How much time lapse between completion of interview process and job offer?

[Anonymous]

I am on pins and needles. Over the past month and a half I went through the application process--phone interviews by various HR, flown in for interview, a few other phone interviews, psychological/logic tests, then my references were called last Friday. It is now Friday and I haven't heard and am wondering what is the normal time frame before hearing if you got the job?

[Anonymous]

This kinda sucks, but it can vary widely. However, for most employers, checking references is the last thing they do, and they only do it if they're planning on giving you an offer so long as your references check out (e.g., employment dates confirmed, no red flags).

I interviewed recently with the federal government. I got a call about 2 days after my references were called.

I also interviewed with a very large private company who does tons of hiring. They never checked references, but I was told I completed the hiring process and they were waiting to make a decision once all of the other candidates had. They expected it to take at least a couple of months for the other candidates to complete the process and the hiring committee to make a decision. So in that case, I would have been waiting a LONG while. (But like I said, they hadn't checked references, although they requested them early on.)

[Anonymous]

If they didn't give you a time frame like the PP did, I don't think a call to them would be considered unprofessional. Did they mention having to interview more people, ask you how much notice you would need to give your current employer, discuss salary, etc?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they didn't give you a time frame like the PP did, I don't think a call to them would be considered unprofessional. Did they mention having to interview more people, ask you how much notice you would need to give your current employer, discuss salary, etc?

12:43 here. In the past I've called to ask (usually one to two weeks since talking to them last) and I've never had anyone get annoyed. I've generally call HR, not the people I'll be working with. But that's only if, like PP said, they did not give you a time frame. If they did, I'd wait to call 1-2 days after the time frame has elapsed.

[Anonymous]

Hello, they didn't give me a time frame. But last week they indicated that they wanted to have all my interviews (I had to speak with another executive of the company) wrapped up last week. I also know for a fact one of my references was called, because he let me know afterwards what he said. They did ask me how much time I would need to give my current job and also salary info. (the salary question was early on). And they did not give me a time frame as to when they will make a decision. I seem to have been in contact with them weekly or a few times a week over the past 6 weeks. This is the only week I have not heard anything. Also, I don't know how many other candidates they have. The psych and logic tests I took was through a consulting company and it seemed like it may have cost the company alot to complete.