r/interviews

I had an interview for a job I really want on Wednesday, 17 June. It seemed to go really well and actually ran about 25 minutes over the scheduled time because we were chatting and seemed to get on well.

At the end of the interview, they said, “Don’t worry if you don’t hear anything for two weeks.” After two weeks had passed, I sent a polite follow-up email on Thursday, 2 July asking if there were any updates. I haven’t had a reply or even an acknowledgment that they received it.

I’m assuming they meant two full weeks from the interview, which brings us to today.
At this point, how much longer would you wait before following up again or assuming I haven’t been successful?

Hi all

I had an interview on 1 July for a project lead manager at a local college, after 12 years safeguarding children. It went really well - felt connected with the panel. They took time to answer my questions and went into detail about the role after the interview and made sure they had correct number for me etc

I was told “ you will hear back by tomorrow morning at the latest” ( which would have been Thursday 2 July)

I haven’t heard anything back at all yet. I’m guessing they probably went with another candidate but is it worth me emailing the HR contact (only email I have) for an update or wait it out ? (Incase something g urgent came up)

Thanks for any advice

Hello everyone, I'd like to play a fun game to see if we can accurately predict whether I got the job or not based on what I tell you guys happened.

So this is the situation: I'm a top 2 candidate at a Tech company. I most recently had an onsite panel interview with 5 individuals who are all part of the same team. The hiring manager interview was done a couple weeks previously.

The hiring manager has explicitly said that he supports me and advocates for me however, it's a team decision and will require a discussion. I felt like my interviews with the panel went decent, there weren't any questions I couldn't answer and I presented myself in my best manner. Honestly, i wish i could redo some parts of the interview, but overall i'd say i'm happy with my performance. I'd like to mention that there was one member of the panel, that I felt off about and I don't think I left a good impression, since i was caught off guard from his vibes only approach interview style. I sent everyone a thank you email and only 2 out of the panel replied to me to acknowledge receipt and ask if i had any additional questions.

At the end of the interview, the hiring manager told me that I was in contention of top 2 and that it would be a close race. The caveat is the other candidate is considered highly competitive and the rest of the team is already familiar with them, because they are a repeat candidate and was top 2 in the previous hiring round a couple months ago.

Based on what I told you, what do you think of my chances are of getting the job?

For me, I feel like it's a coinflip. I could see a scenario where the hiring manager advocates for me and everyone supports him out a respect. I could also see a scenario where the panel felt sorry for denying the other candidate the first time around, and might pass him this time because of his tenacity to apply for the position again and make it to the final round.

I have my first ever in person interview coming up and would like to prepare

It’s mainly with the hiring manager that I’ve already done 2 rounds online with. I’ll be touring the facility and meeting the team and hiring manager’s manager.

How do I prepare? I assume its mainly a culture fit so what kinds of questions should I ask regarding the facility/team/manager.

Since I’ve already done 2 rounds with the hiring manager, should I bring copies of my resume?

For context, I was laid off in November and have been actively looking for a new job. I’ve applied to roughly 200 positions, received 17 interview requests and completed or nearly completed interview loops for 7 roles.

Of those 7, 5 have been fully remote interviews
- 2 were mid loop rejections (one remote, one onsite)
- 2 were final round rejections (remote)
- 1 final round ghost (remote)
- 1 final round pending decision (remote)
- 1 final round onsite happening this week

The final I have this week is for a hybrid role, and the interview process moved fast. The recruiter found me on linked in, we spoke that afternoon. I met with the hiring manager 3 business days later, and was told on that call that she wanted to bring me in the following week for the final round to meet with 7 people over 2.5 hours onsite. Also, the recruiter let me know that this was a reopened search after their last candidate fell through.

Having hired people before in remote and onsite interviews I’m feeling optimistic, because of the time and effort that goes into onsite vs remote on both sides. Maybe I’m trying to find signs after so many misses.

Anyone have any “data” that points toward a positive outcome when you are brought in as a final round vs fully remote interviews?

So I have an interview scheduled for tomorrow for with a company but after reading numerous negative reviews all along the same themes...

People not being paid, heavy clawbacks, patients overbooked forced OT to meet quotas with weak referral streams or you'll lose your health insurance and contract buy out if you want to quit.

There's more but those are the frequent complaints I've seen multiple times that stand out to me and since I really can't risk not being paid or I don't pay my rent and I don't want that level of stress I'm going to cancel the interview.

I can't decide on whether I should tell them that's the reason why or just act like I've already gotten another offer somewhere else.

Edit: I cancel the internet review. I know that I wouldn't be able to overcome my concerns about the reviews so I decided to not waste either of our time.

I basically said I "was going in another direction" 😂 I figured if it works for them it can work for us.

I run a career platform, so I spend a lot of my week looking at how people talk about their own work. "Tell me about yourself" is the question I watch go wrong the most, and it goes wrong the same way almost every time.

Most people treat it as a cue to recap the resume in order. They start at the first job, walk forward year by year, and land in the present a little out of breath. The interviewer already read the resume. What they're actually doing during that first answer is deciding what kind of story to listen for, and a chronological list hands them nothing to hold onto.

The fix is to answer with a throughline instead of a timeline. Pick the one thread that explains why you're sitting in that specific room, and let two or three points from your history hang off it. Something like: "I'm the person who gets handed the messy, undefined problem and turns it into something a team can actually ship. That's the thread through my last two roles, and it's why this one caught my eye." Then you stop.

That version does the interviewer's work for them. It tells them what to dig into, and it makes you sound like someone who knows what they're good at instead of someone reading their history back.

Any tips for EY senior data scientist role? First round was a 30 minute interview with data analytics manager. Second round Interview today at 2pm with senior directors panel. Not sure what kind of questions they might ask. Any tips?

I am seeing too many posts where people are trying to dissect whether they will be considered for the next interview or the role…stop. There is no way to interpret from the interviewer’s email/words/action, what happens next. It is a process. Go on the interview and keep searching until you have a final offer and begin. Focusing on what happened at one interview is keeping you from focusing on continuing the search for a job. Don’t worry about it. If you get the job they will call. Keep applying.

I’m interviewing with a company and it’s going really well. Hiring manager is pushing me through the process very quickly and it’s a great opportunity (I know could still get rejected at any moment but I want to be prepared). This job requires “about 20% travel”, that’s not a problem I love traveling but I have a 7 month old baby and the example of travel given was “for example we’re going to spend next week all together in Dallas”.

I worry about spending weeks away from my baby and husband. He is a retail manager and sometimes works late nights, and my MiL is 40 mins away and she would probably be able to help but that’s a lot on her. Other option could be a nanny I guess. My husband is saying I should wait to see if I get an offer but he’s also saying it’s not sounding like it is a job that will work for us as a young family.

I’ve been interviewing for months and this is the furthest I’ve gotten in the process so far (have two interviews left with stakeholders in other departments) and I’m really excited about the opportunity and has a lot of future potential.

My current job was not supportive during my pregnancy and when I came back to work my job changed, and everything I liked working on is shifted away. I think I’m supposed to be unhappy and looking for another job, so not supportive postpartum either.

All of this to say can I negotiate travel in my offer? If it was like 1 week a year or something while my baby is young that’s one thing but traveling multiple times a year for days and days will be hard on my family. Any advice?

ETA: travel was not listed in the job description. It came up as I was asking questions in the interview with hiring manager and she gave that example.

After months of constant applications, final‑stage interviews and things not going my way, I’ve finally been offered a job. I’m relieved because my mental health really needed a break from all the rejection – but I’m also quite disheartened about the role itself. It's not what I want, but I don't have much choice.

I’m now at the contract stage, and they’re pushing pretty aggressively for me to sign. There’s one outstanding issue: The contract says no travel expenses will be reimbursed unless agreed in writing. The role does involve some travel, so I’ve asked for clarification, but they’re taking ages to respond.

I’ve never worked anywhere that doesn’t reimburse business travel. Has anyone else dealt with this? Is it normal, or is it a red flag?

Grateful for any insight or experience.

Corporate USA

I feel like I am getting more and better screening calls. Better jobs, better pay, right industry. But not advancing as much as I want, or as far as it used to.

Ive been using a more detailed resume, and I think its part in effect of that. At the same time I had one that was just 1 page, and it seemed to get me further, more frequently, but usually for not as good of jobs.

AI can only tell me so much. What does this say to you? WHat else has changed in the past 6 months or so?

Hey everyone, I’m currently interviewing for tech BDR roles and looking for a few dedicated practice partners. I already have sales experience and some active interviews on the horizon, so I’m hoping to find people to do serious mock interviews, share feedback, and keep each other accountable.

Let me know if you’re interested in linking up for some practice sessions!

I applied to a job last week and the owner got back to me pretty quickly asking if I could do an interview on Sunday morning.

I told her I could not because I would be away. She responded to that email asking if I was available Friday or Saturday night.

To be honest I was a little taken back because part of not being available on the weekend is boundary setting and she trampled all over those boundaries so I told her again no would not be available I will be away traveling with others.

both times, ​I told her I would be available during the week, she said she would get back to me with times.

Thursday night she sends an email saying she thought about it and didn't think there would be room in the office for another person 🙄🤦

Tbh, I'm fine with that, I feel​​ I dodged a bullet. But WHY would anybody think it's acceptable to ask somebody (multiple times) that's going to do a 9 to 5 M-F job to interview on a Sunday morning?

That just sets up an expectation that I will be available outside of office hours and I will not 🤷

Maybe if I was desperate I would have considered it but, I'm not, I have 3 more interviews set up for next week. ​

Edit: The amount of hostility simply setting boundaries is creating is bananas.

Y'all want to give up your weekend time and let your employers know that you're available on their whim you go for it I do not care.

But us grown folks, professionals & people with boundaries (and lives) have earned the right to set boundaries and expectations in the workplace and we're not tolerating that kind of nonsense.

Asking for a weekend interview once is fine, asking AGAIN after you've been told no... then dropping an applicant for it reeks of spite.​

It indicates poor planning, an overwhelmed environment and boundary testing. it leads to dissatisfied, overworked employees and high turnover.

If you don't understand why that is problematic no amount of me explaining this to you is going to make a difference.

You go ahead and keep being miserable and overworked in your jobs.... I'll keep my personal time personal 🤷

Is there any tool out there that works with AI interviews?

What I'm looking for is basically if recruiter uses AI interview - AI chatbot which interviews you, is there a tool that makes so AI answers for you.

Basically the interview becomes AI vs AI (you vs recruiter) instead of you in person and AI chatbot (recruiter).

I know some interview assistants exists there but I don't see such option anywhere.

NOTE:

Yes, I really want to play fire with fire so this trend dies where recruiters think they can use AI for interviews.

I noticed company offered 401k but didn’t say anything about match. I asked them what the match was and they said we don’t match currently! I then said oooff that’s a big deal to me. Responded with we understand and are looking to offer a match soon. This is a smaller company but not super small. About 90 employees. Is this a huge red flag? Feel like today anyone that offers 401k offers match

I'll be interviewing for a Senior Production Mgr role for a company that manufactures medical imaging equipment. I already did 2 telephone interviews. This will be a four person panel, about 2 hours, in person. Should I wear a suit? What kind of questions can I expect?

This is a pretty big step up for me and I want to do well.

Memorizing full answers feels safe, but it usually breaks as soon as the interviewer asks the question a different way.

A story bank is easier to use.

Make 6 rows before your next interview:

1. A messy problem you fixed
2. A time you worked with a difficult person
3. A mistake you made and cleaned up
4. A project where you had to learn fast
5. A time you pushed back or made a tradeoff
6. A win you can explain with actual proof

For each story, write 5 things:

• the situation in one sentence
• what you personally did
• what changed because of it
• one proof point, even if it is not a perfect number
• what you learned or would do differently

Then tag each story with the questions it can answer.

Example:

The difficult-person story might also answer:

• tell me about conflict
• tell me about communication
• tell me about a time you had to influence someone
• tell me about a project that almost failed

That is the point. You do not need 25 separate answers. You need 6 true stories you can bend without making them fake.

For practice, do not read the story word for word. Give yourself 90 seconds and answer from the notes.

A good answer usually sounds like:

1. Here was the problem.
2. Here is what I did.
3. Here is the result.
4. Here is what I learned.

The test is simple: if you can answer a new behavioral question by picking the closest true story and talking through it naturally, you are ready enough.

If you still need the exact wording, you probably wrote a script instead of a story bank.

After my case study I sent the panel a thank you email and clarified some questions they had in more detail since we were at time.

The process has been great and the hiring manager had previously let me know that I am a top candidate and they like to stay in touch with their top candidates personally.

The HM replied positively to the thank you email with the details I provided and offered a 15 minute sync if I wanted to meet and chat. I took them up on the offer and met with the HM on Friday and they let me know that everyone loved the presentation, have given positive feedback and they have a great representation of my skill set.

They also let me know that since it’s the 4th weekend I will hear back from them on Tuesday but it’s between me and another candidate.

Have you been in this position? I feel some anxiety setting in- the team and company seem great and I’d love to build the function out there and grow. Is there anything additional I can do to sway this in favor or do I just let it ride? I’m leaning towards the latter.

TIA for any input you provide!

The boss/ owner was the one interviewing me and he was wearing those ray ban meta camera glasses. I felt uncomfortable and wondered if he was recording the interview but I didn’t feel comfortable to ask.

Maybe he wasn’t recording and just wearing those I guess? Do you think this could be a red flag?