Current Events > So is this a red flag? Did I do wrong? (job interview related)

(+) Yeah! (+)

I had a Zoom interview for a job back at the end of April. The interview was with a HR rep and my potential manager (it was a R&D position).

At the time, I was told to expect a response around May 9th, and that they wanted the new hire to start around June 1st. May 9th came and went and I didn't get any reply that day nor since. Today, 9 days after that date, I phoned the HR rep to ask when I could expect a decision. He said the potential manager was on vacation and it'd have to wait until he got back.

1. Was I wrong to phone and ask?
2. Is it a red flag that the manager seems to be gone on a vacation spontaneously? Or that HR at the time didn't know about it?

Not wrong to phone. Have no idea on the second question.

teep_ posted...

I had a Zoom interview for a job back at the end of April. The interview was with a HR rep and my potential manager (it was a R&D position).

At the time, I was told to expect a response around May 9th, and that they wanted the new hire to start around June 1st. May 9th came and went and I didn't get any reply that day nor since. Today, 9 days after that date, I phoned the HR rep to ask when I could expect a decision. He said the potential manager was on vacation and it'd have to wait until he got back.

1. Was I wrong to phone and ask?
2. Is it a red flag that the manager seems to be gone on a vacation spontaneously? Or that HR at the time didn't know about it?

1. I don't think so. You waited til the date and then some. For all they know you have other offers and need confirmation

2. Quite possibly

Typical manager

1. No. They gave you a time frame and you followed up well after the time frame to inquire.

People have lives and other things and opportunities with limited availability. Being able to close the loop is to both your and their benefit because you can know that you still have the opportunity for employment and they can know you are still available.

It'd have been weird if you had called like the day before, day of, or day after.

2. Not necessarily, sometimes people have real life emergencies come up and all they'll tell people is that they went on/are going on vacation , to minimize invasive questions

You did the right thing. Personally, I'd call earlier. Three days after the due date or one week after the interview.

Depends on how big it is.
Startup with like 20 people? Kinda red flag but as stated, vacation doesn't mean lying on a beach in Miami looking at retired ladies. It could just be an emergency.

It's not a big deal to follow up. Some places even like it that you do. Also people regular take PTO. It's fine.

1) Calling in shows that youre proactive rather than reactive. Id say thats a good thing on your part.

2) Plans can change over a month, and something might have simply come up for the manager that they werent previously planning on doing. I dont think this is a red flag. If they told you when the manager is returning from vacation, Id say try calling back like a day after they return (let them get back and a chance to catch up first, sort through some of their work that is on their plate).

The Popo posted...

If they told you when the manager is returning from vacation

They didn't. Just that it would have to wait until they got back and I didn't feel comfortable asking when that would be

Id just call back in a week then.

The Popo posted...

Id just call back in a week then.

I feel like that's too early, personally

Having been on the hiring side of the table, time off etc could definitely be planned ahead (or spontaneously as people said), I wouldn't stress too much about it.

Ruvan22 posted...

Having been on the hiring side of the table, time off etc could definitely be planned ahead (or spontaneously as people said), I wouldn't stress too much about it.

Gotcha