How long to wait for a reply after an interview?

Big Spender · 14 Feb 2017 at 10:49

I had an interview 2 weeks ago today for a new job, the interviewer did say that they were interviewing last Wednesday and Thursday also so it would have been a week ago on thursday that they done their last interviews. How long roughly do you think would be reasonable to wait for a response before chasing them up?

tom_e · 14 Feb 2017 at 10:51

Worth giving them a poke tomorrow, a week is plenty of time for them to either know or at least have some idea how much longer it'll be.

It was nearly a month at my current place due to sickness and HR sticking their oar in and wanting a third interview without them knowing I'd already been through 2.

Ryan0r · 14 Feb 2017 at 12:33

There can be all sorts of crap happening in the background, as mentioned sickness, or politics, budget-wrangling, last-minute interviews (or annoyingly, people who miss interviews and are given a longer time to come back, past when they were supposed to stop doing them, thereby lengthening the process for everyone)...

Isn't unreasonable to chase them up after 2 weeks though, that's a long time to be left hanging. At least just to politely ask if they have an idea of when they'll know they'll be able to get back to you (if they can't give you a straight answer there and then)

Big Spender · 14 Feb 2017 at 12:59

thanks guys, i'll give them until the end of next week and give them a call/email if i haven't heard.

Martynt74 · 14 Feb 2017 at 15:05

Was it direct or through an agent?

Big Spender · 14 Feb 2017 at 15:37

Marvt74 said:
Was it direct or through an agent?

It was direct with the company i applied for.

d_brennen · 14 Feb 2017 at 15:46

My last time was about 3 weeks/a month. I called them for feedback and was greeted with an "oh, we'd like to offer you the job, did no one call?"

Basher · 14 Feb 2017 at 15:47

Big Spender said:
thanks guys, i'll give them until the end of next week and give them a call/email if i haven't heard.

Don't wait, call them now. The worst they can say is "we're at x stage in the process, so call back in y days". Either way, you'll know more by calling them, don't delay it.

Also, don't email them, call them.

Caged · 14 Feb 2017 at 22:03

If they can't be bothered to keep you informed then you don't want to work there

AHarvey · 15 Feb 2017 at 11:00

d_brennen said:
My last time was about 3 weeks/a month. I called them for feedback and was greeted with an "oh, we'd like to offer you the job, did no one call?"

I had this but the other way, after 3 weeks I contacted them and was told they'd given it to someone else.

Big Spender · 15 Feb 2017 at 11:51

It is what they called a "pipeline position". They have a turnover of on average 12 staff per year so they were interviewing for people to go into the pipeline for the job. Those that pass the interview and go into the pipeline are then security vetted etc ready to go straight into training and when a position becomes available.

Terminal_Boy · 15 Feb 2017 at 11:53

2 weeks is plenty long enough.

Big Spender · 15 Feb 2017 at 12:36

they were interviewing last wednesday and thursday aswell so ill give them til the end of next week and phone them if i haven't heard

Basher · 15 Feb 2017 at 12:53

Big Spender said:
they were interviewing last wednesday and thursday aswell so ill give them til the end of next week and phone them if i haven't heard

Why not just call them now? What's the worst that's going to happen? It makes you look keen and eager so go for it.

jimjamuk · 25 Feb 2017 at 00:12

If it were agents then you didnt get the job, if its direct then ring and ask - it may prompt them to hurry up in case they think they might lose you (if you are their candidate)

Energize · 26 Feb 2017 at 22:38

Wow, I've never had a case where I didn't hear back within 2-3 days after the interview, I must be lucky.

A2Z · 27 Feb 2017 at 03:30

I never wait more than a week. The least it does it give them a kick up the backside to hurry up and decide.

Freefaller · 27 Feb 2017 at 11:03

When I have an interview I give my feedback to the recruiting manager. This often triggers the feedback process without making me look Desperate.

That said 2 weeks is plenty.

Basher · 27 Feb 2017 at 11:13

Freefaller said:
When I have an interview I give my feedback to the recruiting manager. This often triggers the feedback process without making me look Desperate.

That said 2 weeks is plenty.

Plus, I would always ask for feedback in the interview itself.

Freefaller · 27 Feb 2017 at 11:14

Absolutely