The number one thing that job seekers find the most frustrating when interviewing for jobs is not hearing anything back from the hiring manager. It’s hard enough to not be offered a position, but to not even hear back if you did or did not get the job is just plain old aggravating! So why do some employers not follow up with you after an interview and what can you do in response?
1) They’re Still Interviewing/Negotiating Other Candidates
Sometimes, it’s hard to see the whole picture behind the company’s door. A lot of the time they simply haven’t finished interviewing other candidates or they haven’t negotiated the positions job duties. Unfortunately, waiting to hear back in this situation can mean they haven’t found the person they want to fill this role yet, so they are still looking for the right hire. In this situation you may want to follow up with the manager and see exactly what they may be looking for in this role and find out if it really was the wrong position for you in the end.
2) The Position Has Been Eliminated or Put on Hold
Sometimes, during the interview process the position becomes obsolete and therefore they don’t need to hire someone anymore. This can occur due to budget issues, project time lines, or a reassessment of the department and their need for a new hire. If a position is put on hold, they will eventually reopen it to interviews, which is why it is very important to stay active with the company. Stay on their minds every now and then by sending an email or calling to follow up. Don’t be pushy because you may appear desperate or overeager; therefore a non-desirable candidate.
3) They’re Just Not Interested
Unfortunately sometimes another candidate is more desired to fill their position than you may have been but that doesn’t mean it’s the end. You could have been a close second and you never know what may happen with that new hire. Keep in touch every so often with the manager to see how the job is going or if the department is growing and may need to hire again in the future. You want to be the first person they think of when and if the time comes.
4) They Are Afraid of Legal Issues That May Arise
There is a discrimination act in place for a reason. You can’t fire or not hire someone based on age, race, gender, disabilities, or sexual orientation. With the age of lawsuits amongst us, employers are sometimes afraid to disclose why they didn’t hire you for the position. They didn’t necessarily discriminate however, they just could be afraid that you may want to fight a reason they decided as to why they didn’t hire you. In this situation there isn’t much you can do to learn how to improve in areas they may have found weakness, but try and follow up by letting them know that you only want a reason to help improve your next interview.
5) They Chicken Out or They’re Just Plain Rude
Some people hate confrontation, and when it’s a negative situation they tend to run away from it. It’s common that a hiring manager just doesn’t want to tell you that you didn’t get the job in order to avoid conflict. It’s also common that at the end of the day, they are just rude and don’t think they need to respond after a job interview.
