<p>I interviewed with a biomedical company on july. The interview went good and I really liked the job. When I followed up after not hearing from them in a week and the HR person said I will hear from them in August. When I followed up after not hearing in August the HR person said I will hear from them in September!!! Then last Friday he sent me an email and asked me if I am still in the job market. I replied back saying yes. He said great I will have more updates for you next week. Today is the middle of the week and haven’t heard from him. So what is the purpose of asking if I am still in the job market? Is he planning on offering me a job? Or are they playing more waiting game?
I am kind of confused with their hiring process now. (If it matters the company is pretty large and in fortune 100)</p>
<p>Two months is a long time for a follow-up. I would continue your job search as if you’re not getting the job, but if they provide you an offer while you’re still searching, then all the better. Don’t sit around and wait for them. That kind of wait could be due to budget problems and they held off on filling the position, or they might have extended an offer to someone else that fell through. Or perhaps it is not a high priority position and they are just dragging their feet with it.</p>
<p>I work for a large international food and beverage manufacturer. The hiring process is very drawn out, involving multiple interviews, tests and background checks for both hourly and salaried employee hires. It is not unusual to lose a candidate to another company before an offer can be made. Most departments are chronically short-staffed, including HR. So dont give up, but take NovaLynnx’s advice and dont stop looking at other opportunities. Good luck.</p>
<p>I don’t think they’re trying to mess with you. It sounds like they either have a long hiring process or the process is going on longer than intended for whatever reason. I wouldn’t read too much into them asking if you are still in the job market. It could mean that they are preparing to make someone an offer and want to see if you are still available since it’s been two months. It might be that they are going to make you an offer, or they may be asking everyone that question and may be planning on making an offer to someone else. Or it could mean nothing.</p>
<p>I’d definitely make sure you are still looking and applying to jobs until you have a firm offer in hand. They may make you an offer or they may not. Keep it open as an option, but continue looking for other things.</p>
<p>baktrax, do you think they would ask a bunch of people if they are available and then pick someone from the available pile? Or would they ask one person if they are available and make that person an offer? And if that person is not available go down to the second best person?</p>
<p>I was honestly surprised when he contacted me (without me bugging him lol) and asked me if I am still available. I am new to the permanent hire process so any thoughts are appreciated.</p>
<p>With all due respect auntbea, what you are doing is nitpicking. I will say again, this is a forum post that I wrote sipping a coffee at starbucks and not a college essay or anything wording-wise “important”.</p>
<p>If you have thoughts to offer on my situation I gladly welcome them but please do not be irrelevant. In other words, I am not looking for an english lesson at the moment.</p>
<p>Furthermore, I will not respond to off the subject responses as such since I am looking for thoughts from people with hiring/professional experience.</p>
<p>I have no idea what they would do because really, they can do whatever they want. They could have easily sent out emails to all of the people they were considering (or even just everyone who got to the last stage of the interview process) to see who was still available, since it’s been so long. There’s no real point in sending out one email, waiting for a response, and then contacting someone else (imagine how much longer their hiring process would be then!).</p>
<p>It’s certainly not a bad thing, but I just wanted to caution you not to assume that you got a job offer and cut off any other opportunities you may have or could potentially have (I’m assuming you’ve been continuing your job search/applications in the months since your interview at this company).</p>
<p>So definitely hope for the best, but continue with your job search, as well. If you do get an offer, that’s great, but if not, then you have other possibilities.</p>
<p>Anyway, the largest company I worked for had at least a two month hiring cycle, maybe three, as they recorded and justified hiring needs, reprioritized budgets and timelines, did some horse trading and got it all through multiple layers. Each person, along that way, had plenty on his/her to-do list. </p>
<p>In our case, HR only became the primary contact when an informal offer had been made and the log jam was the actual HR portion. Still, the hiring manager would call, every so often, to touch base and give some update, from his/her perspective.</p>
<p>We don’t know what sort of position this is. It’s good they called to ask if you are still interested, but not enough to go on. You need an offer. Agree, the safe and proactive bet is to keep looking. Good luck.</p>
<p>I suspect they made an offer to someone else and they didn’t take the job. Now the process is reopened and you are still a finalist. Hence the question of whether you were still in the job market. They never responded because they hadn’t made a decision on you.</p>
<p>I would say it is certainly a good sign that they asked about your availability. Your resume is not in the wastebasket (I suppose that wastebasket is electronic these days, but still…). And Fortune 100 companies can take FOREVER to get through their hiring cycle. So you could still be a candidate for this job or even a different job.</p>
<p>However, as others have said, just keep chugging on your job search as if this isn’t happening. If this comes through, great. If not, then you have other possibilities that you are moving forward with. There is a hiring lull around the year end holidays, so you want to hustle now so you don’t get caught in that Thanksgiving-New Years gap without work.</p>
<p>By the way… aunt bea is right… although this isn’t a college essay, when you work you will be constantly dashing off quick emails or memos. Sloppy written English will be noticed and will not help your career. So getting in the habit of proofreading all your written communications now would be a good step toward success when you do have a job.</p>
<p>Hate to join the communication police, but you can see how it left an impression. Maybe a bit more so, because the topic is employment. Just be on top of your game.</p>
<p>As a native english speaker I believe I am quite fluent in english. And yes, I would definitely proofread my official emails a couple of times before sending them. So I don’t believe I have had sloppy english affecting my career so far.</p>
<p>That aside, thank you everybody for the detailed advices. I have one last question. If I didn’t hear from him today should I email him back and ask? He said this week and today is Thursday. And what should I say on the email?</p>
<p>I am actually continuing to look for more jobs and had interviews with a number of different companies (waiting to hear from them as well). However, I am stressing this position so much because it was a one that I really wanted and would love to have. You know, when you go on the interview, talk to people, and see the place, sometimes you get the feeling that this is it! this is where I want to work! I can really see myself in this job! That happened to me with this job. So I want to do everything possible to secure it if it is happening.</p>
<p>I’m going to say that emailing him this week is not a good idea. “Next week” from last Friday goes until end of workday tomorrow (Friday). And “stuff” happens, he may not respond even then. Wait until at least Tuesday next week, and then send an email to check in with him. Something that indicates that you are still available and really interested, and wondering if he has an update for you. I personally would NOT point out that he said he would get back this week and didn’t do it if that is what happens. Even though it is true, you really don’t want to annoy him. And honestly, he know you exists, their process is grinding along, sending an email asking for an update does not give him any info he does not already have about you or help HIM get to a resolution on his hiring process.</p>