Anonymous wrote:All, remember one thing, DON"T TAKE IT PERSONALLY. I know, easier said than done but the reality is companies treat people like crap and sometimes you really think, hope someday you get a taste of your own medicine.

And this happens too. I will never forget the disappointment I had 10 years ago when I interviewed for my 'dream' job. I thought I knocked the interview out of the park -- I was told the hiring managers loved me and that I would be getting a formal offer. A week later I called and was told things were stalled but I would get a call very soon with an offer. This went on for several weeks until they just stopped returning my calls and email. I was bitter and upset about it for quite some time. I went on to work for another organization which turned out to be a perfect fit. My industry is small and wouldn't you know over the years I have been on the interviewing panel of 4 of the 5 people I interviewed with at the other company? We actually do provide notification to candidates we decline (I don't care what anyone says, that's just professional courtesy) but I won't say I wasn't tempted to lose their phone numbers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This has happened repeatedly to DH during the past 5 years. The rudeness of companies hiring these days is quite unbelievable. Here's the drill, numerous interviews, lots of interest, no answer and NEVER any formal email and/or phone call to say "sorry, found a better match." It makes me wonder what the heck the HR department does - how much time does it take to do an email back to the final, unselected candidates - regardless of why the person didn't get the job (hiring freeze, inside promotion etc.)

I hate this so much. I've also been jerked around in the past when interviewing. If someone takes the time to come in for an interview, don't they at least deserve a generic 'Thanks, but...' type of letter informing them they weren't hired? Instead, recruiters prefer to lead candidates on and eventually hide from them hoping they'll take a hint. Can someone in HR please tell me why companies do this?

Because they can.

All, remember one thing, DON"T TAKE IT PERSONALLY. I know, easier said than done but the reality is companies treat people like crap and sometimes you really think, hope someday you get a taste of your own medicine.

While I think it's courteous to promptly inform an interviewee of the results of an interview, I don't see evidence of anyone being jerked around. I've had my share of federal and private sector jobs and have been a hiring manager. Depending on your field and qualifications, you are either pursuing a job or are being pursued. Sometimes the process takes a long time for reasons other PPs have noted. In any case, it's an opportunity for the interviewer and interviewee to get to know each other. An interview is an opportunity not just for the job you're interviewing for but for other jobs the organization may have. It's a way to develop a relationship. I've had interviews and communications with a company for almost a year but never was offered a job. Nothing personal about it, they just didn't have a position at the compensation level I required. But, they did pass my resume to another company they were working with on a federal project and I was hired by that company. I was eventually hired by the federal agency but that process took a good 10 months. I was very glad that I maintained a positive relationship with that first company or I wouldn't be in the great position I'm in now. It's all about finding the right fit in the right organization and sometimes that takes a while or just doesnt' happen.

Good luck to your DH!

Update: DH called the company again, and they gave him the same answer--no decision. He asked directly if he is still a candidate, and they said yes. They told him their hiring process takes six months or more. It's a fairly high level job, and DH has not looked for a job for many years, so perhaps this is the new normal. I find the whole thing worrying, but DH wants the job, and doesn't care if he's the second candidate. He wasn't looking for a job, this came along through a friend. He's not upset about the company's behavior, just confused.

I hate this so much. I've also been jerked around in the past when interviewing. If someone takes the time to come in for an interview, don't they at least deserve a generic 'Thanks, but...' type of letter informing them they weren't hired? Instead, recruiters prefer to lead candidates on and eventually hide from them hoping they'll take a hint. Can someone in HR please tell me why companies do this?

I'm guessing you're a younger worker. Your language about being "jerked around" and believing that you've done the company some courtesy by taking the time to come interview with them speaks of a time when companies had to compete for candidates. Depending on your industry, those days, brief as they were, ended in 2002, and companies have not remotely entertained the idea that they have etiquette responsibilities in a long, long time.

You are the job seeker. The beggar. They don't need you. They don't think they owe you 'sorry' emails or explanations or anything. In this day and age, you need to do the work. Send the thank you notes, follow up on the leads, and, don't ever whine about how you were treated.

Trust me, no one likes this climate. Everyone misses the days of consideration and exception. But those days are gone.

I agree he's probably the second choice, and that's ok. That's life. We've got many successful people in our office who weren't our first choice, and the truth is, we probably weren't theirs.

However, it could also simply be that they are too busy to make a final decision, or that there are differences of opinion between upper and lower level management on who is the best candidate, or any number of things that really won't matter once they hire/don't hire your DH.