For job seekers, waiting to hear back after an interview can feel endless. How long should it take for a company to get back to you? Should you assume you didn't get the job? Is the company ghosting you? What should you do while you wait? It's easy to start to replay every detail of the job interview in your mind and wonder what you did wrong. However, the truth is that there are numerous factors that affect a company's decision, as well as how long it will take them to get back to you. Although there isn't much you can do to speed up the process, understanding some of the reasons for the delay and when you should follow up will help you determine the best way to move forward in your job search.
How Long Should It Take?
How long it will take to hear back about a job opening will vary, but in general, you should be updated within a couple of weeks. If you had a phone interview or you are waiting to hear if you qualified for a second or third interview, you are more likely to hear back within a few days since the hiring company needs to schedule the next stage of the interview process. If you are waiting to hear back on a final interview, it could be one week or longer before you receive an update.
Unfortunately, the average time to hire can vary for every company and every position. That means there is no set answer to how long it will take a company to follow up if they are interested in you. Some companies may take several weeks to make a decision, and certain positions, such as senior management roles, often take longer to fill. Of course, this can be extremely frustrating, especially if you were excited about the job. Before you assume the worst, remember that there are many reasons the company might not be getting back to you.
Why Is It Taking So Long? Are You Being Ghosted?
Before you leave the interview, you should always ask about the next steps in the process. Will there be another round of interviews? What is the expected timeline for filling this position? How soon will they let you know their decision? The answers you get to these questions will help you gauge what is "too long" when you're waiting to hear back. If the hiring manager told you it would take two weeks to get a response, don't start worrying after only a few days. On the other hand, if it's been significantly longer than the timeline they gave you, you can probably assume it's time to move on. If you forgot to ask about next steps at the end of your interview, don't worry. You can still include the question in your thank you email.
Hints from the Hiring Manager
The way the hiring manager closes the interview may also give you insight into whether you are likely to get the job. The unfortunate truth is that ghosting is not uncommon, both on the candidate side and the employer side. If the interviewer is vague about when you can expect to hear from them or makes comments about there being a lot more candidates to interview, they may be hinting that they've already decided you're not the best fit for the job. In that case, don't be surprised if you don't get a timely response. They may indeed be ghosting you or they might plan to send out a generic rejection email once the hiring process is concluded.
On the other hand, if the hiring manager was detailed in their explanation of the next steps and seemed genuinely excited about the possibility of you joining their team, they might just be taking a little longer than expected to make a decision. The following are a few reasons why you may experience a delay in hearing back after a job interview.
They Have a Long Hiring Process or They're Just Disorganized
Unfortunately, not every company has an efficient hiring process. The hiring manager may be inexperienced or indecisive, or they may have to coordinate with several people before a decision can be made. Even if you have been selected, job offers take time to prepare, especially if multiple departments are involved. If the company is large or if the position requires multiple rounds of interviews, it could be several weeks before you hear anything.
They're Waiting on a Decision Maker
There may be multiple people who need to sign off on a hiring decision, each of whom has their own schedules and priorities. They may be having trouble coming to a decision, or the hiring manager may be waiting on someone who is particularly busy, on vacation, or just hard to get in touch with. The more people are involved in the decision, the longer it will take.
They're Waiting on Another Candidate
The company may consider you a strong candidate, but they've interviewed someone else who they think will be a better fit for the job. They want to offer the position to their top candidate first, but they are reluctant to give you a definite answer until they hear back from the other candidate. Then, if the other candidate rejects the job, they can still extend an offer to you.
They Have More Pressing Issues
Business needs and priorities can change quickly and without warning. The hiring manager may be busy with other projects and unable to give their full attention to the hiring process. A problem may have come up that needs immediate attention, or budget issues may be causing them to rethink the allocation of funds. Or a different project or position may have taken precedence. In that case, they may be unwilling to give candidates feedback until they have time to focus on the position again.
The Job Opening Has Changed or Was Put on Hold
Even if you had a great interview and the hiring manager seemed interested in bringing you on, the company may have decided to put the position on hold, whether for financial reasons or because something else became a higher priority. Or there could have been a restructuring and the original job description has been changed. In that case, you may no longer be a good fit for the new job. Alternately, they may have decided to fill the role internally or to combine it with an existing role so they don't need to hire anyone. You have no way of knowing the internal situation, so don't take it personally if you don't hear back.
They're Not Sure They Need the Position
The company may have changed their mind about hiring. They could be trying to see if they can get by with their current staff or they may be considering other options, such as outsourcing or automating the position. In these cases, the hiring manager may be taking their time to see if they really need to fill the role.
They've Hired Someone Else
Of course, the simplest reason is sometimes correct, which is that the company extended an offer to someone else and you simply didn't get the job. If there were a lot of other candidates, the HR department may not respond to everyone, or may not respond in a timely manner. Some entities, such as government-funded roles, may be required to publicly post vacancies, even if they already have someone in mind for the job. In this case, the interview process may just be a formality and the job will be filled internally or with an employee referral. Or it could be that this just wasn't the right fit.
Although ideally hiring managers will make time to update candidates, this is not always the case. Keep in mind that many of the potential reasons behind a delay or lack of communication do not reflect on you and your qualifications for the job. While it is frustrating to not hear feedback after a job interview, take it in stride and remember that it is not personal.
When Should You Follow Up?
If the hiring manager gave you an estimated time frame, wait until that has expired before you ask for an update. If you don't hear back in a few business days, it's alright to send another brief follow-up email or LinkedIn message asking if there is any news about the position and repeating your interest in joining their team. If you're still hearing crickets, it's probably time to assume you're being ghosted and move on. Repeated phone calls and emails to human resources will make you seem desperate, pushy, and annoying, which will leave a bad impression and decrease your chances of getting the job if they are still considering you. Besides, you don't want to waste your time waiting for a job that's not going to happen. The hiring manager may not have the time or inclination to respond to everyone who interviewed, especially if it's been several weeks or longer. Don't take it personally; it's just the way the hiring process works sometimes. The best thing you can do is move on and focus on your job search.
What Should You Do While You Wait to Hear Back?
Don't just wait around hoping to hear back on a job offer. Stay positive and keep looking for other job opportunities. It's always good to have options, even if the job you interviewed for seems like your dream job or you think there were strong indications that you were going to be offered the position. You have no way of knowing what's going on behind the scenes at the hiring company, so don't stop your job search. Other candidates may have interviewed who had better qualifications for the role, or the company may have changed the job title and responsibilities. Or the company's financial position may have changed and they no longer have the budget to hire. Even if the offer does come in, it may not include the salary or the benefits that you are looking for. You don't want to be waiting around for an offer that never comes or turns out to not be what you want. And if you do get an offer, you will be in a better position to negotiate if the company knows you have other prospects.
Playing the waiting game is never easy, especially after interviewing for a job you thought was a great fit. Remember to ask during the interview how long it will take to get a response so you know what to expect. If you don't hear back from the company in a timely manner, reach out and ask for an update. If you're still being met with silence after a few weeks, assume that you've been ghosted and move on. Don't waste your time waiting for a job that's not going to happen, and don't get caught up in overanalyzing every aspect of the interview. The best thing you can do is focus on your job search and keep moving forward.
