After the Interview, What is Taking So Long?

If you’re waiting for a call back after a job interview, you know how your stress level can rise each time the phone rings and it’s not the hiring manager offering you the job. You might think that you blew the interview or that your credentials aren't good enough. While that might be true in some cases, the majority of the time, other things are going on that have nothing to do with you.

It’s a tough job market out there, and it actually takes companies longer to make their choices because they have so many applicants. For example, a Washington D.C. Walmart had 600 jobs to offer when they opened, but they received 23,000 applications. In these situations, a call back for a second interview or even a job offer may take a while.

Because there are many great applicants out there, companies want to ensure they’re hiring the best possible candidate. Sometimes that candidate might already be working in a similar position in another company. Many employed people are constantly applying and interviewing for jobs as soon as soon as they become available. They don’t want to wait until they no longer have a job to have a better one lined up.

Another reason why you might be waiting for a call back is that the hiring manager could be working with the human resources department setting up the next round of interviews. This process can take a few days to a few weeks.

Don’t get down on yourself or give up hope. Many things can hold up your anticipated offer. An unexpected change in the company could have cropped up, and they need to put hiring on hold for just a bit until they see how everything will play out. Additionally, there could be higher-ups who are a necessary voice of the hiring process but may be out of town on vacation or business, and this situation could prevent a call back for several weeks.

So, what do you do while you’re waiting for a call back? Keep looking for a job. If you’re currently unemployed and have not received a contract, a job offer, a start date and salary/benefit information, then you are still unemployed. Even if you've had a couple of interviews at your dream company, it is best to keep applying elsewhere and interviewing with other hiring managers. The worst that could happen is that you end up with a few offers.

Sometimes companies do find their candidate and they don’t call people back, even after a great job interview. This is perhaps the biggest reason to keep looking for a job. With so many people vying for the same position, a hiring manager or his assistant may not have the time to call the entire list of applicants.

In the end, remember to send out your post-interview thank-you emails or make the follow-up call. Then, just be patient and hope that the hiring manager gives you a call back. But until that happens, continue to have some patience.

Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net