Response from Interviewer After Final Interview
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
I just had a final round interview for an in-house counsel position on Monday. The interview went well - it was supposed to last an hour and it lasted an hour and a half. He said he was meeting with a few other candidates on Tuesday, and wanted to make a decision quickly. Later that night the interviewer emailed me and asked me to send a writing sample. I sent it last night. Today he responded to me thanking me, and said it was great to meet me, and that he would "try to be in touch next week." What should I think about this? I think its a bad sign since he said they want to fill the position quickly. I think they offered it to someone else, and will get in touch with me after everything is worked out with HR and the candidate accepts the offer.
Thoughts? Yes I know I'm probably overthinking this. =) |
Anonymous
|
OP, take it easy. Just because you responded immediately with a writing sample, doesn't mean all the candidates did.
It's also a short week before the 4th of July weekend -- for all you know, your interviewer is leaving town tonight for an extended weekend. To me, next week would still qualify as hiring "quickly." I do understand the anxiety, but I don't think it necessarily means they're hiring someone else. |
Anonymous
| they may also have another interview or two scheduled which they feel they need to complete, even if you are a clear front runner - hard as it is, you need to hold tight and enjoy the holiday weekend |
Anonymous
|
It's hard to say. Sometimes things take longer than anticipated. Maybe they hoped to finish up the interviews and put out an offer but got snagged up with something. Or maybe they are offering it to someone else first but want you as a back-up if they don't accept the position.
Don't think too negatively! Good luck! |
Anonymous
| You're totally overthinking this. Everyone's on vacation for 7/4. Nothing's moving this week. |
Anonymous
| OP Here - I still haven't heard about the job. =( BOOOO!!! Now I really think they offered it to someone else. |
Anonymous
|
OP Here again --
I still haven't heard anything from the Company. (I interviewed last Monday, they asked me to send a writing sample on Tuesday, I sent it Wednesday). One thing that I thought was weird was that the interviewer asked if I have kids. We were just talking about non-work related things, so I get how it came up, but I have one 14 month old so I'm concerned it may have factored into the decision on whether to hire me. He also followed it up and asked about how I have day care covered. He also made a comment that his wife stopped working after they had two kids. I thought that was inappropriate and sexist. I seriously doubt he would have brought up his wife choosing to be a SAHM if he was interviewing a man. It made me feel that he said it because he was wondering if I would stop working if I have another kid. I didn't address it or make any comment like "yeah I have no intention to stop working." Are questions over whether you have kids illegal? |
Anonymous
| And this guy is a lawyer? He should not have been asking about your children. It's not illegal in and of itself, but it can serve as evidence of sex discrimination, which is why it's baffling that he brought it up. |
Anonymous
And you're applying for an in-house counsel job? |
Anonymous
No need to be rude! I'm a regulatory attorney, I have zero knowledge of employment law. Its my general understanding that it is not illegal to ask whether you have kids but that's all I know. |
Anonymous
|
I am not an employment lawyer, but I do a lot of hiring. We are instructed by HR not to ask any personal/non-work related questions - marital status, kids, national origin etc. My understanding is that it is not illegal to ask. What is illegal is using that info to make a hiring decision. Most places don't want to create any appearance of an issue, though, that's why it is safer not to bring it up at all.
That said, OP, I think it's way too early to write this job off. It hasn't even been a week since you sent the writing sample. Considering that it's summer and last week being a holiday week, that would be an incredibly short turnaround time. And if anything, I would look at the fact that they had a follow up request as a positive sign. Had they written you off based on the interview, I doubt they would be bothering with a writing sample. I know waiting is hard, especially for a job you really want . Good luck! |
Anonymous
| Having been through this - your hunch is correct and they offered it to someone else and re waiting to see what they say before finalizing things with you. I am an attorney and whenever I have landed a job, its been within 6-48 hours after the interview... anytime you go beyond a 72 hr time frame they are playing their field. Sorry girl. |
Anonymous
| PP, you're clearly an attorney, not and HR person or statistician. You sample size is relatively small, and hiring practices among organizations can vary enormously. |
Anonymous
| In my experience, every time they say they need to make a decision asap and will get back to me right away they don't. Sometimes I've gotten the job and sometimes not. |
Anonymous
|
"try to get back to me next week" suggests that it may be this week, and it may be the next week. Or even after that. The hiring process has all sorts of places where it can get hung up, whether it's on the hiring manager's side (getting side tracked with work) or on the HR side (delay in preparing an offer or reviewing references), so you really can't second guess all that. It's still really early to write this off.
You could always follow up with a short email to the tune of "I sent in the requested writing sample last week and want to confirm you received it and do not require anything further on my end. I remain very interested in the position and look forward to hearing back from you ..." but that seems a little desperate so soon after. I'd give it at least another week. |