To Interview or not Interview?

Question

So i recently sent my resume to a company for a new position. I get a call a few days later from a HR person saying that they are interested in me and would like to schedule an appointment. I tell them that I am free to come in anytime and the person tells me that she would get back to me while she checked with the senior manager's schedules.

A week goes by and I hear nothing. At the end of that week, I decide to give the HR person a call. She tells me that she is still waiting on the managers to schedule that interview and that she "hasn't forgotten about me".

Its almost the middle of the second week and I have not heard anything else since last Friday. Now granted, this is a giant corporation that has thousands of employees and it is summer vacation season...but what do you think is really going on here?

Am I being led around? put on the shelf as backup? Did they change their mind? What should I do?

thanks!

Answer 1

I think you are on the shelf as backup. Assume nothing will happen and pursue other opportunities. I was an executive secretary and it doesn't take that damn long to schedule an appointment.

Answer 2

I'm inclined to believe her story. Large companies can have a lots of "red tape" in the hiring process as well as the manager may really be busy. Unless they tell you not to call, I'd continue to call weekly. Take a "I don't want to rush your decision but want to remind you I am interested approach."

Most large companies will send "Thank you for interest. We have selected another candidate at this time." form letters when they're no longer interested. If your friendly calls don't result in one of those, your still in the running.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Keep looking.
Good Luck!

Karen C, next answer, made a good point, a short follow up letter might help. Also don't forget when you do get an interview follow it with a thank you letter. Make it a short note highlighting a point or 2 in the interview and why you would be best for the position. Thank you letters have a way of bringing your resume to the top of the stack. Also never forget the power of the secretary! Make a good impression with them! They often can make a difference as to where your resume gets filed (top of the stack or file "W") or if your call gets through.

Answer 3

So much stuff goes on behind the scenes that it's hard to tell what's going on. We're hiring where I work and one of the interviewers suddenly went to the hospital. People who made it to the second round are calling me, asking about the interview, and I can't tell them what's going on because the guy in the hospital doesn't want anyone to know he's in there.

So - I wouldn't give up on them, I'd just give a casual call every week or so. The HR lady is still calling you back, which leads me to believe the job is still available. If they weren't interested in you, she would likely just not return your calls.

The interview process can take a really long time and it's frustrating. But keep calling and hopefully you'll get that interview! Julie

Answer 4

Hi. Don't feel too bad about the situation. I've had the same thing happen to me with a number of big companies. Every time I attempted with follow up calls, I would only get the voice email of the HR manager. I left several messages and sent out emails, but did not hear anything back.

I think the best thing to do is to keep on applying and sending out resumes, and eventually something good is going to happen.

Answer 5

They might be freeing up some positions, letting a few people go. Sounds like you are on the back burner though.
I would send my resume out to a few other companies. Before you accept any other offers, give them a call and let them know you are still interested in working with them but have other offers lined up. If they are serious they will schedule you in immediately. Or just move on.

Good Luck.

Answer 6

It's really impossible to tell. There could be lots of reasons. It may be because it's the holiday season. That manager may have gone on vacation or may be extremely busy now that other staff is on vacation. But there is also of course the possibility that you are a back up, that they are interviewing someone else and waiting to see how that goes. I doubt they've changed their mind, they'd just let you know so you could move on. My bet is either vacation or back-up.

I hope you hear something soon. Good luck finding a good job! :)

Answer 7

You've already placed the call thereby expressing continued interest in the position. Now all you can do is wait. Continue to look into other positions and if the other company should finally get around to scheduling something, you can take the interview if you are so inclined.

Answer 8

I think think that they do intend to speak to you, but they do not know when to put you in. This HR person might have called a bit early in their process. Do not put other interveiws on hold and do not sit and wait for their call, but do understand that some compaies do have shortages of management in the summer due to vacations and trade shows and such. It does happen. I do not think they would have called if they did not have a genuine interrest, but she should have had clearance from her higherups to call and schedule lan interview, I mean that was goofy to call and then not call back in a reasonable amount of time. GOOD LUCK

Answer 9

I think the manager is a bit disorganized and has lost track of time elapsed since he got your application. I think you will eventually be scheduled for an interview.

This could be a red flag as to the culture of this company. If they're that rude to applicants, they might not be very considerate of their employees.

Meanwhile, continue looking elsewhere for a job. Don't put all of your hopes into this one.

Good luck to you.

Answer 10

Some corps. do take a long time to get their act together.

I suggest that you continue applying for jobs - don't hang around the phone waiting for her call.

Telephone in a week or so.

This sort of delay would make me wonder what kind of company they are unable to schedule a time for a simple interview.

Good luck.