Did I shoot myself in the foot post-interview?

April 11, 2015 10:19 PM

Had great first interview with partners. Had great second interview with operations manager. During follow-up call with HR, I mentioned that I was also interviewing at other places in a different industry. Did I screw up?

I interviewed at a creative agency for an account director/manager position. Resume went straight to the partners, who I hit it off with at my first interview. A week later, I had a great follow-up interview with the operations/logistics manager. Then another week went by.

Then I got contacted by the recruiter who asked if a certain base salary was workable (I had given them a range). I said it was certainly workable, but that I'd have to see the full package. She said sure, she'd try to put that together ASAP, that it was just a matter of conferring with all involved. She sounded very much like she was still trying to keep me on the hook.

Then, just before we got off the phone, I mentioned that I may possibly receive an offer from another firm in a tangentially related industry. I can't be certain, but I think at this point her tone changed. She asked me to definitely let her know before I accept any other offers. I agreed.

Then the week almost went by, and no contact. (I also got turned down by the other firm.) Finally this morning (Friday, end of same week) I sent her a quick email asking if she had any news, and she didn't answer all day. Finally, at 6pm, she sends an email saying she's been crazy busy, could we talk next week, Monday or even Tuesday?

I'm just wondering how I could've gone from "super-sought after" to "chopped liver" in such a short span. I'm convinced I put a foot in it somehow by mentioning that I was seeking employment elsewhere, though that sounds ridiculous (do they expect that I'd only be talking to them?)

HR people/recruiters - please help me. Is this something that turns you off to a candidate? Is that the kind of information I should've kept to myself, especially since it wasn't the same field? How can I put this back on track, if it's not too late? Is it too late?

I just can't stop kicking myself for opening my mouth and killing something that had great momentum dead in its tracks.

posted by anonymous to Work & Money (3 answers total)

You did nothing wrong. Her delay has nothing to do with you being open about having other processes going on (and it would have been a mistake to obfuscate on this issue -- firms will often dally if they think you're NOT interviewing elsewhere.) The delay has to do with the hiring people not having given her the green light to extend an offer to you (maybe "yet" or maybe "ever") for any of a hundred reasons having nothing to do with the fact that you have other interview processes going on.

[Source: I am in this recruiter's position multiple times per week.]

By the way, feeling super sought after during the interview process doesn't mean much. It is my job and that of everyone interviewing you to make sure that if we do want to hire you, you will have been primed to want the role, and to feel as if it is a great match.
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:41 PM on April 11, 2015 [9 favorites]

I think she probably truly has been busy. My personal experience is that recruiters are keeping track of a lot of stuff, and can be slower than candidates want. Candidates always want things to move more quickly than they do and recruiters don't have the same level of urgency or anxiety as the candidates, obviously.

I don't think you screwed up, because you signaled to them that they should be competitive in what they offer you because you have other options and aren't just waiting around for their call. It's good to not look desperate and to look desirable. If this place likes you and they want to get you, then that's really all that matters.

Now, if it's a totally unrelated industry, I think there could be some apprehension -- they could think that you really want to work in that industry and will accept their job offer but move on once you get a job in your dream industry. If it looks like this firm is your safety job while you try to break into another industry, you could look like a flight risk to them and no one wants avoidable staff turnover. But if it's at least somewhat related, it won't look different than any other offer -- just that you have a lot of desirable skills.

I'm not in HR, I've just been hired and I have hired people.
posted by AppleTurnover at 12:36 AM on April 12, 2015

You did nothing wrong. Recruiters especially understand that people are entertaining multiple offers. This has everything to do with her/the client, than you. Don't sweat it; some orgs take ages to hire someone.
posted by smoke at 2:47 PM on April 12, 2015