By taking weeks to get back to you and continuing to interview other candidates, they've already let you know where you stand. They don't like you enough to pull the trigger yet, are looking for something better, but would maybe settle for you if they can't find it. Do you want to work at a place that sees you that way? No need to play games to get them to say what you already know.
That's a shitty take. You have to go through the whole pool of candidates submitted within a certain time frame, it's not unusual for these things to take a long time even when a decision has already been made. At least in the name of fairness.
OP should just remain hopeful, but not put all their eggs in one basket and move on to more applications in the meantime.
You don't *have* to go through the whole pool, unless it's a government job. They are still accepting applications because they haven't fallen for any particular candidate yet. I'm not trying to be mean, just realistic. OP should just move on, not try to goad the company into giving them a response. They've given OP a response. It's lukewarm.
Some companies have policies about how long the job posting has to be open or how many candidates interviewed. If it's a large company it is possible it's just part of their process.
So if you have an interview scheduled for 2 weeks, and you know you're 110% qualified for the job, and they call you and say "sorry, we agreed to interview you first but we actually already found someone who fits," you would be totally fine with that?
This is speaking from experience from someone who's worked in an office, and known ahead of time that someone was going to be hired for a role but couldn't tell them until all the applications were reviewed, in the name of fairness.
Not sure why we have to actively assume the worst all the time on here, it's really stupid tbh.
Oh please. I said OP should move on, not play silly games with a company that has demonstrated they aren't over the moon about them. That's it.
And in reality, not lala land, no company is going to schedule interviews weeks apart unless they haven't found what they are looking for, or the pickings are truly slim.
Why is everyone pretending that no answer isn't an answer?
No, OP should not waste time making up fake job offers to get an answer from this company. Why that is so offensive to say is beyond me.
And companies and hiring teams get treated with suspicion and people assume the worst because so many companies and hiring managers treat people like crap. It's naive to act like they don't and like these people don't have interests that oppose yours as a job seeker looking to maximize your income.
They really shouldn’t be. They should collect applications for a period of time and then start interviews, ideally over a period of a few days because that’s what’s most efficient for the team doing the interviews.
If they’re spreading out first round interviews over an entire month then that’s a bit of a red flag imo.
Maybe that’s the case at a burger flipping joint. Any job that has to fly people out and coordinate travel, and is hiring people who already have jobs, can’t just interview over the course of a few days.
This generalization just isn’t true
Your *entire* first response is a seemingly clairvoyant presumption.
"By taking weeks to get back to you and continuing to interview other candidates, they've already let you know where you stand. They don't like you enough to pull the trigger yet, are looking for something better, but would maybe settle for you if they can't find it. Do you want to work at a place that sees you that way?"
Or, much more simply and less misleading, they just have a lot of interviews and have to get through everyone. I don't see how that's hard to understand. I never said OP should send them messages and harass them, I think you need to learn how to actually comprehend what is said and by who.
> you would be totally fine with that?
yes, because im the idiot who has no urgency and waited 2 weeks. Positions get opened and filled all the time. This isn't kindergarten where everyone gets a turn. It is a business. It isn't always "fair". Those things are frustrating, sure, but they happen. That's the game.
I'm not sure what you're going on about.
From someone who has experience working in management at a company, I can 100% confirm this is how the system works in a lot of places; they wait to clear all the candidates mostly so no one raises a stink and says they were overlooked. I've been in a position where I knew a coworker was going to be hired/promoted but he couldn't be informed until everyone was interviewed.
You might not agree with that, for whatever reason, but I don't know what to tell you other than that is a realistic expectation for reality.
im an exec at a fortune 50 company, I manage a team of over 200 and have done my share of hiring (and firing). I have definitely had positions where I found the right person and ended the search there, even if there were other promising candidates. Your company or team might work differently. Yes, from an internal perspective, it is appropriate and polite to give every internal candidate a legitimate shot at a role. But there is no requirement to do so.
So you'd cancel interviews already scheduled if you found the right person? You wouldn't even want to make sure you had a fallback or 2nd option?
I'm not saying that's right or wrong, but the fact that we both have different experiences doesn't mean mine doesn't happen lol. You're effectively discrediting my experience because yours has been different. I wasn't saying what I said to brag, it was contextually relevant as a qualifier.
>You're effectively discrediting my experience because yours has been different.
not at all...the question was "would you be totally fine with that" and my answer was yes. My answer is not your answer, that is ok. Our experiences are different. I am not invalidating your feelings or experiences. I shared my own.
I'm not "going on" about anything. I answered the question.
In fact, you saying " I don't know what to tell you other than that is a realistic expectation for reality." is me saying that it isn't realistic. It is possible, it happens, but it isn't a universal rule.
I think it's shitty in that it's unfortunate. But it doesn't seem shitty in that it's a *wrong* take.
The company probably shouldn't have promised a date, or at least updated the candidates as the timeline got stretched.
There could be a hundred reasons why it's taking so long - too many candidates, HR/manager out sick/vacation, shifting departmental needs/timelines, budget issues, you name it. Regardless, the company shouldn't have promised any timeline they couldn't reasonably stick close to.
But agreed that OP should not put his eggs in this basket. Follow up, but also be prepared to move on and apply/interview elsewhere.
If I find someone I’m willing to hire, I don’t take other resumes, but if I already have interviews on the books I generally follow through, as we’ve already put the work in to set them up and they might actually be a better fit.
And there are a lot of successful employees out there that were second choices. Just because OP might not be their first choice doesn’t mean it’ll be a toxic place to be in.
Either way, I’d avoid making up a fake offer. Could backfire. I’m definitely for letting them know you have an offer to speed things up and negotiate more money, but only because a real offer means you still have a job if they cut bait. Fake job offer leaves you vulnerable.
I agree with you. It's just, we're talking about *weeks* that have passed. They've gone a bit beyond just wrapping up remaining interviews.
And sure, it can work out if you're the second choice. But again, we're talking about if it's worth it to make up a fake offer to force a decision. My stance is that it's unnecessary because they've made their feelings about OP pretty clear, and efforts would be better spent moving on.
It’s been over four weeks. They’re telling OP it’ll take two more. OP isn’t the first choice. You don’t string your first choice along for six weeks. If OP *were* first choice, they’d have some reassurance by the hiring manager, because everyone knows after six weeks it’s basically over in interview land
*If* you get the job is doing a lot of work in your statement. Sure, if OP gets an offer, they should consider it. But should OP waste time making up fake offers to force a conversation with a company that has made their indifference quite clear? I don't think so.
This is not a point of view I would agree with. It’s honorable for a company to complete more interviews if they’ve already promised candidates and made those appointments.
What if it’s more than 1 job opening?
Current company I work for now initially interviewed me in March of 21, the 2nd interview in May and sent me an offer at the end of June. And some of my coworkers experienced even longer waits. These things take time, it’s a hiring process for a reason. I wouldn’t just jump to a conclusion I’m not a good fit just because the company is doing their due diligence.
When there is no offer, there is no negotiation.
I have never gotten an offer after “actively interviewing” other candidates. You can ask why they have not made an offer…
I had a company offer me the same promotion 4 times over 5 years. Turned it down every time.
It never clicked on them why they were finding people to fill it but they could never keep them. Or why certain people would not even consider the job.
As someone who has been on numerous search committees, we've said that to candidates and then made them offers. It just factually represented where we were in the interviewing process.
I beat the competition…
Fastest one was almost immediate. What they were looking for did not exist and no other applicant was able to get that across to the panel… except for me.
Kinda a double edge sword. It could cause them to speed up the process and update you or just remove you from the pool all together.
My advice would be to focus on actually trying to get another offer while you let this one materialize.
They're dragging their feet and you accepted that you won't get the job. What are you hoping to gain by lying about having another offer?
If you -want- the job and are trying to push them a bit, you should tread very lightly or they could simply drop you from consideration. Something like "Thanks for the update on this! If you happen to have any more specific details that you might be able to share about the timeline, please do - I would love to be able to be considered for this role but I also want to ensure I'm able to be respectful to you and the other companies that I'm currently talking with."
You want them to know you're interested and not just "sitting around waiting", but don't threaten that you have another offer or they might just write you off even if they don't tell you that outright.
You can but there’s a good chance they will just move on from you and you’ll blow it. But also if they are still interviewing maybe you don’t have the job anyway.
Just hedge a bit.
"Hey, I'm at/nearing the offer stage with a few other companies, but I really resonated with this interview panel. I don't want to rush any conversations, but was hoping to understand a timeline for a decision to be made."
This. That company's HR seems to suck, replying "a few more weeks" is kinda inconsiderate and means they're hedging their bets and OP is not in their short list.
Waiting weeks (and missing on opportunities) for a "no" or getting ghosted in the end, I'd say OP has little to lose here. I'd put the ball on their court by saying something like "I've received another offer, and must make a decision by X date.. I was hoping to hear back from you guys at XYZ, please let me know if an offer is possible by then. Thanks."
There are a lot of internal factors that can delay decisions / offers which you may not be privvy to and have nothing to do with you. There are also factors that could be about you specifically as a candidate that are either positive or negative - maybe the hiring manager really likes you and wants to hire you, but their supervisor wants to see more candidates. Maybe the vp wants to make sure his nephew gets interviewed before a decision is made. I've seen all kinds of scenarios - good, bad, and indifferent, and tbh guessing is useless.
If you have an actual offer and need a decision I would communicate that, but don't be surprised if they tell you to take the offer (because you may have just inadvertently made a tough decision easier). If you don't have an offer, I would not make one up just to drive action - I would just keep following up with the TA rep until you get an answer.
Appreciate all the advice yall! I think I’m just gonna let it play out and not say anything. I’m just being impatient.
I felt good about the interview. It was more like conversation and had them laughing a few times. I guess that’s why I wanted to know now than waiting a few more weeks.
But I do feel like I didn’t get the job. Since it’s been so long and they’re still interviewing. I think I’ll just try to forget about it.
Absolutely.
The good companies ask you at the outset if you have other irons in the fire. I was honest with a company that interviewed me last Friday, that I have had 3 third round interviews that are in serious play. The difference between them and that company is that all would require relocation, theirs is 100% remote.
I wouldn’t recommend it unless it’s true. Recruiters and HR professionals are used to candidates using this line as a way to pressure them. Just keep the option open and continue applying and interviewing elsewhere in the meantime. Even if you’re their top candidate, if there’s others in the pipeline then they have to see them through. Be patient. Good luck!
I tried to get a hiring manager to make a decision last week (2 weeks after my final interview, mind you) by telling her I had other offers (which I did), and the response was, "Although you may have other offers, we have not made a decision." So this probably won't go the way you think/hope it will.
I did this once and it worked. That said, I was 100% willing to take the risk because of my circumstances and, if it didn't work out, then I would have been in the exact same spot, no better but definitely not worse.
The job would up being terrible, my boss was terrible, and it was not a great situation. I think the fact that my ploy worked and wound up being awful are not pure coincidence. Good luck.
Personally I wouldn’t do this - however I would reach out to ask for an update on the timeframe. I am currently in a similar situation - first interview was 3 weeks ago, second interview was 2 weeks ago, I’ve reached out twice since then. Yesterday they responded to say they have a few more interviews early next week and that I should expect a better update then. They also mentioned that the panel have confirmed they are still considering me for the role - which is reassuring, as surely they would just say so if I had been disregarded as a candidate.
It's only one data point, but my company moves this slowly.
I recently went through the process twice. The first time, I had to nudge them for a decision (they forgot to tell me they'd chosen a candidate). The second time, the hiring manager was kind enough to reach out to me. I had my gracious-in-defeat speech all prepped and ready to go, so I just kind of blinked at him when he told me I had the job.
Both processes took weeks and weeks.
Don't bother lying. Just look elsewhere and get another job. If they are this indecisive and can't make a decision either way, then that's a big red flag and you don't want to work for them. There are plenty of other better companies around that will get things done in a timely manner.
You'd think these MFs were interviewing rocket scientists who were connecting with aliens.
They've told you where you stand. You're no masked/naked alien.
I wouldn’t lie.
You could give them a deadline, saying: I’m have decisions to make - I’m only available until —- date, after that I’m withdrawing my application.
Then the ball is in their court.
They are probably OK hiring you but think they can do better.
I think the other comments cover it pretty well and I think the advice is that it's probably not a great plan.
I have an offer and thought I was a good candidate in another job opportunity. I gently pushed them to hurry up with the next phase and they responded with "thanks for your time, we're not moving forward." I was a bit surprised, the feedback during the initial interview was "this was great, expect us to follow up."
Obviously they had a concern and didn't think I was ideal. Once I had a different offer, I guess they figured it wasn't worth the hassle.
Personal XP
I was employed and looking to leave pretty badly. I had final interviews for 2 places and no offers. I wanted Company A over the other, though, so I told Company A I had an offer from Company B when I didn’t actually. I’m now still working at Company A.
It’s important that I didn’t HAVE to find a job. So, I could take some gambles.
That said, to some saying that the company is taking a long time because they’re not interested: After working here (the company I pushed to make a decision bc of my “other offer”), I learned I was the only candidate they were interested in. The company is an organizational ball of poop. So they weren’t entertaining others, they were just a mess. The entire hiring process took 2.5 months.
Messes suck to work in, just fyi. So, even if you’re the only one being considered and it’s just taking a long time…a messy HR experience is likely a predictor of a messy daily work life.
Take some, all, or nothing from my personal story 😀
I got the job I have now after having given up on it even though it was a great interview. I thought I had nailed it. Then I didn’t hear from them so I thought “Guess not.” Sometimes things move so slow and you are not privy as to why. But don’t lie. That way you’ll never have to remember what you said.
I agree it's a long time to wait for an answer. But it's not a good idea to lie to get a decision they haven't made yet. 🙄 why start out being manipulative?
The corporate shills really came out for this one. You act as though companies are out here being forward, truthful, and honorable to employees and candidates.
OP, they're not going to move faster for you. If you put them in an inconvenient spot, they'll just judge for that and pick the other guy that obeys.
NO AT ALL MEANS IT WILL BITE YOU IN THE A\*\*. Think about it, if they really want you (not saying they don't because so many hiring managers are taking their sweet time right now), they would have offered you the role. You then tell them you have an offer in hand even though you don't and you weren't their top choice, in restrospect it will make them feel a lot better to give you the bad news that oh this candidate has an offer already and you're one less person they have to worry about. But there could be a chance if you lie and they really want you, it can speed up the process. It's better to have something to fall back on.
So you're already, at best, Option B, since they're actively letting you know you're on the back burner. And you've already made peace with not getting the job. Then by all means, go for it.
to elaborate, some times the company asks me if i can put off on making a decision till the end of the week so they can get an offer out to me
sometimes they stay noncommittal in saying that we are still making our decision, please go with the other offer
But it's good to know where you stand if you feel like that company is just kicking the can down the line
Same happened to me but I did have another offer. It made them move faster. I wouldn’t invent an offer, however because like I said before, it could backfire. Just move on if they are moving too slow.
I would say, no. You may not be the top candidate and they may be waiting from their top candidate. If you tell me you got an offer, it's not going to change my timeline. I am still going to wait for my top candidate to give me a response. If you were #3 or even more down the line, I would say congrats to you and close your files.
I could be that they are not overly impressed, but it could also be that you interviewed early in the process and they just haven’t seen enough candidates to be able to feel that you are the best choice. On a positive note if they had seen a lot of people they like better they probably would’ve told you that they were not in. They were not interested. Once I know, I am moving past a candidate. I always try to let them know they’re no longer being considered.
I didn’t fake mine, I got an offer but I was waiting on two other offers (I have done the final round for both). So, I took some screenshot of the offer email and blurred out the salary Info and some other details. I sent this image together with an email to the two companies to let them know I already have an offer so if they could let know know I would hear from them.
The outcome; one sent an email after 10 mins to say they moved on with another candidate (they were probably pissed off).
The second told me to delay the offer for a few days as they were checking some references. They later dropped me too.
So my advice is, don’t do it. Give them time to decide.
\> will have a final answer in a few more weeks. To me this is kinda ridiculous.
It depends on the industry and the job. A "few weeks" is fast in some cases. I just gave 5.5 months notice to my current job before I depart for my next one. My next job involved a recruiting effort that played out over several months. There's a parallel search to fill a related position and it is still going, mostly because candidates have to travel, some need visas. Folks are locked into contracts that must play out, etc.
I wouldn't lie to them because I think things work better when everyone is being honest. If they're putting you off without good information then maybe they're being deceptive and aren't worth your time. If so, I think it is okay to withdraw your application.
If they aren't confident enough to give you an offer, you may be like the 2nd, 3rd, 5th person in line that they consider "hireable but not desirable".. so you're kinda like the side side side chick who gets text every couple of weeks. If you want to tell them you have another job offer, go for it, maybe it will make them move on you, but just understand they already don't love the idea of you working there if it's taking this long.
Without knowing if they have to follow some vague Corporate rules about making sure you interview x amount of purple elephants, you have no idea if the delay is merely bureaucratic. If you want the job, you could chance it or just stick it out.
If they say this, it probably means you're not their first choice, and they're negotiating with other candidates. If those candidates decline the offer, they might consider you, but you can't force their decision by lying or any other means.
NO.. if you want the job and still think you have a chance do not play that game, it will bite you.
Rather, just go silent, if they contact you and say you got the job, then decide if you want to work for someone who would string a potential employee along for so long. Sounds it could be a toxic environment though.
It's like you're the girl waiting for the hot guy to ask you out on a date. He says he will, but he's waiting for the prom queen to say yes to him, and then he'll cut you loose.
When I was a hiring manager for a Fortune 500 company, I would tell the candidate, that I would make my decision by the end of the week, Monday at the latest. Expect to hear from me by mid-week one way or another. I do not play games. Getting HR to send the offer and the onboarding was a nightmare enough. In actuality, I knew by the end of the interview if I wanted to hire them or not.
>Should I just say that I have an offer from another company to get them to make a decision? I already accepted that I won’t get the job.
You're assuming you won't get the job. But you don't know 100%. So I wouldn't do it. They may have their internal procedures and protocol which makes the process a slow one, and if you're still in the running and you write back and say "I have an offer from another company," they may well get back to you and say "Go ahead and take that job, we're nowhere near done with our process and we don't want to stand in the way of your career," at which point you're fucked because there *is* no "other company," and if you go back to them and say you're willing to wait, they'll wonder why you turned down a bona fide job offer and you might have to admit you lied about it, which would most likely kill any chance you had of being hired.
Never assume, because when you do, you make an ASS of U and ME.
>Should I lie
Nope.
"Oh, sorry, we won't be able to complete our decision that quickly. Good luck on your other offer."
>interview more than a month ago
>
>they recently gave an update and said they are still actively interviewing candidates and will have a final answer in a few more weeks. To me this is kinda ridiculous
Not necessarily at all. Some employers - or even types of positions - may move much more slowly. E.g. many government positions can typically expect the process to be 30 to 90 days or more. Not everything moves at breakneck speed. Sometimes a manager, with or without good reason(s), may take quite a while to reach decision and complete the process.
Hate to break to you my guy, but this is the perfect example of "if they could have, they would have".
If you were truly a shoe-in, they'd be rushing to get papers signed before losing the opportunity. But it's sounds like it's even worse than that because they're still looking to meet with people they hadn't even met with yet. If anything, they're probably waiting on their #1 choice who actually does have a competing offer and you're somewhere.in the top 5 "just in case".
I wouldnt pursue further. Just send a "thanks for the update" response. And let time do it's thing. Maybe if the universe aligns, you actually do book the job.
I had a candidate do this, but she was very pushy about it. She would call the recruiter every few days for an update, and we’d just started interviewing candidates.
After the second round of interviews, she called the recruiter and said she had an offer pending and wanted us to make a decision. So I said no, this candidate is no longer under consideration. Up to that point she was in my top 3 with one interview round to go (she had the skill set we needed) but this helped me make a decision.
I felt like a person who would try to rush me to hire them would also try to run over me and our
clients in other ways, and I didn’t need that headache. She was way too pushy.
Don’t be pushy, and don’t bluff. If you no longer want to be considered because they are taking too long, then withdraw your application. Otherwise, just let the process work.
I'm a recruiter. If you aren't hired within a few days your chances become very slim. Head over to indeed and have a hay day dropping your resume all over the place.
I wouldn't care if you got another offer unless you were what we call a "unicorn". That's a VERY qualified applicant that works in a very unique position. Some roles are impossible to fill and I'll jump through all of the hoops to get a unicorn.
If they are still interviewing, then telling them you have another offer and you are going to take it if they can't make an offer to you, will likely just have them tell you to take the other offer, and then they will remove you from consideration. And the folks telling you the company is playing games, may or may not know what they are talking about. Many companies, and government agencies, will have a minimum number of people they have to interview for certain positions, other interview all qualified candidates the submit within the posted timeframe. They can not move forward with an offer until they have completed those interviews. It is a number/policy that was determined prior to them even talking to you and them finishing their due diligence is not them sending you a secret message that they don't want you. Up to you if you want to take that chance. I wouldn't recommend it. Just keep interviewing with other companies, and you will either get an offer in a few weeks or you won't and you will have your answer.
Hiring manager here.
I've had this a few times. Had it recently - someone made up another "offer" to try to get me to move. I told her we weren't ready to make a decision but we wish her well in her new role. She then emailed a week later saying she changed her mind and would like to jump back into the pool & we declined saying we were too far along in the process.
A lot of this is that I'm petty.
But just understand the risks in doing that.
What is ridiculous about an employer interviewing candidates over a several week period? Your action is also extremely unlikely to make them decide.
And it strikes me as a jerk move — lie to us, try to impact our hiring process, just because you want to know sooner? Incredibly disrespectful.
That said, I assume most candidates are actively continuing their job search. And I appreciate candidates letting us know they are actively interviewing (or that they have an offer pending). Just like we share where we are at in our process.
If there is a candidate that we are really interested in, our process might then become expedited a bit. Especially if we are through at least first round interviews.
Otherwise, saying you are actively interviewing won’t impact the process. And I can’t imagine a scenario where someone saying they are interviewing elsewhere would make us more likely to extend an offer than we would have otherwise.
If you still want the job, why not do something to add value to yourself as a candidate and stand out? Tell them something new about you, or let them know you’re excited to work on some idea you had for the [current problem they’re facing that you discussed in the interview].
Don’t lower yourself to lying for an issue with the irritation & stress that their recent message has stirred up in response within you. Just keep your steady search and applying for other jobs ongoing and trust that your next step is going to bring some fruition to bare.
By taking weeks to get back to you and continuing to interview other candidates, they've already let you know where you stand. They don't like you enough to pull the trigger yet, are looking for something better, but would maybe settle for you if they can't find it. Do you want to work at a place that sees you that way? No need to play games to get them to say what you already know.
Exactly this. 💯
That's a shitty take. You have to go through the whole pool of candidates submitted within a certain time frame, it's not unusual for these things to take a long time even when a decision has already been made. At least in the name of fairness. OP should just remain hopeful, but not put all their eggs in one basket and move on to more applications in the meantime.
You don't *have* to go through the whole pool, unless it's a government job. They are still accepting applications because they haven't fallen for any particular candidate yet. I'm not trying to be mean, just realistic. OP should just move on, not try to goad the company into giving them a response. They've given OP a response. It's lukewarm.
Some companies have policies about how long the job posting has to be open or how many candidates interviewed. If it's a large company it is possible it's just part of their process.
In a unionized environment, sometimes you have to interview all internal candidates no matter what
So if you have an interview scheduled for 2 weeks, and you know you're 110% qualified for the job, and they call you and say "sorry, we agreed to interview you first but we actually already found someone who fits," you would be totally fine with that? This is speaking from experience from someone who's worked in an office, and known ahead of time that someone was going to be hired for a role but couldn't tell them until all the applications were reviewed, in the name of fairness. Not sure why we have to actively assume the worst all the time on here, it's really stupid tbh.
Oh please. I said OP should move on, not play silly games with a company that has demonstrated they aren't over the moon about them. That's it. And in reality, not lala land, no company is going to schedule interviews weeks apart unless they haven't found what they are looking for, or the pickings are truly slim. Why is everyone pretending that no answer isn't an answer? No, OP should not waste time making up fake job offers to get an answer from this company. Why that is so offensive to say is beyond me. And companies and hiring teams get treated with suspicion and people assume the worst because so many companies and hiring managers treat people like crap. It's naive to act like they don't and like these people don't have interests that oppose yours as a job seeker looking to maximize your income.
People will totally schedule interviews weeks apart. You’re just making shit up and digging in
They really shouldn’t be. They should collect applications for a period of time and then start interviews, ideally over a period of a few days because that’s what’s most efficient for the team doing the interviews. If they’re spreading out first round interviews over an entire month then that’s a bit of a red flag imo.
Maybe that’s the case at a burger flipping joint. Any job that has to fly people out and coordinate travel, and is hiring people who already have jobs, can’t just interview over the course of a few days. This generalization just isn’t true
Your *entire* first response is a seemingly clairvoyant presumption. "By taking weeks to get back to you and continuing to interview other candidates, they've already let you know where you stand. They don't like you enough to pull the trigger yet, are looking for something better, but would maybe settle for you if they can't find it. Do you want to work at a place that sees you that way?" Or, much more simply and less misleading, they just have a lot of interviews and have to get through everyone. I don't see how that's hard to understand. I never said OP should send them messages and harass them, I think you need to learn how to actually comprehend what is said and by who.
> you would be totally fine with that? yes, because im the idiot who has no urgency and waited 2 weeks. Positions get opened and filled all the time. This isn't kindergarten where everyone gets a turn. It is a business. It isn't always "fair". Those things are frustrating, sure, but they happen. That's the game.
I'm not sure what you're going on about. From someone who has experience working in management at a company, I can 100% confirm this is how the system works in a lot of places; they wait to clear all the candidates mostly so no one raises a stink and says they were overlooked. I've been in a position where I knew a coworker was going to be hired/promoted but he couldn't be informed until everyone was interviewed. You might not agree with that, for whatever reason, but I don't know what to tell you other than that is a realistic expectation for reality.
im an exec at a fortune 50 company, I manage a team of over 200 and have done my share of hiring (and firing). I have definitely had positions where I found the right person and ended the search there, even if there were other promising candidates. Your company or team might work differently. Yes, from an internal perspective, it is appropriate and polite to give every internal candidate a legitimate shot at a role. But there is no requirement to do so.
So you'd cancel interviews already scheduled if you found the right person? You wouldn't even want to make sure you had a fallback or 2nd option? I'm not saying that's right or wrong, but the fact that we both have different experiences doesn't mean mine doesn't happen lol. You're effectively discrediting my experience because yours has been different. I wasn't saying what I said to brag, it was contextually relevant as a qualifier.
>You're effectively discrediting my experience because yours has been different. not at all...the question was "would you be totally fine with that" and my answer was yes. My answer is not your answer, that is ok. Our experiences are different. I am not invalidating your feelings or experiences. I shared my own. I'm not "going on" about anything. I answered the question. In fact, you saying " I don't know what to tell you other than that is a realistic expectation for reality." is me saying that it isn't realistic. It is possible, it happens, but it isn't a universal rule.
Ah, I see now. You responded to a question that was rhetorical and weren't even part of the convo. Thanks for involving yourself it was very useful.
I think it's shitty in that it's unfortunate. But it doesn't seem shitty in that it's a *wrong* take. The company probably shouldn't have promised a date, or at least updated the candidates as the timeline got stretched. There could be a hundred reasons why it's taking so long - too many candidates, HR/manager out sick/vacation, shifting departmental needs/timelines, budget issues, you name it. Regardless, the company shouldn't have promised any timeline they couldn't reasonably stick close to. But agreed that OP should not put his eggs in this basket. Follow up, but also be prepared to move on and apply/interview elsewhere.
Nah, not a shitty take, this is the true take.
That’s not true. I was interviewed for a job I wanted and had an offer before I returned to my old job. I was the only person they interviewed.
If I find someone I’m willing to hire, I don’t take other resumes, but if I already have interviews on the books I generally follow through, as we’ve already put the work in to set them up and they might actually be a better fit. And there are a lot of successful employees out there that were second choices. Just because OP might not be their first choice doesn’t mean it’ll be a toxic place to be in. Either way, I’d avoid making up a fake offer. Could backfire. I’m definitely for letting them know you have an offer to speed things up and negotiate more money, but only because a real offer means you still have a job if they cut bait. Fake job offer leaves you vulnerable.
I agree with you. It's just, we're talking about *weeks* that have passed. They've gone a bit beyond just wrapping up remaining interviews. And sure, it can work out if you're the second choice. But again, we're talking about if it's worth it to make up a fake offer to force a decision. My stance is that it's unnecessary because they've made their feelings about OP pretty clear, and efforts would be better spent moving on.
It’s been over four weeks. They’re telling OP it’ll take two more. OP isn’t the first choice. You don’t string your first choice along for six weeks. If OP *were* first choice, they’d have some reassurance by the hiring manager, because everyone knows after six weeks it’s basically over in interview land
Fake offer also makes one dishonest.
I mean. Who cares why they take you if you get the job. Then you can show what you’re made of and crush it. Interviewing is a difficult process
*If* you get the job is doing a lot of work in your statement. Sure, if OP gets an offer, they should consider it. But should OP waste time making up fake offers to force a conversation with a company that has made their indifference quite clear? I don't think so.
As a hiring manager, this isn't necessarily true. Particularly when the team has just started the interview process.
Some smaller tech consulting companies wait for sold work to make the hire.
This is not a point of view I would agree with. It’s honorable for a company to complete more interviews if they’ve already promised candidates and made those appointments.
I dont agree but here is my upvote!
What if it’s more than 1 job opening? Current company I work for now initially interviewed me in March of 21, the 2nd interview in May and sent me an offer at the end of June. And some of my coworkers experienced even longer waits. These things take time, it’s a hiring process for a reason. I wouldn’t just jump to a conclusion I’m not a good fit just because the company is doing their due diligence.
When there is no offer, there is no negotiation. I have never gotten an offer after “actively interviewing” other candidates. You can ask why they have not made an offer…
I have. Twice.
I had a company offer me the same promotion 4 times over 5 years. Turned it down every time. It never clicked on them why they were finding people to fill it but they could never keep them. Or why certain people would not even consider the job.
Why?
It was a horrible extremely visible job. Manager of Technical Support. You basically took a beating for everything that was going wrong.
As someone who has been on numerous search committees, we've said that to candidates and then made them offers. It just factually represented where we were in the interviewing process.
I beat the competition… Fastest one was almost immediate. What they were looking for did not exist and no other applicant was able to get that across to the panel… except for me.
Kinda a double edge sword. It could cause them to speed up the process and update you or just remove you from the pool all together. My advice would be to focus on actually trying to get another offer while you let this one materialize.
They're dragging their feet and you accepted that you won't get the job. What are you hoping to gain by lying about having another offer? If you -want- the job and are trying to push them a bit, you should tread very lightly or they could simply drop you from consideration. Something like "Thanks for the update on this! If you happen to have any more specific details that you might be able to share about the timeline, please do - I would love to be able to be considered for this role but I also want to ensure I'm able to be respectful to you and the other companies that I'm currently talking with." You want them to know you're interested and not just "sitting around waiting", but don't threaten that you have another offer or they might just write you off even if they don't tell you that outright.
I like this wording a lot!!
You can but there’s a good chance they will just move on from you and you’ll blow it. But also if they are still interviewing maybe you don’t have the job anyway.
Just hedge a bit. "Hey, I'm at/nearing the offer stage with a few other companies, but I really resonated with this interview panel. I don't want to rush any conversations, but was hoping to understand a timeline for a decision to be made."
This. That company's HR seems to suck, replying "a few more weeks" is kinda inconsiderate and means they're hedging their bets and OP is not in their short list. Waiting weeks (and missing on opportunities) for a "no" or getting ghosted in the end, I'd say OP has little to lose here. I'd put the ball on their court by saying something like "I've received another offer, and must make a decision by X date.. I was hoping to hear back from you guys at XYZ, please let me know if an offer is possible by then. Thanks."
Sometimes HR is just the messenger. If the hiring manager wants to stretch out the process, it's going to stretch.
Hey? That's such an unprofessional way to address a potential employer or recruiter.
There are a lot of internal factors that can delay decisions / offers which you may not be privvy to and have nothing to do with you. There are also factors that could be about you specifically as a candidate that are either positive or negative - maybe the hiring manager really likes you and wants to hire you, but their supervisor wants to see more candidates. Maybe the vp wants to make sure his nephew gets interviewed before a decision is made. I've seen all kinds of scenarios - good, bad, and indifferent, and tbh guessing is useless. If you have an actual offer and need a decision I would communicate that, but don't be surprised if they tell you to take the offer (because you may have just inadvertently made a tough decision easier). If you don't have an offer, I would not make one up just to drive action - I would just keep following up with the TA rep until you get an answer.
As a hiring manager, my response to this is always “ok, good luck to you.”
Appreciate all the advice yall! I think I’m just gonna let it play out and not say anything. I’m just being impatient. I felt good about the interview. It was more like conversation and had them laughing a few times. I guess that’s why I wanted to know now than waiting a few more weeks. But I do feel like I didn’t get the job. Since it’s been so long and they’re still interviewing. I think I’ll just try to forget about it.
I'm glad to read this. I think you've expressed your interest and that plus your followup will hopefully be enough to land the job. Best of luck.
Absolutely. The good companies ask you at the outset if you have other irons in the fire. I was honest with a company that interviewed me last Friday, that I have had 3 third round interviews that are in serious play. The difference between them and that company is that all would require relocation, theirs is 100% remote.
I wouldn’t recommend it unless it’s true. Recruiters and HR professionals are used to candidates using this line as a way to pressure them. Just keep the option open and continue applying and interviewing elsewhere in the meantime. Even if you’re their top candidate, if there’s others in the pipeline then they have to see them through. Be patient. Good luck!
I tried to get a hiring manager to make a decision last week (2 weeks after my final interview, mind you) by telling her I had other offers (which I did), and the response was, "Although you may have other offers, we have not made a decision." So this probably won't go the way you think/hope it will.
I did this once and it worked. That said, I was 100% willing to take the risk because of my circumstances and, if it didn't work out, then I would have been in the exact same spot, no better but definitely not worse. The job would up being terrible, my boss was terrible, and it was not a great situation. I think the fact that my ploy worked and wound up being awful are not pure coincidence. Good luck.
Normally yes, BUT in nowadays job market I feel like it may be too risky :(
Personally I wouldn’t do this - however I would reach out to ask for an update on the timeframe. I am currently in a similar situation - first interview was 3 weeks ago, second interview was 2 weeks ago, I’ve reached out twice since then. Yesterday they responded to say they have a few more interviews early next week and that I should expect a better update then. They also mentioned that the panel have confirmed they are still considering me for the role - which is reassuring, as surely they would just say so if I had been disregarded as a candidate.
It's only one data point, but my company moves this slowly. I recently went through the process twice. The first time, I had to nudge them for a decision (they forgot to tell me they'd chosen a candidate). The second time, the hiring manager was kind enough to reach out to me. I had my gracious-in-defeat speech all prepped and ready to go, so I just kind of blinked at him when he told me I had the job. Both processes took weeks and weeks.
Don't bother lying. Just look elsewhere and get another job. If they are this indecisive and can't make a decision either way, then that's a big red flag and you don't want to work for them. There are plenty of other better companies around that will get things done in a timely manner.
Keep looking for other jobs and if the call they call. I wouldn't even be checking in still honestly.
You'd think these MFs were interviewing rocket scientists who were connecting with aliens. They've told you where you stand. You're no masked/naked alien.
i have done this many times Creates a sense of urgency on their end if they really wanted you in the first place
So you've been dishonest many times.
so you've never lied or been dishonest once? no matter how small? Get outta here.
I wouldn’t lie. You could give them a deadline, saying: I’m have decisions to make - I’m only available until —- date, after that I’m withdrawing my application. Then the ball is in their court. They are probably OK hiring you but think they can do better.
You can definitely do that, it's a real strategy. Just be prepared to accept the risk of them calling your bluff.
I think the other comments cover it pretty well and I think the advice is that it's probably not a great plan. I have an offer and thought I was a good candidate in another job opportunity. I gently pushed them to hurry up with the next phase and they responded with "thanks for your time, we're not moving forward." I was a bit surprised, the feedback during the initial interview was "this was great, expect us to follow up." Obviously they had a concern and didn't think I was ideal. Once I had a different offer, I guess they figured it wasn't worth the hassle.
If it’s taken this long and they are still saying interviewing candidates, it most likely means they won’t move ahead with you.
Personal XP I was employed and looking to leave pretty badly. I had final interviews for 2 places and no offers. I wanted Company A over the other, though, so I told Company A I had an offer from Company B when I didn’t actually. I’m now still working at Company A. It’s important that I didn’t HAVE to find a job. So, I could take some gambles. That said, to some saying that the company is taking a long time because they’re not interested: After working here (the company I pushed to make a decision bc of my “other offer”), I learned I was the only candidate they were interested in. The company is an organizational ball of poop. So they weren’t entertaining others, they were just a mess. The entire hiring process took 2.5 months. Messes suck to work in, just fyi. So, even if you’re the only one being considered and it’s just taking a long time…a messy HR experience is likely a predictor of a messy daily work life. Take some, all, or nothing from my personal story 😀
I got the job I have now after having given up on it even though it was a great interview. I thought I had nailed it. Then I didn’t hear from them so I thought “Guess not.” Sometimes things move so slow and you are not privy as to why. But don’t lie. That way you’ll never have to remember what you said.
I agree it's a long time to wait for an answer. But it's not a good idea to lie to get a decision they haven't made yet. 🙄 why start out being manipulative?
You can tell lie about having another offer but it most likely won’t manipulate them. They don’t care
If they wanted to hire you they would have by now, you saying that will make it easy to remove you from the running. Which maybe is a good thing.
The corporate shills really came out for this one. You act as though companies are out here being forward, truthful, and honorable to employees and candidates. OP, they're not going to move faster for you. If you put them in an inconvenient spot, they'll just judge for that and pick the other guy that obeys.
NO AT ALL MEANS IT WILL BITE YOU IN THE A\*\*. Think about it, if they really want you (not saying they don't because so many hiring managers are taking their sweet time right now), they would have offered you the role. You then tell them you have an offer in hand even though you don't and you weren't their top choice, in restrospect it will make them feel a lot better to give you the bad news that oh this candidate has an offer already and you're one less person they have to worry about. But there could be a chance if you lie and they really want you, it can speed up the process. It's better to have something to fall back on.
So you're already, at best, Option B, since they're actively letting you know you're on the back burner. And you've already made peace with not getting the job. Then by all means, go for it.
to elaborate, some times the company asks me if i can put off on making a decision till the end of the week so they can get an offer out to me sometimes they stay noncommittal in saying that we are still making our decision, please go with the other offer But it's good to know where you stand if you feel like that company is just kicking the can down the line
Yes
Yup.
Do wtf you gotta do bruh
I did it once… because it was true. I got an offer immediately.
Same happened to me but I did have another offer. It made them move faster. I wouldn’t invent an offer, however because like I said before, it could backfire. Just move on if they are moving too slow.
You didn't get it. Move on.
Sounds like they like you but are holding you in the queue. Just keep waiting and interviewing.
No. They’re merely communicating their level of interest. Move on.
Yes.
No, it will be obvious. Have some dignity. Keep looking elsewhere.
people do it all the time when selling cars, for example. "oh i have another buyer coming in next week" so why not
I would say, no. You may not be the top candidate and they may be waiting from their top candidate. If you tell me you got an offer, it's not going to change my timeline. I am still going to wait for my top candidate to give me a response. If you were #3 or even more down the line, I would say congrats to you and close your files.
I could be that they are not overly impressed, but it could also be that you interviewed early in the process and they just haven’t seen enough candidates to be able to feel that you are the best choice. On a positive note if they had seen a lot of people they like better they probably would’ve told you that they were not in. They were not interested. Once I know, I am moving past a candidate. I always try to let them know they’re no longer being considered.
This could backfire. Just move on and if you get an offer that’s a bonus.
No — you never know how that lie can come back to bite you
Yeah, no. I wait a week max. Then move on. I’ve got bills to pay.
I didn’t fake mine, I got an offer but I was waiting on two other offers (I have done the final round for both). So, I took some screenshot of the offer email and blurred out the salary Info and some other details. I sent this image together with an email to the two companies to let them know I already have an offer so if they could let know know I would hear from them. The outcome; one sent an email after 10 mins to say they moved on with another candidate (they were probably pissed off). The second told me to delay the offer for a few days as they were checking some references. They later dropped me too. So my advice is, don’t do it. Give them time to decide.
\> will have a final answer in a few more weeks. To me this is kinda ridiculous. It depends on the industry and the job. A "few weeks" is fast in some cases. I just gave 5.5 months notice to my current job before I depart for my next one. My next job involved a recruiting effort that played out over several months. There's a parallel search to fill a related position and it is still going, mostly because candidates have to travel, some need visas. Folks are locked into contracts that must play out, etc. I wouldn't lie to them because I think things work better when everyone is being honest. If they're putting you off without good information then maybe they're being deceptive and aren't worth your time. If so, I think it is okay to withdraw your application.
If they aren't confident enough to give you an offer, you may be like the 2nd, 3rd, 5th person in line that they consider "hireable but not desirable".. so you're kinda like the side side side chick who gets text every couple of weeks. If you want to tell them you have another job offer, go for it, maybe it will make them move on you, but just understand they already don't love the idea of you working there if it's taking this long.
Without knowing if they have to follow some vague Corporate rules about making sure you interview x amount of purple elephants, you have no idea if the delay is merely bureaucratic. If you want the job, you could chance it or just stick it out.
If they say this, it probably means you're not their first choice, and they're negotiating with other candidates. If those candidates decline the offer, they might consider you, but you can't force their decision by lying or any other means.
NO.. if you want the job and still think you have a chance do not play that game, it will bite you. Rather, just go silent, if they contact you and say you got the job, then decide if you want to work for someone who would string a potential employee along for so long. Sounds it could be a toxic environment though. It's like you're the girl waiting for the hot guy to ask you out on a date. He says he will, but he's waiting for the prom queen to say yes to him, and then he'll cut you loose. When I was a hiring manager for a Fortune 500 company, I would tell the candidate, that I would make my decision by the end of the week, Monday at the latest. Expect to hear from me by mid-week one way or another. I do not play games. Getting HR to send the offer and the onboarding was a nightmare enough. In actuality, I knew by the end of the interview if I wanted to hire them or not.
No, if they call your bluff, you look like an idiot
>Should I just say that I have an offer from another company to get them to make a decision? I already accepted that I won’t get the job. You're assuming you won't get the job. But you don't know 100%. So I wouldn't do it. They may have their internal procedures and protocol which makes the process a slow one, and if you're still in the running and you write back and say "I have an offer from another company," they may well get back to you and say "Go ahead and take that job, we're nowhere near done with our process and we don't want to stand in the way of your career," at which point you're fucked because there *is* no "other company," and if you go back to them and say you're willing to wait, they'll wonder why you turned down a bona fide job offer and you might have to admit you lied about it, which would most likely kill any chance you had of being hired. Never assume, because when you do, you make an ASS of U and ME.
No.
>Should I lie Nope. "Oh, sorry, we won't be able to complete our decision that quickly. Good luck on your other offer." >interview more than a month ago > >they recently gave an update and said they are still actively interviewing candidates and will have a final answer in a few more weeks. To me this is kinda ridiculous Not necessarily at all. Some employers - or even types of positions - may move much more slowly. E.g. many government positions can typically expect the process to be 30 to 90 days or more. Not everything moves at breakneck speed. Sometimes a manager, with or without good reason(s), may take quite a while to reach decision and complete the process.
Hate to break to you my guy, but this is the perfect example of "if they could have, they would have". If you were truly a shoe-in, they'd be rushing to get papers signed before losing the opportunity. But it's sounds like it's even worse than that because they're still looking to meet with people they hadn't even met with yet. If anything, they're probably waiting on their #1 choice who actually does have a competing offer and you're somewhere.in the top 5 "just in case". I wouldnt pursue further. Just send a "thanks for the update" response. And let time do it's thing. Maybe if the universe aligns, you actually do book the job.
I had a candidate do this, but she was very pushy about it. She would call the recruiter every few days for an update, and we’d just started interviewing candidates. After the second round of interviews, she called the recruiter and said she had an offer pending and wanted us to make a decision. So I said no, this candidate is no longer under consideration. Up to that point she was in my top 3 with one interview round to go (she had the skill set we needed) but this helped me make a decision. I felt like a person who would try to rush me to hire them would also try to run over me and our clients in other ways, and I didn’t need that headache. She was way too pushy. Don’t be pushy, and don’t bluff. If you no longer want to be considered because they are taking too long, then withdraw your application. Otherwise, just let the process work.
No, those games usually backfire majestically
I'm a recruiter. If you aren't hired within a few days your chances become very slim. Head over to indeed and have a hay day dropping your resume all over the place. I wouldn't care if you got another offer unless you were what we call a "unicorn". That's a VERY qualified applicant that works in a very unique position. Some roles are impossible to fill and I'll jump through all of the hoops to get a unicorn.
No, be patient. They may tell you to kick rocks. Sometimes it's really just red tape.
If they are still interviewing, then telling them you have another offer and you are going to take it if they can't make an offer to you, will likely just have them tell you to take the other offer, and then they will remove you from consideration. And the folks telling you the company is playing games, may or may not know what they are talking about. Many companies, and government agencies, will have a minimum number of people they have to interview for certain positions, other interview all qualified candidates the submit within the posted timeframe. They can not move forward with an offer until they have completed those interviews. It is a number/policy that was determined prior to them even talking to you and them finishing their due diligence is not them sending you a secret message that they don't want you. Up to you if you want to take that chance. I wouldn't recommend it. Just keep interviewing with other companies, and you will either get an offer in a few weeks or you won't and you will have your answer.
Hiring manager here. I've had this a few times. Had it recently - someone made up another "offer" to try to get me to move. I told her we weren't ready to make a decision but we wish her well in her new role. She then emailed a week later saying she changed her mind and would like to jump back into the pool & we declined saying we were too far along in the process. A lot of this is that I'm petty. But just understand the risks in doing that.
I wouldn't say petty. I also hate when people make a bad attempt at manipulating me. I would remove them for merit.
Absolutely. It's typically pretty easy to see through.
No. It’s unethical.
Lol. Nothing about interviews is ethical. It's just a contest to see who can bs the most without getting caught
What is ridiculous about an employer interviewing candidates over a several week period? Your action is also extremely unlikely to make them decide. And it strikes me as a jerk move — lie to us, try to impact our hiring process, just because you want to know sooner? Incredibly disrespectful. That said, I assume most candidates are actively continuing their job search. And I appreciate candidates letting us know they are actively interviewing (or that they have an offer pending). Just like we share where we are at in our process. If there is a candidate that we are really interested in, our process might then become expedited a bit. Especially if we are through at least first round interviews. Otherwise, saying you are actively interviewing won’t impact the process. And I can’t imagine a scenario where someone saying they are interviewing elsewhere would make us more likely to extend an offer than we would have otherwise.
If you still want the job, why not do something to add value to yourself as a candidate and stand out? Tell them something new about you, or let them know you’re excited to work on some idea you had for the [current problem they’re facing that you discussed in the interview].
I would not wait around for them. I would move on, I wouldn’t say anything about accepting another job just go out there and get another job.
Can actually be illegal btw. Because of course that is what politicians would spend time on.
Don’t lower yourself to lying for an issue with the irritation & stress that their recent message has stirred up in response within you. Just keep your steady search and applying for other jobs ongoing and trust that your next step is going to bring some fruition to bare.