Cryptic email from company
Discussion
My friend (and I really do mean that it's not me) applied for a really good job 2.5 months ago.
Had the first interview went really well. Director emailed him back saying everyone was v positive about him, thinks he could be a good fit etc and asks for references and for him to come back in and meet with the final director who was away on business at his interview.
Time goes on, he chases politely and they get back saying sorry things are busy and they will get back to him ASAP.
In the meanwhile he actually gets offered another job and needs to get back to them ASAP. So he emails the first firm and so states that he has been offered elsewhere and needs to know the position, but tells the first firm that he would prefer to pursue the opportunity with them rather than where he has been offered.
The first firm then replies saying they are waiting for the final member of the board to get back from leave and they will get back to all candidates within one week. They add at the end of this email (rather crucially and hence my post) '' whilst we are not in a position to assure you of the position it maybe helpful for you to know you are one of our strongest candidates. We are sorry we cannot be any clearer than that at this stage'
Is this code for hold on for a few days the job is yours don't take the other role, or is the decision still up in the air and it's between him and someone else - toss a coin mate whether you take the other job?
I only ask because I've never seen an email like that giving such a firm indication but failing to actually confirm thy are going to offer...
Had the first interview went really well. Director emailed him back saying everyone was v positive about him, thinks he could be a good fit etc and asks for references and for him to come back in and meet with the final director who was away on business at his interview.
Time goes on, he chases politely and they get back saying sorry things are busy and they will get back to him ASAP.
In the meanwhile he actually gets offered another job and needs to get back to them ASAP. So he emails the first firm and so states that he has been offered elsewhere and needs to know the position, but tells the first firm that he would prefer to pursue the opportunity with them rather than where he has been offered.
The first firm then replies saying they are waiting for the final member of the board to get back from leave and they will get back to all candidates within one week. They add at the end of this email (rather crucially and hence my post) '' whilst we are not in a position to assure you of the position it maybe helpful for you to know you are one of our strongest candidates. We are sorry we cannot be any clearer than that at this stage'
Is this code for hold on for a few days the job is yours don't take the other role, or is the decision still up in the air and it's between him and someone else - toss a coin mate whether you take the other job?
I only ask because I've never seen an email like that giving such a firm indication but failing to actually confirm thy are going to offer...
santona1937 said:
IT is code for we don't think we are going to offer you the job, but if our first and second choices turn us down we will hire you as "fastest loser".
Exactly that. It sounds like they're having trouble getting their number one candidate and are messing your mate around as their standby.
tty for them to give this indication when they are on notice that he has another job in the bag but I guess you can't put anything past these companies these days... davepoth said:
santona1937 said:
IT is code for we don't think we are going to offer you the job, but if our first and second choices turn us down we will hire you as "fastest loser".
Exactly that. It sounds like they're having trouble getting their number one candidate and are messing your mate around as their standby.Occasionally there are über control freak CEOs who insist on approving EVERY hire, which may be why they haven't confirmed it yet.
I had this situation once, I was going to be offered a role and they kept me hanging on, "yes the letter is coming but wait a few more weeks so it gets approved". I remember being in the car park of a new position I accepted when the call came to say my letter was going in the post that day. He was mightily pissed off when I told him I had accepted another role.
The moral of the story is that until you have the offer letter accepted you are going to work somewhere else.
On another occasion I said I was leaving the company for a promotion elsewhere and they understood because there was nothing for me there. On my second day in the new company I received a call saying a manager had just resigned and the job is there for me. It took two weeks for the paperwork to happen and I went back to the old place. Everyone thought my joke of pretending to leave was not funny (they would not believe otherwise). The moral here is don't be afraid of leaving two weeks into a job.
The moral of the story is that until you have the offer letter accepted you are going to work somewhere else.
On another occasion I said I was leaving the company for a promotion elsewhere and they understood because there was nothing for me there. On my second day in the new company I received a call saying a manager had just resigned and the job is there for me. It took two weeks for the paperwork to happen and I went back to the old place. Everyone thought my joke of pretending to leave was not funny (they would not believe otherwise). The moral here is don't be afraid of leaving two weeks into a job.
For this reason I would ask at interview what date they expect to choose a candidate, and then you can work out how much p*ss is being taken. I have interviewed candidates and make a point of telling people the decision date. Stringing people along does not show good management and you have to ask if you can work for people like that. I guess it depends on the industry and how senior the post is, but 2.5 months is a long time in the IT game and anything other than an offer is worth nothing - take something else and they might offer more money if they want you in future.
TurricanII said:
For this reason I would ask at interview what date they expect to choose a candidate, and then you can work out how much p*ss is being taken. I have interviewed candidates and make a point of telling people the decision date. Stringing people along does not show good management and you have to ask if you can work for people like that. I guess it depends on the industry and how senior the post is, but 2.5 months is a long time in the IT game and anything other than an offer is worth nothing - take something else and they might offer more money if they want you in future.
Maybe you would be kind enough to conduct my next handful of contract interviews. 
These days I am thinking myself fortunate if the interviewer(s) even understand(s) the role they are recruiting for never mind having a reasonable grasp of the skill set required.
But to actually be told when a decision will be and has been made.... Pure gold
ETA
Apologies to the OP for my frivolous interjection.
For what it's now worth, I would agree with those above. I have seen this happen from both sides of the fence. It's a poor practice, but does happen.
Edited by Goaty Bill on Tuesday 15th April 10:11
Accept the other offer - you can't continue dangling on a string for ever. If they are this bad with recruitment, you just wait until you want a pay rise/promotion/change in hours/change in benefits/etc etc.
Interviews are a 2 way process: both parties need to be happy with what they are seeing and how they are dealt with.
Interviews are a 2 way process: both parties need to be happy with what they are seeing and how they are dealt with.
Goaty Bill said:
But to actually be told when a decision will be and has been made.... Pure gold
Try saying this at some point or at the 'any other questions' stage:Edited by Goaty Bill on Tuesday 15th April 10:11
"Do you have a date by which you need to choose a candidate and start them in the role? I have a few interviews scheduled in the coming weeks and I would like to avoid being in a position where I might receive another job offer whilst there is still a chance I might work for your company/ACME LTD/with you."
It sounds cheesy but you are basically doing the following:
- showing that you are planning for the future
- acknowledging that they need time to pick a candidate/go through the recruitment rigmarole
- hinting that you have a few interviews and implying you are attractive to other employers
- showing that you rate the opportunity to work with them very highly over your other options
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