Do potential employers owe you an explaination?

Nurses Professionalism

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Often times on here I've posts on here where a an interview has taken place, maybe even a second one, the person is told "you will hear something soon" but "soon" turns into a week, two weeks..no response. The interviewee may email or call to "check on my status" but gets no reply at all. So this leave the person wondering what they said wrong, why the job they were so sure they would be offered was not only offered but dead in the water without so much as a "thanks again for meeting with us" for the 2nd or 3rd time.

Someone I know who is going through this now said "I think employers owe the interviewee a follow up to the interview - either yes or no, instead of having people hang on hoping. Professionalism and courteously run both ways." He drove 2 hrs one way for an interview, had a second interview a week later at another office an hour from his home and was told he was going to move onto the last interview and would be contacted for a date/time with 24 hrs. It has now been 2 weeks. He has tried contacting the two people he has previously been in contact with but is not getting a response by phone or email from them.

While I agree with him about the professional aspect and I do think employers "should" follow up appropriately, I don't think they owe interviewees anything. Am I wrong?

Specializes in Public Health, L&D, NICU.

I agree with you. Common courtesy dictates that they call with a simple yes or no.

I think a yes or no post interview should happen. I don't think specific feedback on why someone else was selected is owed, but if you make the interview stage there should be some form of contact if you didn't get the job.

Specializes in retired LTC.

Boy, are you asking for a lot! (Note: am being smarty pants here - not intending to insult anyone!)

In today's work environment where employers are firing employees at-will without reasons it would be awesome if they gave an explanation. But I wouldn't hold my breath.

Specializes in LTC.

I recently interviewed for a job and when I didn't hear back I called. I was told that the job had been filled. Normally I would have said thank you and the conversation would have been over, but instead I was feeling especially bold and asked why I wasn't offered the job (I asked if it was my lack of experience-6 months LTC). Surprisingly, the manager was straight with me and said I was up against other LVNs with 15-20 years experience. She then proceeded to tell me about how I could get experience that could land me the job in the future (places to work, specific skills I needed). It was a very helpful conversation.

The last time I did not get the job (where a spy told me I was the strongest candidate) I contacted Human Resources and asked if I was being considered or not, I got an email thereafter from the interviewer saying "We decided to go in a different direction." They went with a part time person instead of full time. And, someone who knew someone with influence in the department. She quit after less than a year. Guess where I am now? Sweet!

Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

I always contact staff. Our recruiting program prompts me to edit a generic email to those that have been unsuccessful at each point in the process.

I did not appreciate the phone call from the woman who applied for a clerk job that was M-Thus non negotiable who had stated in her app that she couldn't work those days. She phoned me, had me on speaker to whoever else was in the room with her and berated me. This was her response to my email stating that she was not successful in her application.

Specializes in Orthopedic, LTC, STR, Med-Surg, Tele.

I tend to agree with you. It's rude to leave someone hanging, but I dislike this entitled notion. Seems professionalism and courtesy have gone out the window, on both sides of the fence, in most places.

Specializes in Cardiology and ER Nursing.

Probably easier from a legal standpoint to just not call somebody back than to call them give reasons why they weren't hired and open yourself up to a lawsuit.

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

Do potential employers owe you an explanation? No, not even remotely. I do agree that some communication saying thanks, but no thanks when the position has been filled would bring professional closure to the interaction.

Pretend for a minute you are in a position to interview/hire candidates for a position on your unit. You interview 10 people. You end up hiring one. Between 2 - 4 of them probably have something come up during their interview process or in the course of checking their credentials that crosses them off of your list. The remaining 5 - 7 -- you just didn't pick them. Not because their experience was unsuitable (HR probably already screened those people out) or they made some egregious error in the interview -- you just didn't pick them.

Maybe job seekers, male and female, should read the classic self-help book He's Just Not That Into You. He's Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys (The Newly Expanded Edition): Greg Behrendt, Liz Tuccillo, Lauren Monchik: 9781416947400: Amazon.com: Books

So much of dating/relationships also applies to job hunting. ;)

Specializes in Pediatrics.

Maybe job seekers, male and female, should read the classic self-help book He's Just Not That Into You. He's Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys (The Newly Expanded Edition): Greg Behrendt, Liz Tuccillo, Lauren Monchik: 9781416947400: Amazon.com: Books

So much of dating/relationships also applies to job hunting. ;)

You took the words right out of my mouth! But I was going to suggest the romantic comedy :)

It is so much like dating. We all have this desire to be validated, and to have our egos stroked a bit.

I've been there, with both relationships and jobs. The ones that don't work out are paving the way for the ones that do.

I know it's hard to look at it that way. I recently interviewed for a position. Made it to the third interview, jumped through hoops, and got a "were not ready to make a decision". It hurt, but I got over that. It just wasn't meant to be, and it didn't take me long to realize that it wouldn't have been the right fit. It would have been a much longer commute and a big schedule adjustment.

I applied for a job. Had an interview. It went amazing. I have a relationship with the HR lady because I used to work there. I called her one time a week for a month. Even went over her head to the nurse manager. She finally called me back and said they hired someone else. And then 6 months later they called me and offered me a position. Unfortunately there is no rhyme or reason and they can do whatever they want and don't owe us an explanation, which is unfair. But such is life.

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