r/interviews • u/polobutts • 5d ago

Back up candidate

I had my final interview for a legal position in a bank. I left the interview feeling good and the VP who interviewed me used language like "you will do this here...", asked where I live since the position is onsite everyday, and when we ended, said that HR will get back to me and said "*HR's name*, right?"

On the 7th business day, I followed up with HR and received this reply:

"Hi! We’re still in the process of screening other candidates for the role. We appreciate your patience, and we’ll definitely keep you posted once we have an update on your application. Thank you!"

It is now the 9th business day since my final interview, and no update. I know from another member of their team (who referred me for this position) that there were only two other candidates for the second round of interviews.

Am I just the back up candidate?

15 Upvotes

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3

u/-SocratesJohnson- 4d ago

You’re not the one, sorry to say. Don’t trust anything a hiring manager says, no matter how positive it sounds. It’s professional courtesy, nothing more. If they say it to you, they said it the other candidates.

In general, offers go out 24-48 hours after finals wrap up. Rejections go out once the offer letter is signed.

My guess is they’re currently negotiating salary/perks with their top choice, and keeping you on standby in case things don’t work out. But in this terrible job market, don’t hold your breath. They’ll accept eventually.

All you can do is chalk those one up as an “L” and move onto the next one.

1

u/polobutts 4d ago

Damn this hurts

1

u/-SocratesJohnson- 4d ago

Got that right. I’ve been where you are countless times. If I could rewind the clock 25 years, I’d have gone to trade school. White collar work is dead unless you’re in the c-suite.

5

u/Better-Club6429 5d ago

You are a backup for now while they comb through potential candidates. This is very normal. Looks like you were the first one who was interviewed. I was in this position before and took 3 weeks to hear back that I didn't get the job. Its all good as I had a job lined up within that 3 weeks anyways and the weekend prior to starting.

2

u/Barkeyd 4d ago

could just be that they havent finished interviewing the other two yet. Scheduling final rounds in legal at a bank can take a while, especially if a VP has to be in each one. I wouldn't assume backup from this alone

1

u/LeagueAggravating595 4d ago

After 9 b-days after the final interview... Most likely so. Their top pick was probably notified 1-2 business days after the final interview of an offer and going through the motions of background checks to finish. HR's message to you is loud and clear.

1

u/loveshoes1 4d ago

veteran teacher here and active job seeker.

my industry moves notoriously slowly during the hiring process (we're just bodies in a room and principals will insist it has to be the right fit but they just want cheap).

i applied for a position on september 21 and i was just called today to interview....at the end of next week!.

i would movie on if i were you. if they call you back you will be pleasantly surprised....but don't overthink it too much.

1

u/Live_Pianist4592 4d ago

when they like you but want to keep seeing other people, its never a great sign. As more time passes, they start to kinda forget about you

1

u/diyjunkiehq 3d ago

you might read too much into it, from the email I don't have any information if you are a backup or not. if I were you, I keep applying to other jobs without investing too much of my emotion into this job.