An invitation to an interview indicates that the company received your application documents or reviewed your profile in professional networks, examined your background and qualifications, and approved your candidacy for further consideration. It would seem that you are halfway to employment. And if in your opinion, you managed to leave a favorable impression on the interviewer, showing your knowledge, competencies, and interest in the position, then the job offer is just a formality and a matter of time.
But what if was no response from a recruiter in the following days or weeks, and the euphoria gave way to anxiety? Do you have to wait for the call obediently, phone the employer yourself, or dismiss the idea of working in this organization? Our suggestions and tips on how to behave in such a situation will break it down for you.
What is the typical wait time after an interview?
The average response time after the interview is from seven to fourteen days. Consideration of candidates for leadership positions, in turn, can take about a month. Nevertheless, the indicated timescales are not generally accepted and may vary depending on the company and its internal processes. Therefore, if you were not contacted as promptly as you would like, this is not a reason to perceive silence as a refusal.
Reasons for delay of feedback with a candidate after a job interview
There are several reasons why the recruiter would not report on a candidate’s status for an extended period, and they are not all connected with their desire to ignore you:
- An ill-conceived schedule of interviews. In the perfect world, meetings with candidates are scheduled with a short time between them so that the first one is not kept in the dark for an entire selection period. But recruiters often either forget about this rule or cannot adhere to it because of the tight schedule of other company representatives who want to attend the interview.
- Making a hiring decision is a multi-layered process that requires the participation of the director, department head, HR manager, and sometimes other interested parties. Given the variability of the business environment and other tasks of each link, it cannot be very easy for them to come together for an analysis of each candidate. Besides, the hiring process rarely has a top priority for a corporation. So there is a chance that while you expect to hear from a recruiter, the discussion making process has not yet begun.
- Some companies expect you to call back first. They regard it as a confirmation of your interest in the position. However, it can be challenging to understand when such a step draws praise, and in what situations it is equated with extreme perseverance. To avoid misunderstanding, send a thank-you email a couple of days after the final interview, which will help you to stand out and increase the loyalty of the company.
- Budget cuts for a new position due to the financial woes of the company, illness of one of the critical links in a decision-making process, dismissal of a recruiter, or another human component. Undoubtedly, this is not a good reason to keep the candidate in the dark as they are not related to the internal problems of the organization. However, keep these factors in mind the next time you want to overanalyze your career prospects.
And yet, how long to wait after an interview?
In most cases, being left in the dark is even worse than a refusal. The candidate does not know whether they should continue to seek work or accept a job offer from another company. And whatever the reasons for the silence, it is difficult to stifle the desire to clarify all the answers and put the things right. If this thought haunts you during the first couple of days, you should still refrain from writing emails or calling the recruiter with questions about your chances of joining the team. Remember the complexity of the selection process and the average timing of providing feedback. But if the silence lasted more than two weeks after the interview, then feel free to take the first step. You can write or call a recruiter, but your message should not be rude, and your tone of voice should not emphasize dissatisfaction. The best ways to steer the dialogue on the right course are:
1. After you have introduced yourself and briefly recalled the background, it will be appropriate to ask a few additional questions about the position. Thus, you not only show up but also prove your serious and responsible approach to the job.
2. Ask if you can help bring the decision closer. For example, maybe the company has questions about your experience, qualifications, or motivation that the recruiter missed during the interview, or you can provide additional references from previous employers. This approach helps you show steady perseverance but not be intrusive.
3. When asking for feedback after the interview result, refer to your previous dialogue with a recruiter and its strong points. It will clarify who you are and recall why you are a worthy candidate. For example, mention that you talked about potential ways the company could develop, or hint that the recruiter noted your achievements.
Valuable tips for all waiting candidates
- Undoubtedly, it is better to clarify the deadlines for providing feedback after the interview. But if you have missed this chance, you need a brief action plan on how to behave in cases when the company keeps you in suspense:
Keep looking for other job opportunities and attend interviews. Even if you wait for an answer from the company of your dreams, you should be prepared for any outcome. Therefore, it is great to have several options in reserve. Perhaps during your further searches, you will find the perfect vacancy that will make you forget about the would-have-been employer. To increase your chances, double-check your set of application documents, which should consist of a resume and a cover letter. If you suddenly forgot about the latter or you do not have enough time to write it for each vacancy, resort to a cover letter builder. Go to the link and customize each of your documents. Remember that successful self-presentation is half the battle. - If your attempts to contact the recruiter via phone or email were unsuccessful and the period of silence dragged on, then change the question “How long to wait for a job offer?” to the question “Do I need to work with such a company?” Remember that a call or an instant message does not take much time. Moreover, it is not polite to ignore the person who attended an interview and tried to prove his professional aptitude. Therefore, a company that has ignored you and the basic rules of business etiquette is hardly the best choice for employment.
Job search is a stressful and challenging process since you never know which employers you will have to face. Be prepared for failures or long term ignorance. Show perseverance if you feel that you are a worthy candidate for this position, but do not give up if your efforts did not tip the scales in your favor. Some day or another, all these common obstacles will lead you to your vocation.
