Standard turnaround time for interview feedback?

[swedswiss]

Generally they get back in 2 weeks. I have had an instance where they didnt get back to me for a month, where they kept me as a back up just in case their 1st choice candidate doesnt join and as soon as that candidate joined they informed me that they have selected another person and he has joined All the while they kept telling me they are still evaluating. This is that 3 letter Australian bank. I hate that bank after that, although I still love their credit card

But there can be other reasons too. Budget issues, approval issues,restructuring is going on so freeze, a new director is about to join so they are waiting until he comes on board until then all hiring is freeze etc etc

I can imagine. That really is painful when it happens.

I agree with administrative issues that might hinder with the selection progress. However, I feel that it would be a nice gesture of them to let us know about what is holding them back, and give us an approx. timeline by which we can expect to hear back from them.
Checking your e-mail everyday for a reply doesn't feel good.

[swedswiss]

Consider this: It is never in HRs interests to tell you that you didn't get the job.

Firstly, if they are considering other candidates too, the best you will ever get is a "we're still evaluating" or similar. Or the even more vague "we'll be in touch with the next steps".

Secondly, if they tell you that you didn't get that job, they've closed the door on you. If there is even the slightest chance that they may employ you for this or another role in the future, why would they close the door?

Thirdly, how does it benefit them to tell you *why* you didn't get the job? All that does it make sure you answer those questions correctly the next time, and they are not in the business of coaching people to get the roles they are offering.

There is a reason for the expression "Only successful candidates will be notified" and yes, that means even after three interviews.

As others have mentioned, 4 weeks is not long over CNY. However, if the decision hasn't been made in a couple of weeks you're probably not the top priority.

Spot on. Especially, the third point. I don't want a complete feedback on my application. Just a timeline would do.

[swedswiss]

Hi, Guys!! Thank you for your feedback. Much appreciated

I get that there is a cultural difference and one shouldn't interpret anything based on his/her own experiences. That is why I am here asking for some clarity on the matter.

In the short term - I will wait for their reply. But, let's say if it is going to take even more time (like no reply until the end of this month/early next month), should I then send them an e-mail and ask for a feedback?

And, just for the record sake - This is for a position in a private organization

Hey, they responded, you should feel privileged!
Private or not, if you want to (try to) accelerate the things always talk to your direct boss to be, not the HR. Unless you don't know the boss. In this case you are doomed to wait. 4 weeks with the CNY in the middle sounds like nothing. Yes, I am serious. When you call (whoever you call) and they have no answer, ask when it would be good time for you to call again. If they say, they would call you back, say you prefer to call them (for whatever reason, e.g. you are travelling). This way you are in control of their failure to respond and have a reason to call them repeatedly.

Unfortunately, I am not yet in touch with the direct boss to be. I tend to believe they are occupied with administrative issues and that the CNY didn't help my cause either. I am not in telephonic conversation with the HR yet; only emails as for now.

[Strong Eagle]

There is no way to know what the "standard" turn around time is because there isn't one. There are so many variables that you don't know about concerning the position you are applying for.

For example, there may be budgetary infighting about whose P&L will pay for the position or who will have organizational control. Or, promised funding from on high has been delayed. Or, yet another re-org for "improved efficiency" had put the entire place into stasis. Or, you got a boss who is so disorganized and inefficient that the response to you is just one of many undone tasks sitting on his desk.

Or, your interview just went 'OK' such that they'd really like to look around some more to see if they can find a better candidate but they just don't want to tell you 'no' in case they can't find a better candidate. Or, there's a team review and they are not unanimous in their evaluation of your merits. Or, the people doing the evaluating are not really qualified to judge you and thus you are left hanging in limbo.

I've seen lots of people begging for the hiring company to make a decision so that they can get on with their lives, find a different job... anything except waiting around for an answer forever. My sense is that a lot of these companies just don't give a damn about the difficult situation their actions, or better, their in-actions, create for their potential employee, and it says something about the overall corporate culture to leave you hanging like that.

At the very least, a company that cares about its candidates would say something like, "Look, we normally take 7 to 10 business days to reach an initial decision. However, with CNY, several key people are unavailable and it will probably be closer to 20 days before we can make a decision." See... isn't that kind of transparency better?

[sundaymorningstaple]

Or the other gambit I used to have to deal with all the time was with EPC Contractors who had bases over here. They would send me a whole packet of JD to work on with a 45~60 day startup timeline. Work your buns off, spend countless hours on the phone (long distance - prior to cheap data means and reliable email delivery) get those interested to fast forward up to day CV's with current interest & availability, only to be told 6 weeks down the road that it was for a tender! Which they failed to score. This is a very typical ruse of Local EPC Contractors in Singapore as they know they are abusing the headhunters big time. We have no choice because we don't know if it's for real or a con-job. It also really ticks off our feedstock, and rightly so.

[sanzo]

Did u hear anything back from them yet?
I got the same situation as I had the final interview before Chinese New year... Still waiting for their answer

[swedswiss]

You are not alone. I am still waiting for their response.