Not getting called back about interview

clerk

I work for a consultancy who is trying to place me with a client; it was the reason they employed me in the first place. They already have two consultants there but it seems that the client doesn’t want any more of our consultants. I know the hiring manager on the client side from a previous job and we get on very well. My employer has dropped my name to them a few times but this hasn’t made any difference.

I’m more interested in working with that client than for my employer, and I have given up on my company trying to place me there - I’ve heard through the grapevine that they have also given up seriously trying. This means I am at the mercy of where they send me next and I miss out on the opportunity of working with that client. So, I started considering contacting the client directly.

My boss has let slip a few tidbits about this client. For example, they are not returning any of my company's enquiries for more work and that the client tried to recruit some of our staff directly on a previous contract. This spurred me on to reach out directly of my own accord expressing interest in joining as a direct employee, and sure enough my contact there replied instantly to say that there is a position and encouraged me to apply directly.

So, I applied on the company website and received a call from their HR two hours later enthusiastically confirming that my old colleague was aware that I’d be applying and was keen to interview me. They asked for my availability over the next week, I gave them some dates, they said they’d call back. It sounded like they want to proceed quickly.

Two days later, nothing, so I called the HR guy back, no answer, left a voicemail. A weekend and two more business days later, still nothing, so I called the HR guy again, voicemail again, I asked politely if he can provide me with an update. I don’t have an email address for him, only a phone number. Note that this call was the day before the first of the days I said I’d be available for interview. Still nothing. That was today. Tomorrow is one week since my application and when I spoke to the HR guy.

I’m starting to wonder that this is not going to go anywhere, and going crazy thinking that my current employment is somehow jeopardising my chances of getting interviewed there because of the relationship they currently have. My husband has told me not to worry given their enthusiasm for me and that the hiring manager has been known to want to poach people, after all he did reply to me to tell me about the role! Still, I find it rude that they called me back after my application and now I’m getting the silent treatment. Any ideas?

BorisThomson

You're not the HR guy's priority, he'll call you back when he has time.

If you find this rude I'd suggest they're not the employer for you, and that you need to be a little more realistic about recruitment timescales.

Smodlet

Maybe it has since dawned on this client that they would have to pay your agency exorbitant fees, were they to take you on, since they could be said to have introduced you.

[Deleted User]

Perhaps they think you might be 'fishing'? Right down to someone changing their mind about leaving. This happened to me once before after being ghosted when it was the company that had made contact with me over a position. Or perhaps they have to wait until received so many other applications/CV's.

Then I've also had an interview on 13th October come good on 1st December. Ended up with the temporary job as opposed to the permanent job which wasn't no bad thing.

Don't forget to allow a lot of these HR/resourcing people have to run CV's past hiring manager/line manager to be so don't have the complete say sometimes.

It could be as you say you need to work somewhere else before approaching them. Or wait for the company to have a change of faces.

AstroTurtle

It's been a week.


Wait a little longer & bother them a little less.


In the world of HR recruitment can be delayed all the time.