I had a first round interview at a life sciences consulting firm about 2.5 weeks ago. The interviewers were very nice and encouraged me to reach out to the recruiter after about a week if I had not heard any news yet. I reached out to the recruiter and now it's been over a week and they have not responded.
It seems highly unprofessional to ghost a candidate after they've interviewed. What could be going on here?
Hey there,
It is not unusual for there to be long communication breaks between when candidates interview with consulting firms and when they get back to you. There are a whole host of reasons why this may be so (i.e. Recruiters sometimes may want to batch responses with other candidates in the interviewing pool, dealing with excessively large number of applications, double-checking capacity or other potential restrictions, going on leave (PTO), etc.)
I'd make another follow up with the recruiting team again just to gently nudge them to respond.
All the best
Hello!
First of all, congratulations on getting the interview!
Recruiters usually manage multiple candidates and roles, so there can be delays in the recruiting process if they have more candidates than expected, for example, and need to process all the applications.
It's good you followed up - you can continue following up from time to time (e.g., weekly) as this will show your continued interest and keep you on their radar (without overwhelming them).
Hello :) It's understandable to feel frustrated when communication seems to stall after an interview, especially when you were encouraged to follow up.
There are a few possibilities that might explain the delay- the firm might be in the middle of internal discussions or approvals, which can sometimes take longer than expected. They might be interviewing a large number of candidates and need more time to make a decision. The recruiter could be out of the office or dealing with other priorities. It's possible that your follow-up email hasn't been seen yet.
I agree that you can send a polite follow-up email reiterating your interest in the position and asking for an update on the hiring timeline. This shows persistence and professionalism. But also, while waiting, continue to explore other opportunities and prepare for potential next steps.
As a coach, I believe in turning challenges into learning opportunities. This situation, while frustrating, can help you develop patience, persistence, and a strategic approach to job searching—all of which are essential skills in consulting.
Best of luck!!
Hi there,
the timeline you are experiencing is not unusual. It is of course unsettling when you are told you'd hear back within a week but then it takes longer. It is very unlikely that a firm will ghost you - you will receive official feedback (both in case of advancement as well as rejection).
I would send another follow-up e-mail "in case the first one didn't come through". After all, you might not be the only candidate following up and it might have slipped the recruiter's mind to get back to your message. In any case, you are at the mercy of the process now. So make sure you continue your recruiting efforts with other firms in the meantime to not lose time overall.
Fingers crossed
Recruiters are typically overwhelmed.
What matters more—your judgment of the recruiter’s professionalism or securing the interview?
Go follow up :)
Best,
Alberto
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