To Chase or Not to Chase?

Author
Discussion

ToothbrushMan

Original Poster:

1,770 posts

125 months

Sunday 9th December 2018
quotequote all
Had an MD get in touch with me early October as he remembered me from an interview we had 5 years previous where I lost out on a job where I came a close second but was flattered he got in touch again after all those years.

Met up and had a good interview with him and another employee. that was the 3rd week of Oct. Got a message to say they would like me to go back for a 2nd interview and this would be sometime early Dec. I replied and thanked them. Its now the 9th Dec and so far Ive heard diddly squat. I presume this is going to be a January start unless they have canned the role now.

I feel very proud to have a) been contacted in the first place after all those years so the MD clearly liked me and b) that after the interview they wanted me back for another so it feels like I am under-mining my own self worth if I swallow that pride and message the MD to ask what is happening about the 2nd interview.

What would you do? forget it and move on - if they want me back theyll be in touch in their own sweet time or as the millenial kids are now saying should I "reach out" to them? I feel like a right old grouch thinking that I shoudnt have to reach out to them when the ball was left in their court..............

Fas1975

1,778 posts

164 months

Sunday 9th December 2018
quotequote all
I’ve had this before and I pretended I was going away on holiday. I emailed the person and said I just wanted to give them a heads up I was going away for Christmas from x-y dates in case he wanted to schedule something else we would pick up in the new year. Doesn’t let on how keen you are but keeps comms open

ToothbrushMan

Original Poster:

1,770 posts

125 months

Sunday 9th December 2018
quotequote all
yes i think i'll have to suck it up and maybe say something similar - its not like ive got offers coming out of every orifice right now otherwise I could afford to be more laid back and let them chase me.

As the guy originally re-established contact with me at 10.30pm on a sunday night I will wait until tonight in case this is his "go to" time to send messages then message him early tomorrow morning if I hear nowt.


caymanbill

378 posts

135 months

Sunday 9th December 2018
quotequote all
I would just email them to be honest. Nothing wrong with being keen. It's not as if your emailing them 24 hours after your interview.

ToothbrushMan

Original Poster:

1,770 posts

125 months

Monday 10th December 2018
quotequote all
As much as it pains me to have to do it I have messaged the guy now, Will report what he says back asap.

ToothbrushMan

Original Poster:

1,770 posts

125 months

Monday 10th December 2018
quotequote all
The guy has replied to say they are behind with the process.

he also said they have 2 internal employees now who have applied.

this job is 35 miles away and if the other 2 candidates dont know their ar*e from their elbow but live within say 5 miles of the office I reckon itll make no odds whether I have 20 years experience or all the qualifications under the sun, my gut feeling is Ive got no chance here.

Totally had enough of job hunting after 8 months of how high? hoop jumping. these firms often just have work to get out of the door but go through this whole charade parading candidate after candidate through the doors for weeks-looking for what I dont know. Do they even know?

Painful.

rog007

5,759 posts

224 months

Monday 10th December 2018
quotequote all
Understand your frustration, but that’s the game.

How to improve your odds? Be sure about what you want to do next. Be sure you’re qualified and experienced enough to be able to do what you want to do next. Target roles where your odds of success are going to be higher. Make sure your CV and interview skills are honed and take coaching if there’s room for improvement.

Good luck!

Jasandjules

69,889 posts

229 months

Monday 10th December 2018
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Better to chase and let them know you are keen. That also keeps you in their minds...

wraggy

160 posts

205 months

Monday 10th December 2018
quotequote all
ToothbrushMan said:
The guy has replied to say they are behind with the process.

he also said they have 2 internal employees now who have applied.

this job is 35 miles away and if the other 2 candidates dont know their ar*e from their elbow but live within say 5 miles of the office I reckon itll make no odds whether I have 20 years experience or all the qualifications under the sun, my gut feeling is Ive got no chance here
Genuine question-not trying to be funny or anything, but what has the distance to the office got to do with who gets the job? Surely, if you’re willing to commute the extra distance and you’re better than the other candidates, why wouldn’t you get the job? Have I missed something obvious? Haven’t applied for a job for a long time!
If I was an employer I’d take the better guy who is willing to commute-shows commitment?
Please enlighten me.

Mojooo

12,720 posts

180 months

Monday 10th December 2018
quotequote all
I applied for a job 30 miles from my hosue once and they made a big deal about the distance, so it does happen.

I didn't get the job so maybe they were just looking for negatives.

wraggy

160 posts

205 months

Monday 10th December 2018
quotequote all
Fair enough. I didn’t think an employer would take that into account and actually employ someone nearer, rather than the best candidate. I stand corrected.

Macneil

892 posts

80 months

Monday 10th December 2018
quotequote all
are you unemployed at the moment?

wraggy

160 posts

205 months

Monday 10th December 2018
quotequote all
Macneil said:
are you unemployed at the moment?
Who, me or the OP?
I’m employed but haven’t had a job interview since 1993!!

Macneil

892 posts

80 months

Monday 10th December 2018
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Sorry I meant the OP!

ToothbrushMan

Original Poster:

1,770 posts

125 months

Tuesday 11th December 2018
quotequote all
Macneil said:
are you unemployed at the moment?
unemployed.

ToothbrushMan

Original Poster:

1,770 posts

125 months

Tuesday 11th December 2018
quotequote all
wraggy said:
ToothbrushMan said:
The guy has replied to say they are behind with the process.

he also said they have 2 internal employees now who have applied.

this job is 35 miles away and if the other 2 candidates dont know their ar*e from their elbow but live within say 5 miles of the office I reckon itll make no odds whether I have 20 years experience or all the qualifications under the sun, my gut feeling is Ive got no chance here
Genuine question-not trying to be funny or anything, but what has the distance to the office got to do with who gets the job? Surely, if you’re willing to commute the extra distance and you’re better than the other candidates, why wouldn’t you get the job? Have I missed something obvious? Haven’t applied for a job for a long time!
If I was an employer I’d take the better guy who is willing to commute-shows commitment?
Please enlighten me.
this might come as a shock if you find yourself looking for a job in the future but these days it seems to play a huge factor in your suitability unlike the old days where the question of commute never really got discussed as the employer logically assumed that if the commute was a problem for you you wouldnt be wasting your time applying in the first place.

I had one place in Coventry email me back to say they have checked my postcode and with it being 2 trains and a 15 min walk to the office in Coventry "in their experience candidates quickly find this length of commute tiresome". that total commute is about 50 mins tops.

this is what I am up against. you look local - nothing. you look further away - youre too far away - you cant win!

i am actually thinking I might lie at interviews that are not local and say I would move if I got offered the job.

Jasandjules

69,889 posts

229 months

Tuesday 11th December 2018
quotequote all
ToothbrushMan said:
this is what I am up against. you look local - nothing. you look further away - youre too far away - you cant win!
Never heard of that at all I have to say and that is working 15 years in the City and commuting in daily. At one point I did 18 months with a two hour each way commute....

ToothbrushMan

Original Poster:

1,770 posts

125 months

Tuesday 11th December 2018
quotequote all
i think its to do with the squeeze that companies place on themselves these days and they dont want somebody join for a few months after induction etc only to leave shortly after to get something closer to home - understandable to a point but ive known people commute up to 3 hrs for years!

it might be linked to the job role, salary level, grade etc.....who knows.