Ghosted after interview

[Orange]

Has anyone else ever been through the tests, then had an interview only to then be ghosted completely? I was well qualified for the role having done the exact same job at another depot and I really thought the interview had gone well. They even showed me their control room afterwards.

I've e-mailed them three times to ask for a follow up or even a response. First 2 times HR said they would speak to the hiring manager and try to get a response for me, last time I e-mailed I didn't even get a reply.

My interview was 45 days ago. Does this happen regularly with rail companies?

 

[Polarbear]

Yes, it's happened to me on a number of occasions when I've applied for various jobs on the railway. To be fair, it's not just the railway that does this, it's quite widespread.

 

[Horizon22]

Has anyone else ever been through the tests, then had an interview only to then be ghosted completely? I was well qualified for the role having done the exact same job at another depot and I really thought the interview had gone well. They even showed me their control room afterwards.

I've e-mailed them three times to ask for a follow up or even a response. First 2 times HR said they would speak to the hiring manager and try to get a response for me, last time I e-mailed I didn't even get a reply.

My interview was 45 days ago. Does this happen regularly with rail companies?

Which TOC / company was this for?

But yes this can occasionally happen. It's even happened to me before and then I've found out they've pulled the role I applied for. The only advice I can give is to keep trying to follow up but the best course is to call if you ever find a number.

 

[route101]

Had this happen a few times recently. Not in the railways. I guess they are focusing on the successful applicant and you are irrelevant, so don't waste any time on you. On the other hand I've had feedback from interviews without asking.

 

[Roger1973]

Hard to read too much in to this.

It can mean their decision making process is taking a long time (train companies do not seem to be quick at making recruitment decisions)

It can mean you're second choice and they don't want to say 'no thanks' until person who is first choice has said yes and got through references and medical

It can mean something unexpected has come up, like the possibility of the post being made redundant, or re-located, or there's a possibility of a current employee being displaced from their current job and it's being held as a possible re-deployment, but they don't want to say 'no thanks' until this is resolved.

Or it can mean they are just damn rude - in an age where it doesn't even cost the price of a stamp to send a letter, there's little to excuse not communicating.

Personally, I'd be inclined to get on with the job search. Could possibly be awkward if you saw something else with this company...

 

[spliff5050]

Sounds like MTR Crossrail

 

[Grumpy Git]

It's rude, nothing more than someone "can't be ars*d" (for want of a better expression).

What's wrong with one of the following replies which would suffice in most circumstances:

1. Sorry you have not been successful this time, but thank you for your .............
2. We have not yet made a decision and will contact you as soon as we have done so.

 

[Horizon22]

Sounds like MTR Crossrail

What makes you say that?

 

[renks26]

It’s poor behaviour most likely from the overall HR team in terms of their recruitment processes, and it’s chronic everywhere. Don’t hold it against the people who interviewed you as they won’t be responsible for feeding back to you, even their feedback would still have to come via HR.

 

[uww11x]

Think of it as a positive. Shows the company in question to be poor and you're better avoiding them

 

[Orange]

I don't want to muddy any companies reputations by naming them. It does make me anxious but I will try to keep on a positive note and hope it's something like what Roger1973 said.

I completely agree with what Grumpy Git said, doesn't take a minute to respond either way.
Thankfully I am currently employed. Would be 10 times worse if I was on the breadline.

Very grateful for all your replies.

 

[B7rleThrasher]

My worst interview experience was with a certain FOC in 2012 - made it through the first couple of rounds, then went to the depot for the final interview with a couple of the managers and for whatever reason (probably my age) they went on an absolute tyrade, laughed me out of the room, refused to call me the (provided) taxi back to the station nearest the depot and then ghosted me! Nice guys....

 

[CreamNCookies]

There's a TOC I had an interview with last year, passed the inhouse tests and interview and was told they would be in contact with me when a position becomes available (talentpool I presume).

I emailed asking for updates, and no responses.

The job has recently been readvertised and my application hasnt progressed or any Comms from them. I've given up on that TOC.

 

[507021]

I applied for a seasonal role with an unnamed company on an annual basis between 2011 and 2015, finally getting an interview in the latter year.

The interview went well (at least I thought it did), and the panel said they'd let me know early the following week. I didn't hear back during that timeframe, so after giving them another few days I tried getting in touch a few times but they didn't reply. It was the last time I bothered applying for them.

"Ghosting" a candidate after an interview is, in my view, very poor manners.

 

[Lewis5949]

MTREL is absolutely HIDEOUS for communicaton to applicants. Twice I had to call the number and speak to HR instead of recruitment. HR was great and got recruitment to call me back but damn. Several emails and 10+ calls over weeks. Just a complete failure of a recruitment team.

 

[Bucephalus]

On a positive note, I'd like to say that both SWR and Southeastern have been fantastic in terms of communication and feedback. It makes me want to keep trying

 

[spliff5050]

What makes you say that?

Personal experience.

 

[43066]

I've e-mailed them three times to ask for a follow up or even a response. First 2 times HR said they would speak to the hiring manager and try to get a response for me, last time I e-mailed I didn't even get a reply.

My interview was 45 days ago. Does this happen regularly with rail companies?

Unfortunately this kind of thing happens in many industries.

For what it’s worth, I certainly wouldn’t recommend badgering the
HR team repeatedly. That isn’t going to change the outcome of your application, but might just cause your name to be remembered for the wrong reasons.

Personal experience. Let’s just say they have no problem breaking employment law. The Recruitment team seam a bunch of unmanaged Mavericks typical of TFL and the Government funded, can’t fail, Cavalier, we can do what we want attitude

I’d be careful with accusations like that, unless you can back them up. Even if you can, this probably isn’t the place to do it.

With all due respect your choice of username rings serious alarm bells if you’re planning a career on the railway. In this industry a spliff means job loss and/or a prison sentence, depending on role.

 

[C J Snarzell]

I applied for numerous jobs in 2019 & 20, and thankfully I was only 'ghosted' once that I recall and the role was not in the rail industry. I left it about a month, then I rung their HR just to get confirmation that I didn't get the job. The woman I spoke to either hadn't worked there that long or she was having a bad day - she clearly had no idea the job in question had recently been advertised and no details of me on their files. Needless to say - I ended the conversation there & then, and put it down to bad experience.

It is not uncommon to wait for a week or two before getting the dreaded 'unsuccessful' e-mail, but generally most HR's/recruitment have got back to me (sooner or later). Hiring managers and HR people are usually busy with bigger priorities elsewhere and it is fair to say once they select the successful applicant, everybody else merely becomes what I would call an 'after thought'.

I once dated a girl who worked in a HR environment - she explained that when appointing candidates into a role, some companies do not notify the unsuccessful candidates until the contract of employment has been signed and they have 'officially' confirmed that person in their new role. This could maybe looked at as a 'safeguarding' measure to save face - if something goes wrong at the 11th hour with the successful person - the HR then have the option of selecting a 'runner up' candidate which would be very tricky if they have told everyone else 'thanks, but no thanks'. Very rare this occurs, but it does apply some logic as to why HR's may not necessarily get back to people straight away.

CJ

 

[OldNick]

I once dated a girl who worked in a HR environment - she explained that when appointing candidates into a role, some companies do not notify the unsuccessful candidates until the contract of employment has been signed and they have 'officially' confirmed that person in their new role. This could maybe looked at as a 'safeguarding' measure to save face - if something goes wrong at the 11th hour with the successful person - the HR then have the option of selecting a 'runner up' candidate which would be very tricky if they have told everyone else 'thanks, but no thanks'. Very rare this occurs, but it does apply some logic as to why HR's may not necessarily get back to people straight away.

CJ

This happened to me with my previous railway employment. Was told I was unsuccessful (after an interview I felt had gone pretty well) but a couple of weeks later they phoned me to offer me the role after all. Found out through the grapevine some time later that they were going to give the role to displaced staff but then that changed for whatever reason.

I was also ghosted more recently (non-railway) where they simply never bothered to let me know afterwards. Was months and months ago now, so doubt they are waiting until the successful candidate's references come back - they just turn all their focus onto the new starter. One of those things... a bit surprising as it was a small company with no real HR team/dept but the role was advertised through an agency so I wonder if it was their job to tell me.

 

[Grumpy Git]

...... but the role was advertised through an agency so I wonder if it was their job to tell me.

The agency has no interest whatsoever in any candidates that were unsuccessful, their cash-cow is the one who gets the job. Unfortunate, but a sad fact of life.

 

[Orange]

Sorry a lot of you have also had the same experience. If I'm ever in a position of interviewing people I'll make sure they receive a response. Glad to also get some positive reports about some TOCs.

 

[Rover77]

I had an interview Monday and was told I'd hear on Tuesday or Wednesday. Its now Friday evening. Not sure if it's still a positive that I haven't recieved the dreaded knock back email yet or is it negative meaning they are waiting for someone to accept the job offer.

 

[mresh91]

Sounds like C2C. OP, I know it sucks but don't take it to heart. I've been through this once with C2C myself, and I didn't even bother chase them up regarding it. To be fair, I found most companies do send out the generic automated emails if you fail, but it's been known to happen where a company will ghost you.

Chin up and all the best pal.

 

[C J Snarzell]

I had an interview Monday and was told I'd hear on Tuesday or Wednesday. Its now Friday evening. Not sure if it's still a positive that I haven't recieved the dreaded knock back email yet or is it negative meaning they are waiting for someone to accept the job offer.

Rover77, if its any comfort, this has happened to me previously, so you are not the first nor last to experience it.

Alot of prospective employers tell everyone the interview outcome at the same time, but there are other employers who do hold their cards close to their chests when dotting the i's or crossing the t's, especially when recruiting new staff.

Then again, it has been known for interviewers to take time out after interviewing multiple candidates, particularly if they can't agree on who they prefer.

My friend's wife works in HR for a large hotel chain and she told me she has previously interviewed people for roles and it is an exhaustive experience making notes and then having consultations/debriefs with the other interviewers afterwards.

The problem comes when the interviewers cannot agree on who they prefer. Don't forget - interviewers have other duties & responsibilities to contend in their respective day-to-day roles, and they may decide to re-schedule a meeting a few days later to discuss the outcome of the interviews.

This is just another reason that might explain the waiting game for yourself. Please don't get your hopes up, stay positive and if it is bad news - make sure you ask for feedback from the interview.

CJ

 

[Horizon22]

I had an interview Monday and was told I'd hear on Tuesday or Wednesday. Its now Friday evening. Not sure if it's still a positive that I haven't recieved the dreaded knock back email yet or is it negative meaning they are waiting for someone to accept the job offer.

Yeah highly frustrating when this happens. Something is always nicer even if its just "the hiring manager is still making their decision". I've found that many companies don't confirm to people they've been unsuccessful until their first choice firmly commits and then if there's negotiation it can drag. Keep positive though and until its absoutely confirmed, you are still in with as much chance as anyone else.

 

[FOCTOC]

My worst interview experience was with a certain FOC in 2012 - made it through the first couple of rounds, then went to the depot for the final interview with a couple of the managers and for whatever reason (probably my age) they went on an absolute tyrade, laughed me out of the room, refused to call me the (provided) taxi back to the station nearest the depot and then ghosted me! Nice guys....

Sounds to me like that's not the whole story. Have you 'history' elsewhere in the industry or did you tell fibs to get as far as you did in the interview process? I find it difficult to believe ANY company would be so unprofessional as to behave in the manner described.