No Employer Response(s): Benefit of Doubt.
Hi.
I came across an article which validated some personal thoughts about giving employers the benefit of doubt when it comes to awaiting an answer from any employer. Granted, playing the waiting game is never pleasant (I know because I'm in the middle of this process between two employers now - it's nerve racking!), and you want to be respectful and professional without appearing desperate. The game of give and take is frustrating when you're giving your every last breath into making an impression in hopes of landing a position, and employers seem to take up your time and leave you in the dust. However, this article provides a slight better understanding from the perspective of the employer - though still absolutely frustrating.
"What feels like a long time from the job seeker side, flies by on the employer side, as many of the key people still have their own jobs to handle. And if they are short a person, that may mean even more work than usual slowing down the very process that could bring them much-needed help.
Now you may still be thinking that’s all very nice and you get that they may not have a lot of extra time, but how long does it take to let job candidates know what’s happening? Some companies have policies that allow them to share that kind of information, while others don’t. So be prepared either way. A non-response can simply be the company policy (mandated by legal in some cases) and not a reflection on you – nor on the people you would actually be working with.
Good point. But again, some simply may not be permitted to respond. And others are waiting to finish interviews and/or get responses from all the key participants – and after that, they may need to contact them all over again to discuss next steps and folks to call back. All that often takes waaay longer than you or even they can imagine!"
As I'm currently experiencing the frustration of playing the waiting game, and not just from the last two recent employers I've interviewed with, but from people in general. Communication is so difficult to get from anyone, everyone. Still, I hope to be positive and optimistic that this wait is for a good reason that even I am not allowed to understand. If/when you can understand both perspectives, though still know the frustration behind it, this makes it easier to give employers the benefit of doubt. This was a good read!
Not to mention the volume of applications they receive for each job posting. I read somewhere recently that the average on-boarding timeframe for an entry level retail job was 3 weeks average. Thats from first contact or call back from HR on an application to first day orientation. Add to that any hick-ups in along the process involving background checks, and drug screening and the days start to add up. Your absolutely right though. For job applicants awaiting an answer to "when can I start" 3 weeks is a lifetime but for an understaffed HR personnel the time fly's right by. That's why it's so important to send completed information on applications and assessments to minimize the response time from HR.