I've been interviewing for a senior marketing role at a start up located in West Coast. The company has decent benefits and unlimited PTO. They actively encourage their employees to take time off and prioritize their mental health. The interview loop lasted 2 weeks (6 rounds) and I had final round with the Founder early last week. The hiring manager was great/transparent through out the interview process and provided helpful pointers before every interview round. Last Friday, I got a message from hiring manager that they are very much interested in my candidacy and the process will take two more weeks because of vacations and schedules. Now, I am getting an impression that they are looking for a better/backup candidate. May be I am reading too much between the lines but I don't want to sound paranoid. Can anyone please explain what really goes behind the scenes? YOE:7+ TC: peanuts PS: These never ending interview loops during the pandemic are taking a toll me mentally and I am looking to seek closure. I have upcoming interviews and would love to focus on what I can control. Thanks #marketing Edit: Guys, I have an update. I got a reject. My reference check took 2 weeks. My references were stellar. I know for a fact that they don't have a bad thing to say and can vouch for my work and behavior. I got a response from the hiring manager that my references were overall positive but less than ideal because they couldn't provide specifics about my work. This is total BS because the hiring manager asked them very generic questions and nothing specific about my role. Questions like: strengths, weaknesses, style of work, conduct etc to each and everyone of them
Just do your best? Keep interviewing and get the best offer/job you can get. They could be telling the truth or lying, you won't know. Stop reading into it too much it will just drive you crazy. I've seen it happen both ways, so really, there's nothing you can do. This is coming from someone who was kept warm on a job and didn't know it. I was frustrated as hell when they told me the job wasn't gonna work out with some BS reason, even though they said I did well on the interviews. Another time I was kept warm and their original hire ended up not taking the offer. I went somewhere else and they called me asking if I was still interested. It was 3 months after my last interview...I told them to pound sand (nicely).
I emphasize with your situation. I was also taken for a ride in the past. Yes, it is frustrating to be kept waiting on the sidelines. Thank you for your kind words.
Turn the tables, use that time to get another offer. Say you are actively interviewing at other companies if you are…
I am actively interviewing with other companies but these guys moved really fast unexpectedly. I cannot afford to jeopardize this position because this role is offering me exactly what I am looking from a professional and financial standpoint. How can I convey this this delicately?
If you can’t afford to jeopardize, then sit there and wait for them to interview other candidates. Founder is always last in an interview loop. Take control of your life. Get another offer in hand, tell them that you want to be able to make a decision by X. If they can’t give you an offer by then, they didn’t want you. Don’t let a company pull you around like that for a job.
On a positive note, think about a situation wherein the team / decision makers are genuinely OOO and hiring manager is waiting for them. As the company encourages people to take days off, that could possibly be the case. Be optimistic and keep interviewing at other places as well. All the best! Do let us know if you end up getting the offer.
That genuinely might be the case. I've had some really sour experiences in the past. Hence the paranoia and pessimism. I will try to not think about it a lot and be optimistic. Thank you for your perspective.
It is a positive response but don’t close the door on other opportunities. Specially, when you have an offer from the start up. Good luck!!
just keep interviewing. if they get back to you great. let them know as you get other offers
Guys, I have an update. I got a reject. My reference check took 2 weeks. My references were stellar. I know for a fact that they don't have a bad thing to say and can vouch for my work and behavior. I got a response from the hiring manager that my references were positive but less than ideal because they couldn't provide specifics about my work. This is total BS because the hiring manager asked them very generic questions and nothing specific about my role. Questions like: strengths, weaknesses, style of work, conduct etc to each and everyone of them.
You were kept warm. And the reference checks are always going to be generic, it's a liability issue. Only times it doesn't pan out is if they said they don't know you, or volunteer way too much bad information about you.
Every day that passed, the probably that you were going to be rejected goes up. Just keep trying!
Smells like BS… they probably have more candidates scheduled for interviews and want to “keep you warm” while finishing up rest of the interviews. That being said, they didn’t reject you so it can still work out to be an offer soon. Hang tight!
Thanks for the advice. That really helps. Cheers.