Hiring Manager Say "Call Me Back if You Don't Hear from Me by Next Friday", but I Got Afraid on Friday and Didn't Call Back

• 

  ChunkyToast on 17/07/2020 - 14:59

  +8

  Understand your nervousness but you should really have picked up the phone and called the person (assuming you really wanted the job).

  I have done this twice myself, once I was given the offer (rejected as another better option was made available) and the other time I did not make it through.

• 

  kanmen on 17/07/2020 - 15:00

  +15

  You won't be blacklisted for not following up I think, but it only goes in your favour if you call up to follow up.

  Do it now, you have nothing to lose. Even if they've hired someone else, let's say they eventually decline like over the next few days then you're in the minds of the recruiters for when they look for a new candidate.

  It was probably a bit of both from their end- checking if you're proactive and it also maybe not being high on their list overrall of things they need to do. Job searching is daunting af, but in this climate of a lack of jobs you have to do things you wouldn't usually do to stand out and show how keen you are if you really want this job.

  • 

    spackbace on 17/07/2020 - 16:14

    Anyways, on Tuesday I tried to contact the manager and it went into her mail box and haven't heard anything since

• 

  pinchies on 17/07/2020 - 15:11

  +8

  Job searching is like public speaking — it's scary for everybody, the more you do it, the more confident you get, and the easier you'll find it. Worth following up even if you don't think you'll be offered. You never know what can come of things - and this is especially true with job applications. Best of luck.

• 

  jelko on 17/07/2020 - 15:20

  You blew it. Do what you say you're going to do next time.

• 

  BeoWulf on 17/07/2020 - 15:28

  +1

  From my experience talking with a HR director who has worked at a few major financial companies (I'm talking about the biggest IB, BB firms in the world), if they gave the chance for the interview then they must like you. They have a busy schedule and generally wish to hire the best candidate at the end interview and do get tired after a long day of consecutive interviews. You should had called them back since they would have probably had you fresh in their memory.

• 

  Carrera1963 on 17/07/2020 - 15:48

  +3

  If the talent acquisition manager is too busy to call back a candidate they want to hire, maybe the company should get a new TA…

  • 

    CheapandUsed on 17/07/2020 - 17:31

    This is why I think it might have been part of a test. Ensuring candidates follow-up when asked, although would also seem to be a bit of a mind game.

    Talent acquisition is there to be the conduit between hiring manager and talent (hence their title). For them to not have called after an interview is very strange, unless that was the test.

• 

  theHMASfriendship on 17/07/2020 - 15:56

  +1

  Give them a call.

  Good luck!

• 

  [Deactivated] on 17/07/2020 - 16:15

  +2

  My question is, was this a test to see my pro-activeness…?

  Could be.

  …or are they genuinely busy?

  Could be.

  Either way, if you can be bothered calling, they can only assume you are not interested and/or not capable.

• 

  bluesky on 17/07/2020 - 16:23

  +3

  I had a massive sense of fear/nervousness calling her …

  This is understandable, you were afraid of rejection … in future, just before calling, tell yourself that it is a rejection, and why that is perfectly OK. In life, you cannot expect success at every turn. That way, you will not feel so nervous and fearful about calling.

  There are benefits in calling because a talent scout is always trying to connect talent with employers. So even if you are unsuccessful in one interview, calling means you are prompting the person to think of other opportunities that could be suitable for you.

  Having said that, don't think too much about what has happened, and just call back. If you are by far the successful applicant, there is no way she would not have called, since she is representing the interest of the prospective employer (and also benefitting from it). It is only if it were a borderline case, where there are more than one equally-placed candidate, that you might have lost out by not calling.

  • 

    bluesky on 17/07/2020 - 17:57

    Also, as pointed out by others, they may still be considering and have not reached a decision.

• 

  rambao9 on 17/07/2020 - 17:08

  It's very likely, the department manager / team is having difficulties choosing the person and secondly just too busy to actually finalize the selection. I wouldn't worry too much. If you got that far in the interview, it's either gonna be you or someone else and they will notify you when they hear back.

  Sit tight, don't worry and keep applying for other jobs! Don't even sweat on this one until they offer you the contract.

• 

  trustnoone on 17/07/2020 - 17:49

  I know we don't live in a world where people can be choosey to pick a job, but personally I wouldn't see this as a test, and I'd be wary of anyone who would do it as a test. I think its fine to give it a few days, honestly think its a better play as it gives more time for them to do whatever they felt made it busy.

  You said you were afraid on the Friday though, I'm no doctor or anything but I do wonder whether you have anxiety issues? Might be worth talking to someone?

• 

  Seraphin7 on 17/07/2020 - 19:40

  -2

  Idk, job searching is really scary

  Wait until you're presented with a non-negotiable boss and unrealistic deadlines.

  Maybe working just isn't for you.

• 

  Baysew on 17/07/2020 - 21:04

  +1

  Your opinion, KFC's Hot and Spicy Is Neither Hot or Spicy may have sullied your chances at landing the KFC job.

  • 

    Yarborough on 19/07/2020 - 14:18

    Agreed, that KFC post was friggin' meaningless. OP is bad.

• 

  Melb69 on 18/07/2020 - 06:33

  To me I find it odd they would say that to you. You still should have called. I think they are inundated with lots of applicants.

  • 

    canberrascooter on 18/07/2020 - 12:49

    why would they do that tho? isn't it a common knowledge?

    • 

      bluesky on 18/07/2020 - 18:48

      why would they do that tho?

      I take it you are wondering why the TA asked you to call if you did not hear back … and that she might forget due to tight schedule?

      Well, one reason could be what I mentioned before - to consider you for other opportunities in case you are not selected for the position you interviewed for. (I am assuming a talent scout who works with multiple enterprises). It is to the TA's interest to successfully place a candidate with an employer, any employer. Sure, the TA could initiate the call, but it is just more efficient for the TA if you do the calling, in that case.

      Note that the low-hanging fruit for the TA is telling a candidate s/he is successful. On the other hand, considering alternative opportunities existing at the time for a candidate who is unsuccessful is medium-hanging fruit, therefore a slightly lower priority, since it has to start with a new role again.

      • 

        canberrascooter on 18/07/2020 - 19:07

        no, she is not a recruitment agent, she is in house TA that works for the company I applied for.

        • 

          bluesky on 18/07/2020 - 19:36

          @canberrascooter: The motivation is the same. The proper thing would be to contact each and every candidate, to thank them for their time, irrespective of whether they are successful or not. But perhaps she considers informing all candidates a lower priority. So she gave the excuse, just in case.

        • 

          [Deactivated] on 18/07/2020 - 20:10

          @canberrascooter: A lot of companies are dealing with financial year end could just be a busy period for this company. You won’t lose anything by picking up the phone and asking to follow up on your application, it’s nothing to be scared about shows proactiveness. Doing it a day late is way better than not doing it at all you could just say you didn’t want to chase them too early at a busy time for them.