and she told me they would have a decision by the end of the week. She also asked if I had received other offers. I replied that I was still interviewing and was waiting to hear from a few places. Today (Friday), the HR rep called to “update” me on the hiring process, saying they hope to make a decision by “early next week”, and again she asked me to keep them in the loop about any other offers.
My question is: Is it possible that the company has offered the position to another candidate and is using me as a back-up? If that is the case, is it ethical for them to say that they “haven’t made a decision”?
My other question: Will it hurt my chances if I don’t come to them with another offer by early next week? What do you think my next move should be if I don’t hear from them on Monday or Tuesday? Or if they call again to ask me if I have other offers?
Thank you so much for you help!
Hi Darlene,
I just read your replies above and wanted to ask for your thoughts on my situation. I had second round interviews with a company on Tuesday. I thought it went well. The senior most person asked me what my salary expectations were at the end of his part of the interview. At the end of all the interviews, he came in to “discuss logistics” with me: reimbursement for travel, any additional information they might need, my thoughts on relocating to that city. I am an international so we discussed my need to be sponsored and he said that would not be a problem and that he would get the company to sponsor me within 9 months and not two years if they were to make an offer (I am allowed to work without sponsorship for two years.) During the conversation, he asked for my availability over the following week since one of the VPs was traveling and they might be interested in scheduling an interview with him; however, I never got a follow up interview request.
While walking me to the elevator he talked about his wife expecting a baby that very same day. Anyhow, I sent thank you e-mails on Wednesday and didn’t hear back from the company til today(Monday.) I’m guessing coz of personal reasons. This evening, the same person e-mailed me first and called me 3 minutes after that to leave me a message asking that I call him back at his cell phone or desk. His e-mail said they were in the process of making a decision and would get back to me very soon/by the end of this week.
What are your thoughts on this? I am a recent college graduate and am very nervous about this entire thing. I am studying to take these exams in the next two weeks so I just need closure. I don’t really want to be disappointed a week away from my exams so if it sounds negative, I’d much rather face it now. So, do you have any idea on what might be going on? I’m sorry; I know this is subjective based on the organization and their circumstances but I’d really appreciate a frank take on this. Thank you SO MUCH and sorry for bothering you with so many details!
Hi tmtex! Thanks for stopping by bizzia Careers today! Congratulations on your impending offer. I say that based on the information you shared. I would say they are very interested in offering you a position. The only thing that would stop you from successfully converting this into an offer is if your background check. Short of your references blowing up or your background check digging up interesting or questionable information, you should have an offer in hand. That being said, remember there is never a guarantee. Continue to study for your test, continue to pursue other job opportunities until you get the offer in writing, in your hand.
Let me know if you have any additional questions.
Darlene
Hi Darlene!
Thank you so so much for the prompt reply! I had been so upset all day at the thought of not landing an offer. What is worrying is that they have not asked me to provide them with references yet. In this situation, would they just call the companies I interned for without my permission? Should I let my previous supervisors know they might be contacted by this company? I really really really hope this one goes through. I am so tired of the job market being so slow this summer! I would appreciate your thoughts on the references.
Hi tmtex,
Most organizations ask for references. It doesn’t mean they will not contact your previous organizations, whether they are internships or not. I wouldn’t worry about the references. Not everyone does them. Some organizations do things at their leisure. I would wait until you hear something from the organization. Did they ask you about references at any point in the process? If not, just leave it alone and follow their lead. Keep in mind that organizations are not predictable. There is no telling what is happening with this organization. No guarantees about anything at this point. Just breath and keep pursuing other opportunities until you have a job offer in your hand.
Darlene
Darlene
Thanks so much Darlene! I don’t mean to flood your page so feel free to delete these replies =) Well, they have not asked for references. The only indicator towards a background check might have been when the interviewer asked me if there was any information about me he needed to know. I am guessing they are still interviewing other candidates before they arrive at a decision. Ahh, if they were really considering making an offer, wouldn’t they just say they were trying to put one together?! I wish I had some solid indicators like request for references or them saying they were strongly interested. It is beginning to sound more negative, isn’t it?
Hi tmtex, I don’t live in the world where I speak negatively about anything that I don’t have all the facts about it. I have no guarantees for you either way in this situation. I live in a world where I prefer to see the glass as half full rather than half empty. You apply the analogy to this situation. There are no guarantees. I know nothing about the organization you are interviewing with nor do I know there policies and procedures. When I respond to questions or comments left by readers, I speak to the information that has been provided and I add my knowledge of a typical situation given the little I know.
In your situation, there is no need to believe that you are not competing for an offer. The competition is not over until an offer has been made and accepted. Whether they do reference checks or not at this stage in the game is anyones guess. As I stated in my first response to you, the best thing you can do for yourself is to celebrate that you are still competing and focus on your test preparation and continue to pursue other opportunities until you know the outcome of this hiring process. There is no one that can help you with the waiting game. It is just that. Here is another post written about the waiting game that you can read as you wait expectantly for an offer: http://www.bizzia.com/articles/the-waiting-game/.
I can’t convince you to look at this situation in a positive light until you have a reason to think something different. That is completely up to you. Move forward and let go of the guessing game. You either have the job offer or you don’t. Worrying about it, second guessing yourself or me or anyone else for that matter is a waste of time. It’s a crap shoot. Move forward, continue to live, breath, enjoy the day, and wait until you have a clear indication from the organization, what they are thinking.
Darlene
Hello,
First of all, you are doign a great job by helping people ease their strain. I have a little soemthing to seek advice on. I have been interviewed twice by company A and the last interview held on the 22nd of july’09. The interviewer told me that he would come back with an update by the beginning of August.
The interview went really well by the way and he told me that I am in top three candidates. They also contacted my references and my references told me that they were quite impressed with me.
Now I emailed them on the 5th of August when he did not contacted me himself. But the thing is that I have not received any reply as yet. I am wondering if they have put me as a back-up and they are avoiding to lie to me about the decision they have already made. Should I contact them again now or is it too pushy? what shoudl i say? Its been 9 days after my update enquiry email and still no reponse.
Thanks
Hi Pinothy, Thank you for stopping by bizzia Careers. Thank you for the compliment. I do enjoy working with job seekers. To your question – I would definitely recommend a call to the organization. If you have the gentleman’s name who was suppose to get back to you, I would definitely call him directly. I don’t assume negative intent on the person, because you never know. Life happens every day to people and something could have happened that has hindered him from being able to contact you. The organization could have made some changes or any number of things including extending the offer to someone else. Call and see if you can’t get the guy by phone and than make a decision.
I do recommend that you continue your job search until you get an offer. Too many people stop interviewing when they anticipate an offer. That is a mistake. Too many things can happen From Interview to Offer, so keep focusing on the job search and the right offer will come in due season. Please stop by and share the outcome of your job search!
Darlene
Hi Darlene!
I am back with an update! The company called to say that they are in the process of making an offer which is going through its final stages and will take a few weeks. I am very excited by this piece of information but I don’t want to celebrate too soon! Do you have any idea why it might be taking them so long to make the offer? I am going to continue looking for other jobs but if it sounds like they will definitely be making an offer, I will lighten the job search and focus on my test preparation. Additionally, is it okay for me to casually ask when they’d expect me to start, if the offer were to clear the final stages? I would appreciate your thoughts :) Thank you for always being such an optimist!
Happy Tuesday,
Last week, Tuesday in fact had an interview. It lasted over an hour – total duration an hour and a half. The interviewer asked when I could start, told me when he wanted to fill the position, and discussed salary. When exiting he showed me to the door and commented I will let you know by Friday and at the latest, Monday. It’s Tuesday and I have not heard a word from above. What would you recommend? What follow up is due? If any?
Thanks,
Patiently Waiting
Hi tmtex, Thanks for stopping by with an update!!! YAY!! Keep focusing on other job opportunities while you are waiting for this particular one to come through. The reason it is taking them so long to get a firm offer to you could be many. It could be that someone is on vacation, it could be that they are in the middle of a project and no one can focus on making the decision at this point, or could just be that the organizational culture operates with a snail’s pace when extending offers, it is anyone’s guess. Don’t worry about the why at this point. Stay focused on what you are doing in your world. The test you mentioned, as well as continuing to feed your pipeline with potential job opportunities. Don’t let your momentum slow down. You can’t afford it. Especially given the current economy. More is always better. What if someone else comes with a better offer. Don’t push aside your job search until you know you are going to work, and even then, keep the fire stoked. Stay fluid, and don’t put your roots down too quickly. See what is happening with this organization, and keep your options open until you know, that you know, that you know, that you can land your ship in their organization.
Start date question – No, I wouldn’t ask that question until they extend the offer. Typically when the offer comes, they will talk about start date. If the test is your concern, make sure that you negotiate your start date around the test dates. Don’t put yourself in a jam. Negotiate. If they want you they will be willing to work with your schedule. Keep me posted!
Darlene
Hi Patiently Waiting! Thank you for stopping by bizzia Careers! Get on the phone and call. Simple as that. If they told you they would contact you on Monday, it is ok to call and inquire about the status of your application.
The best thing to do is to speak to the person you met with. When you call make sure that you let them know that you are following up. You can say something like, “I met with ______________ on _________ (date of your last interview). I wanted to follow-up with to determine where you are in making a hiring decision.” If they are not sure where they are, ask the question again, “when do anticipate making a hiring decision for this position?” They will guide the conversation from there. Listen to what they are saying. If you are still a candidate, most likely they will apologize for not getting back to you and give you an idea about when they will be making a decision.
Lastly, keep looking for other opportunities. Don’t let the potential offer keep you from continuing to pursue other opportunities. Please come back and let me know about the outcome of your job search!
Darlene
Hi Darlene,
I had a phone interview last week and a formal interview on Friday. The interview went so well that i was told to wait for the background check. THe HR called me on Monday to let me know that they are starting the background check which takes 48 to 72 hours. The 72 hours waiting period should have been over yesterday afternoon. I have a friend that still works at my previous employment and she told me that she has received NO phone calls to confirm my employment. I was told that if they are still interested I should get a phone call by the end of the week (TODAY). I have heard nothing and the waiting is agonizing. Its for a job in an office. How long should I wait or if I dont get a call today should I just consider that they are not making me the offer?
There is no other candidates for this job since my resume was for one job which they thought I was overqualified for and offered me another higher priority job. Since my resume is so fantastic they decided to NOT post the job on the internet and bring me in for the interview. He liked me so much that I was even shown around the office and introduced as the new worker “pending my background check”
Hi Michelle! Thank you for visiting bizzia Careers. I apologize for my delay in responding to your question. Let me respond one at a time to the various questions you are asking.
1. Your friend may not know about any reference checks on you unless they are contacting her directly. Typically that information is confidential, as it should be. Unless the office or place your worked previously is very small, it would be unusual for your reference check to be common knowledge, so I would not rely on the friend.
2. You are welcome to contact them today. There is no problem with most organizations if you contact them after the commitment they made to contact you. Call today and ask about the status of your application.
3. The disclaimer he made was “pending your background check.” If there is a delay in receiving information from the one of the places, that can also hold up the background check from being complete.
I would again recommend that you contact them. Do not sound desperate. Just check in the status. Once you have done that today, based on their information you may need to continue to wait a few more days. Invest your time pursuing other job opportunities. Don’t put all you eggs in one basket. Anything can happen to get in the way of a job offer. You need to keep your pipeline full of opportunities. And when the right offer comes, you will be ready for it. You are much more marketable when multiple people are pursuing you. Get out there and start talking other organizations and you will see things work out for you.
Please keep me posted on the status of your application with this company. I would love to hear the results of what you discover after speaking to the company today.
Darlene
Hi again Darlene! This might not be the right page to discuss offers but I would appreciate some advice. The company made the offer official today but they say HR is working on the salary and will send out the official packet by the end of the week. Previously, they had asked for a salary range and said that they would be able to match it.
When the director called to make the offer, I blurted out asking if I could get a day or two to talk it over with my career advisor. Prior to that, I think he had made the assumption I was going to accept. He asked me if I was looking at other offers and I told him I was waiting to hear back from one other company but it wasn’t an offer I would entertain over theirs. I asked for some time just because a working friend told me if I accepted on the spot, I’d become the laughing stock of the company. But, this company’s culture seems different. My concern now is, will they continue looking at other candidates under the assumption that I might not accept? Should I tell them that I am going to accept and that the discussion with my career advisor is just a formality? What should I say in my follow-up e-mail? I have a pretty good relationship with the guy coordinating and putting the offer together so I can definitely be honest with him if I need to. I’d love to hear your take on this.
Hi tmtex! Glad to hear about the offer you received. Yay! It is not out of the norm to ask for a few days to consider the offer. I wouldn’t worry about them extending the offer to someone else if their offer to you was genuine. If you know you are going to accept the offer, accept the offer, but don’t speed up the decision just to make them happy. Make the decision and accept the offer when it seems right to you, for you. Speak to the career adviser, evaluate the offer and make your decision based on what you need. If you can make the decision in 24 hours, do so. If you need another day, take it.
I would send a follow-up email. Contact the organization when you are ready to accept the offer. Once you have done so and you receive the offer letter in writing, you can send a thank you email. Keep it simple and prepare to go to work.
Let me know how it goes!
Darlene
Hello,
I had first contact at a company I was interested in on Aug 10 (I applied via their website and noticed the job was posted on 5/28, I later noticed they had also posted it on a job board on 8/9). There were 4 of the same job title different levels. HR emailed me on 8/10 asking if I could talk later that day (Monday) or early Wednesday AM. I responded yes, I could talk after 4pm Monday or between 8am to 9:30 Wed morning. I got no response back, and no call on Monday evening, all day Tuesday no call no email. Well 6:30pm Tuesday I get a call from HR asking if I could talk then, and “sorry to be calling so late, Had a long day” I of course said sure, and we had the phone interview. She seemed to like what she heard and asked for specific time ranges during which I could participate in a screening phone interview with the hiring manager, and I obliged and was told I would get a call on Wednesday afternoon. I did not get a call, instead at 11pm om Wednesday I got an email from the hiring manager apologizing for not calling, meeting ran late, etc, and could she call me Friday at 5:30pm. I said yes. Friday 5:30pm comes and I wait and wait, and get no call. At 7pm, I wrote an email asking if everything is okay, and that I was still interested in the job and I ask her what day and time she would like to reschedule. I got no response, by Monday night when I heard nothing, I had given up on this place. I was partly annoyed by all the flakiness, but I could not stop thinking about the opportunity, it was the kind of job I had wanted for a couple years, and now I was well qualified for it. Wednesday afternoon at noon, I decided to call the hiring manager, and ask if she was still interested in me as a candidate. She picked up, when she heard it was me, said enthusiastically that she was just about to email me to reschedule the phone screening, but since I’m here, am I available in the next 30 minutes, I said yes, sure. She said okay I will call you back in 30 minutes. 45 minutes later, she calls and we had a great phone interview, she invited me to a face-to-face interview the following Monday.
First interview was with 5 people one-on-one. HR was first, looked over my application, she said if the hiring manager saw what I currently make she wouldn’t want to consider me, at which point I showed her I had written base plus commission, I know that gross salary at a sales job pays higher than many jobs out there and I already knew I would not be making a 6-figure salary in a non-sales position (I was getting a bit annoyed in-wardly because we had talked about this during our phone screen interview, and I felt she was a bit unprepared). She then said the job was offering a particular salary range (the range she now mentioned was 5K less than what she had mentioned on the phone during our phone interview). She asked me what was the minimum I make on my current job (my job pays salary plus commission), and I in turn gave a figure that turns out to be the minimum I would accept at a new job. At this point I felt that she was trying to negotiate salary with me and I hadn’t even interviewed with the hiring manager and others yet, so I sidestepped the issue. She said they were looking to make a decision within a couple weeks.
Anyway on that 1st interview session, I interviewed with the hiring manager last, and she was quite impressed. She said they were looking to make a decision within the next few weeks, and I should let her know if other companies I was considering are moving faster and whether they should adjust their schedule to mine. She invited me back for a 2nd round of interviews for the following week, that HR would set up.
Got home, wrote my thank you letters (email) to each of the 5 interviewers. This all happened on Mon 8/24, and I did not hear anything back. On Friday afternoon 8/28, HR wrote to ask about my availability the following week, and I gave a couple days that looked okay. She responded back the following Wednesday evening 9/2, after 6pm to ask that I come in on Friday 9/4 for an interview! (I thought the notice was too short, and by now my overall view of the hiring process is that they are sloppy and inconsiderate). 5 people were listed on the interview including lunch with the hiring manager and one of the other team members. 30 minutes later, I get an email from HR saying the interview might need to be postponed to the following Wed, followed an hour later with another email and a modified schedule for the initially scheduled day 9/4, one person couldn’t make the date.
While I was waiting in the lobby for the 2nd interview session, HR passes me by and totally ignores me, so I called out to her and greeted her, she says congratulations on being called back, you are one of two final candidates, then asked me when the interview was supposed to start I responded 11am, she said “oh I wasn’t sure” It was at that time 10:50.
2nd interview session (9/4) started with a guy who was 10 minutes late for the interview, did not have my resume, (I gave him one), then proceeded to scan it in front of me to figure out questions to ask (every other person I had interviewed with had really challenging questions for me, this guy was totally unprepared).
The others that followed the tardy interviewer were very well prepared, and the session ended well with the hiring manager telling me she was on vacation the following week, but the one manager that was unable to make the 2nd interview round would interview me the following week while the hiring manager is on vacation, HR would set it up. That they would be making their decision on the final candidate by 9/18.I sent another round of thank yous. I waited for HR to email interview schedule, got nothing. At this point, I decided I had proven to them I was very well qualified for the job, if they want me they would have to get their act together and schedule the 3rd interview, I just did not feel like calling to remind HR to set up the interview, so the whole week of 9/7 went by without hearing from HR. The following Wednesday 9/16 (week hiring manager (HM) gets back), I thought about calling HM to let her know that I did not have that interview with the other manager she wanted me to, but I decided to call HR instead, she tells me she was just about to email me, HM emailed her last night asking her to set up an interview for me and that other manager, she asks for my availability to do a phone interview instead of another trip to their offices, I say Friday, she says actually they would like to make a decision by Friday can you do it today, I said yes sure. She calls me back a couple hours later to say the manager would rather meet with me, is it possible to come by even if it is after work day, the manager would work with my schedule, but has to be that day. I obliged and ended up going in at 5pm for an interview, which went extremely well.
Then 2 days later, on Friday 9/18, I get an email from HR asking if they could call my references, that the Hiring Mgr would be doing the calling, and that I am still one of two candidates. At this point, I was elated and disappointed at the same time, what they still have not yet decided who would be the last one standing? So they are planning to call both candidates’ references and then decide? (or is it a tactic the HR uses to not raise hope, she had told me at 1st interview, that after the round of interviews, they would let final candidate know he/she is the final, then reference checks, permission to do background check, approval for offer and salary (which would take 2 weeks), but at least you know you are the final candidate, this way I don’t even know. It has been a week, and none of my references have been contacted. One of them who is traveling out of the country for 3 weeks, and who has a very hectic schedule this week, gave me a list of times he would be available this week, which I provided to HR with the reference list (CCed HM), and he has not been contacted either.
At this point, I don’t know what to think. I have been looking for this type of opportunity for a long while, and this was the one that seemed like a good fit, but after all that has transpired I don’t know what to think, I wonder if they are serious about me (still 2 final candidates but may we check your references, and 1week later no reference checks done), and now I wonder about the real true culture of the company in terms of how decisions are made and projects move along. One question I have is, should I email and ask for status? What should I do? Thanks.
Hi Sally,
What a crazy situation. Your question is whether you should call them for a status. My question to you is why? Why do you want to work for an organization who is so disorganized? If they can’t handle the hiring process well, what makes you think that working for them would be any better?
I will never recommend to anyone not to pursue an opportunity that they want, however, you have decide you want it. Just because they are offering something you always wanted doesn’t mean you have to put up with foolishness. They can’t be the only organization that offers the type of job you are looking for. The decision is yours to make, but I would seriously consider your experience in the process. You are worth being well cared for by all of your employers as well as potential employers. That’s what I think.
Hi Darlene,
Thank you for responding so quickly.
You are absolutely right and I had been thinking the same thing. Throughout the process I kept having this feeling of unease about how things were being handled, and I was questioning my desire to want to work there. I had a feeling that the hiring manager had a tendency to vacillate and I imagined the frustrations that I might face working in an environment where “processes” take such a long time because people can’t make up their minds. After writing the previous post, it made me see the whole series of events in its sorry state and I started thinking that even if they turn around and offer me the job, I would have to turn it down. Then I got home last night to see an (unsolicited) update email in my in-box from HR saying the hiring manager is still evaluating candidates for the position, that she just wanted me to know it could take a few more days. I was annoyed. They went from “we would like to check your references” to not even bothering to check the references, and then updating me with we are still evaluating candidates.
At this point, I have given up on the company, my infatuation with them is over. Although it’s a tough market out there, with more qualified applicants than jobs available, employers should still treat their applicants with respect. I don’t expect to get every job I interview for, but I do expect to be treated with respect and not be strung along. Thank you Darlene for your response, and for helping me to put things in perspective.
You are very welcome! Please keep me posted. I would love to hear that you found an organization and a job that fits every thing you are looking for. Keep looking, you will find the right organization.
Darlene
Hi! Darlene,
Thanks for the reply ..i called them and got a response that G.M is travelling and they will let me know.. but i am bit spectacle till when should i wait..As a professional i expected them to call and inform us but anyways thanks a lot.
Have a nice day!
Taran
Good Morning Taran, No problem. As far as how long you should wait, I never recommend that a candidate put all their marbles in one basket. I wouldn’t rely on this job opportunity as the job opportunity. It is very important that you continue to pursue other job opportunities. If they delay and another organization offers you a job, go for it. If you don’t hear back from this organization in the next couple of weeks, I would move on. Did they give you any indication about when you should hear from them? If you are really interested in the opportunity, I would continue to pursue it. Persistence is always a good thing. But weigh it out. Is this the organization that you want to work for? If so, why? If your reason for pursuing the job is because it is a job, there are others out there. If your pursuit is about your passion, there is something about the organization or the job itself that is drawing you, continue to go after it. But don’t wait around hoping for this opportunity to work out. Get your focus on something else. Pursue that and maybe, just maybe this organization will get their act together and close the deal. Please keep me posted on your progress. You have a nice day too!
Darlene
Hi Pressed for Time,
Thank you for visiting bizzia Careers. I need a little more information before I can answer your question. First, did they agree to get back to you at the end of May or the end of June? Your comment says June, so I just want to be clear about that point.
Second, are you currently interviewing with other organizations and did you tell them you were interviewing with other organizations? If you said yes, and that is correct, there is nothing wrong with that. The reason they want to know that is because they have interest in bringing into their organization and they don’t want to drag their feet and lose you to another organization. If you told them you were not interviewing with other organizations, than they don’t feel as much urgency to make the decision and extend the offer. If they told you they would get back to you by the end of May and they have not, you will not look like you are desperate unless you sound desperate. If they made a commitment to contact you, than you are taking initiative by following up with them and getting a status on your candidacy. Call the Editorial Director. Get to her, not her assistant or the HR people. You need to hear from the person you will be working for. When you call, let her know that you are following up with her, “I am calling to follow you with you about the appointment to meet with the Design Director and Exec Asst.?” You want to use the words she used in your last conversation. You should be able to assess from the conversation if they are still interested in bringing you on board.
I want to address the your feeling of desperation. If this is the only job you are pursuing right now, you have placed yourself at the mercy of an organization, rather than creating options for your self. Whether this company is still interested in you or not, get more job opportunities in your pipeline. What if you get to the next meeting and decide you don’t want to work there? Maybe you don’t like the Design Director, you never know. Give yourself more options! The feeling of desperation goes away when you get to choose what you will do, rather than waiting for someone else to decide.
Darlene
Hi XYZ,
Thank you for visiting bizzia Careers. First I want to say breath. You never know what happens after an interview. Things may be busy in the organization and they just have not had a chance to get back to you. If it hasn’t been two weeks and you have already reached out to them for an update, wait. Give them 24-48 hours to respond to your inquiries.
As far as can you call to follow-up? Absolutely, but give them another couple of days. You don’t want to sound or appear to be desperate for them to call you. As much as you want the job, relax. Focus on the other two opportunities. Give them the space to make a decision.
Lastly, what did the hiring manager say to you about next steps? If they said they would call back within two weeks and it hasn’t been two weeks, give them the two weeks and than make the call and follow-up on the status of your application.
Please come back and share your story!
Darlene
Hi Susan, Thank you for visiting bizzia Careers. Great questions. First, I always assume positive intentions until I have a reason to believe something else. In this case, the HR rep contacted you when she/he said they would, so I would continue to assume they are attempting to make a decision but have not yet. Typically, organizations will tell you if they have made a decision, even if you are not the one. If they had you as the back up, they would either not call or tell you they have extended an offer. You would get a call back if they extended the offer and the person declined. They would come back to you rather than string you along. That is my experience. Also, typically if they don’t call back when they say they would, that is more likely they are waiting to confirm an offer.
It would be unethical for them to say they haven’t made a decision if they had already. But I don’t see that in the information they your described. They are more likely wrestling a decision or the hiring manager just hasn’t made a decision and they will have one at the beginning of the week. My suggestion – PRAY. Especially if this the job you want to get an offer from.
It won’t hurt your chances if you don’t come with another offer. That would be another ethical dilemma. You don’t want to tell them you received an offer if you have not. I do believe it is a good thing to tell them that you are interviewing with other organizations and that you are waiting on additional offers. Your next move at this point is to continue to interview and pursue opportunities until you get a firm offer in your hand. Once you receive an offer, contact the other place or places that you are waiting and let them know you have received and offer. If you want to consider their offer or their opportunity, let them know that as well and see if they will come back with an offer. Now you will have two to consider and you are in the drivers seat in deciding which you want to take. If you want one offer more than the other, and the first one you want comes through. Consider the offer and accept it if they meet all of the requirements you have and/or need in a job. Please come back and share the results of your search!
Thanks for stopping by this morning!
Darene