I have been chasing a relatively senior role with a major blue-chip company since November. I’ve had three interviews – two in person and one by phone – and still have not seen the hiring director. Now the recruiter has called to say they want me to complete a psychometric profile. I feel as though I’m being made to jump through hoops. How can I bring this to a conclusion in my favour?
Just for a moment imagine you’re the hiring director and not the candidate. Organisations are driven by cyclical events and day-to-day challenges, politics and budgets, any of which can impact on the process and the timescale for filling a vacancy.
The fact that the hiring process has become lumpy and extended could well be an indication that the post you’re interviewing for has become caught up in some internal wrangling such as a disagreement about funding or reporting lines.
Or, it may be simply that the hiring director is struggling to find diary time to complete the recruitment process. It could be year-end; they could have had a poor set of figures or results that need to be urgently attended to; there may have been some high-level changes of staff or strategy. In short, the delay in progressing the recruitment may be nothing to do with you.
Go with the process
Rather than halting the process, the hiring director may be trying to find ways of keeping things moving, one of which may be having others interview you first.
It may also be that, conscious of the delay and not wanting to lose you, they are creating extra steps in the process to keep you ‘occupied’. So, in this sense, it may be that you are being made to jump through hoops.
The good thing is that there is nothing here to suggest the process is not going well for you. It may just be a case of being patient. That said, I would advise anyone in this situation to carry on applying for other roles. If this vacancy is withdrawn, or if you are the unluckier of two candidates in the process, you will be glad you had other options.
Hold your nerve
However frustrating it is to be at the mercy of a slow process, there is nothing to be gained by trying to hurry it. If the hiring director feels you are putting him or her under pressure they may decide to put the whole process on hold and release you.
Try to keep your nerve and not get impatient. The best things you can do in this position are to participate in every task as enthusiastically as you can; make sure the recruitment consultant knows you are both keen and prepared to wait because you really want this job; and to get the recruiter to keep pushing for an intended timeframe so that the process keeps moving without you applying any undue pressure.
Your best hope is that positivity and patience will pay off.
