Dear all,
Had a 2.5 hour job interview last Wednesday (1 hour written test 1 hour interview). To be honest, I feel hopeful. The test was relatively hard but I managed to answer the questions the best I could.
My strength is communication and presentation so the panel interview went extremely well and in fact it lasted 30 minutes longer (1.5 hours instead of the planned 1 hour).

Few concerns:
1) At the end of the interview I wasn't told when they'll get in touch. I knew already they had interviews for Thursday as I was given the choice and chose Wednesday. Should I read too much into the fact that they didn't say when they'll respond?
2) They asked me the dreaded "weakness" question: I craftily mentioned that I don't have computer programming skills since it's not part of the job requirement but the panelist asked for "soft skill" weakness so I said I'm such a perfectionist that I always finish work ahead of schedule lol (pathetic I know but what else was I supposed to say). Do you think that'll count against me?
3) They were very interested in my PhD and my previous job experience so is that a good sign?
4) They talked a lot about what to expect from someone who'll take the job but nothing specific about salary etc...

They are interviewing only 3 people (including myself) and hundreds applied so don't want to jinx it or ruin it by getting in touch with them what should I do? Should I feel hopeful?

I wouldn't read too much into the fact that they didn't say when they would be in touch. That is standard information that should be given to all candidates whether successful or not, so it sounds like an oversight on their part! Ditto the stuff about salary. Perhaps they were so into the academic questions they forgot the basic housekeeping stuff. Good luck - it is agonising waiting to hear about something you really want.

I had an interview last Friday which I think went well and they said they would be in touch mid week but so far I haven't heard anything. The guidelines on the company's website say they inform all candidates within 2 weeks so I'm guessing this probably fairly standard. In the meantime I'm stuck waiting which is frustrating. Fingers crossed for both of us!!

Hi Incognito,

Ordinarily, I would say that if you haven't heard on the day or the day after (or Friday, allowing for the fact that they were interviewing the day after they saw you) then you're at least not their first choice, as invariably when I've been offered a job post-interview I've found out very quickly. However, your interview sounds like a fairly gruelling affair with a written test included. Maybe therefore, they've got to mark and consider what you've written and assess that along with your interview performance against the others'. Maybe they've given themselves the weekend to cogitate and you'll hear sometime on Monday. Good luck, anyway!

I would say that regardless of the outcome, you got the interview out of hundreds of people and so can take some considerable encouragement from that.

Well firstly about the salary (or lack of mention), for the academic field, that's usually discussed when an offer is made. If this is not an academic position, then there is no hard and fast rule.

I don't mean to sound cliche but as with any courtship the "make or break" variable is almost never found in the mount of minutiae, however all of us are guilty of indulging in this very human ritualistic introspection. Simply put if it's YOU that they want, short of stripping naked after the interview, they will make that offer.

P.S. If it so happens that they do not make an offer, make sure to have very precise questions as to why, why the other candidate, and how could your future applications/ interviews be strengthened.

Thanks guys- I forgot to mention that as part of the interview I had to provide the names and addresses of 3 references. Could the delay be related to having to contact the referees? I will check with my supervisor as well to see if they have contacted him.

Usually, employers only contact your referees once they have offered you the job. They use the referees as a way of verifying your information, rather than part of their decision-making process. I hope you hear something soon!

Starting to feel pessimistic :(:( didn't realise that the refs are only contacted afterwards…. perhaps I shouldn't have been hopeful in the first place

In the interview for my PhD, they had already contacted my referees prior to the interview so I think it depends on the organisation/job.

Yes, I noticed with PhD applications that they wanted references up front. I've only ever known that in one job application though - normally they proceed with references after making you an offer.
Hope you've had some news, Incognito.

Hey guys
No updates yet but I was chatting to a guy who applied for a similar job last year (it's a public sector job) and he told me that it takes up to two weeks for them to decide who to hire. He didn't get it but he was contacted 3 weeks after the interview and told that he was unsuccessful- he's more hopeful than I am that I did well in the interview after I went through the details. Thanks all and will keep you posted fingers crossed.

Didn't get my job but still got my fingers crossed for you Incognito

Sorry Pixie, it is always very disappointing when you don't get a job after interview. The only thing for it is to keep going and applying for other things - in the current climate it is very difficult even to get shortlisted for interview, so you know you are putting in a strong application if you get to that stage. I've always found that if I could get a few interviews lined up, I would get one of the jobs. Well done on your publication, Incognito!

Hello guys,
So it's been a few days- I got offered the job! But here's the catch: I had to go through 2 interviews which I aced, and they contacted my referees in the UK and they gave good references, but they only want to offer me the job for 9 months instead of permanently because I just finished a PhD and am now moving back into the "job environment" (even though I worked for four years before beginning my full-time PhD). The job is amazing in every sense of the word and I was so excited about getting it but now I have mixed feelings and am feeling down. Is this common nowadays? They said they will send me the contract next week and I told them I will seriously consider taking up the job nevertheless (I didn't want to just dismiss it). What advice/words of consolation do you have for me? Nothing ever seems good enough in my case: the director said I had everything (qualifications, etc…) and they selected me out of 250 applicants but the aforementioned issue is the only reason why they don't want to give me the job full-time so I'm really down at the moment :(.