How To Deal With a Company that Doesn't Get Back After an Interview

"Last Monday, I had an interview for a job that I was told I was on the shortlist for, which I think went pretty well. After the interview, I was told that they'd be in touch with me via email about if I got the job or not within a week. They told me that even if it was a "no", I'd hear from them. 

It's been nearly two weeks and I've still not heard anything. Why would they not get back? It seems so unprofessional!"

I completely understand the frustration this question communicates. Having worked on both sides of the table for so many years, I’ve had a front row seat to just how mad-making the hiring process can be for job seekers. I also see how inefficient processes and a desire to make the right decision can make the candidate selection process agonizingly slow.

I actually work with organizations to help optimize the hiring process and make it more candidate friendly. Here are some tips to help you stay sane and proactive when an organization’s hiring process isn’t optimized or candidate friendly.

Consider that you could be being strung along – First things first, you may not have actually been on the shortlist. In fact, there may not actually be a shortlist yet. In a low-unemployment, job seeker's market, companies need to keep you engaged. That can be difficult when said company's hiring process is painfully protracted, so they need to string you along. 

Remember that you aren't the only one being interviewed – Other candidates are being considered, but that’s not what I’m talking about. While you're being considered for a position, you should also be evaluating the company. The recruiting and hiring process provides some really valuable insights into the internal systems and company culture. Do you feel like the process is slow because the company is trying to make a really smart decision or does it feel like they are just dropping the ball? Has the process so far been organized and respectful to you as a candidate? Does each step of the process feel like a move forward or evidence of a company mired down in bureaucracy?

Don't stop applying – It is not uncommon for people to stop pursuing other opportunities when they feel (or are told) they are on the shortlist. It's a classic job search roadblock. Even when you feel like a potential job is a "sure thing," keep marching forward as if things didn’t pan out. Who knows, you might get another offer that could bolster your negotiating power when you are finally offered that first position!

The job search process can be maddening, but trying to read tea leaves and figure out what a potential employer is thinking and doing just makes it more so. Don't waste valuable energy. Instead, do your best to focus on what you can control.