Is it good to ask the interview process and turn- around time to reply from the HR team?

Dear Authors,

After completing 4 rounds of interviews and finally the 5th with the Director, I asked for an update after 15 days. The reply was that the interview notes are being reviewed and they will get back to me.

Is it advisable to inquire about the interview process and the expected turnaround time for a reply from the HR team? Or please share any possible solutions.

Generally, organizations expect transparency from the interviewee, but it seems to be lacking from the interviewer.

Dear friend,

Replies to your questions are given below: After completing 4 rounds of interviews and finally the 5th with the Director, I asked for an update after 15 days. The reply was that the interview notes are being reviewed, and we will get back to you.

Reply: - A sound interview handling practice demands recording observations by way of post-interview notes. If some senior authority is reviewing those notes, then it is a sound recruitment practice. Please give them time to review. Secondly, what if there is a contradiction in the opinions of the interviewers who conducted your interviews at the various levels? The reviewer could seek clarification from both, and this could take more time than expected.

Is it good to ask about the interview process and the turnaround time for a reply from the HR team? Or please share any possible solutions.

Reply: - It would be a little presumptuous to ask for the turnaround time for the selection process. Senior authorities are busy with myriad activities. Therefore, matters could get stuck at some level. Prudence demands showing patience.

Generally, organizations expect transparency from the interviewee, but it is missing from the interviewer.

Reply: - The company has shared with you the reason for the delay when you asked for the update. They informed you that they are reviewing the notes. Therefore, where is the question of them not being transparent? They could have given you an overused reply "we will get back to you." However, they have not done that. The company cannot disclose the details of the person who is reviewing the notes, how they are reviewing them, whether that person is taking any assistance from anyone, and so on. Obviously, these are internal matters of the company.

Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar

My question is how much time should an interviewee wait for a reply after completing certain crucial rounds of the interview.

Dear friend,

There is no hard and fast rule that decides the waiting period between the last round of interview and the issue of the offer letter. If you think that the time taken by the company to approach you is unreasonable, then you have the right to turn down the offer. You can exercise that right!

The second factor that decides the waiting period is the availability of job opportunities at hand. If you have an offer from some other company, then avail it!

Lastly, your second post deserves some feedback. It is not just assertive but borders on authoritativeness. You have approached this forum to seek guidance, but the question that you have asked is with the feeling that the members are under your control.

A detailed reply has been given to your first post. To bring clarity, the post was not just divided into three parts, but the reply has been given to each part. In the past reply, some questions have been asked about your background. Nevertheless, instead of giving replies to the questions, you have come up with yet another curt post, which shows your gratuitousness. Though you have used the cloak of anonymity while raising the posts, seasoned members can very well elicit your psychology!

Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar

Organizations conduct interviews, review results, and decide upon the candidate or opt for fresh selections as the case may be. There is no real hard and fast rule that can be prescribed; it depends on organizational needs. In some cases, an offer has been made on the spot itself, subject to verifications. The candidate needs to wait patiently and hope for the best. If a company takes a longer time to decide, it is a matter of internal company workings, checks, and balances.

Dear sir,

My intention is to get an expert opinion on this before making any mistakes. Thank you for your suggestions. I have not thought about members being under control, but I am sorry if my words were expressed in that manner.

Thirdly, regarding anonymity: this is my first post, and only after posting did I realize that it was showing as anonymous. I will make sure that next time I use my name and ask the question in the right way.

Dear Friend,

The expression of frustration on your part is obvious as an aspirant. There is nothing to do with intention but rather your queries from the experts, those who are not even part of the process, can only tell you the possible reasons. Mr. Divekar has beautifully addressed the reasons, causes, and problems that naturally happen.

Here I am citing an example which has happened in my case. My interview was held in the month of June, and the Offer letter was issued within 7 days (the company was ready to pay out a 3-month notice period) and asked me to join as fast as possible within the 1st week of July. I could not do so until the end of December, rather I joined on the 1st day of January. Just imagine the situation with the employer; things are not happening as they need them to.

There is also an eventuality; many times management cancels the interview even after the offer letter is issued to candidates.

It is better to wait until you get the final call from the employer, or you can consider other options if any.

Dear colleague,

Fifteen days' time after the final interview can be regarded as good enough to revert to the candidate for the outcome. At the same time, it would be improper to ask for a turnaround time as the decision may get delayed due to a variety of reasons. However, I agree that there has to be reasonableness and a good amount of transparency in communication with the candidate.

Regards,
Vinayak Nagarkar
HR Consultant