Two Weeks After an Interview With No Response: What To Do

When applying for a new position, you may undergo an extensive application and interview process. Every company operates uniquely, with an individual timeline for alerting applicants. Learning more about this process may help you understand what to do if it's been two weeks after the interview with no response. In this article, we explain the hiring process, provide a list of reasons you may not get a response and offer tips for what to do if it's been two weeks since your interview. Related: 21 Job Interview Tips: How To Make a Great Impression

What process do hiring managers use?

Hiring mangers complete an extensive process when filling an open position. The length of the process and the variety of stages may influence how long it takes for you to hear about a job opening. Here are the six key steps in their process:

1. Advertise the position

The first step in their process is to advertise the opening within the company. A hiring manager may write a job description that includes relevant job duties, requirements and qualifications the company is seeking in an applicant. Then, they post the job opening on various career and company websites to open the application process. Related: What To Expect at Every Stage of the Hiring Process

2. Accept and review applications

An application window of one week to a month is common for most job listings. For example, a company may include an application deadline in a position they post online for two weeks before ending the application process. Once they've received applications, hiring managers may use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to perform the first round of filtering. ATS software automatically reviews the content of each applicant's resume and scans for keywords, skills or experiences that the hiring manager prioritizes. Then, the hiring manager can review the applications that are rated highly by the tracking system.

3. Interview several candidates

After reviewing the relevant applications, a hiring manager may select candidates for an interview. These candidates may complete an interview with the hiring manager or other important personnel. The length of the interviewing stage may vary, depending on how many applicants the hiring manager selects to interview. If you're interviewed early in the process, your wait time may be longer than those interviewed later. Related: A Complete Guide to the Interview Process

4. Update the candidates

Typically, after the first round of interviews, a hiring manager contacts the applicants to provide an update about the process. It's common for some applicants to receive a second interview. Often, receiving a second interview is a sign that you performed well in the first interview, and the hiring manager wants to learn more about you. However, the hiring manager or a different member of personnel may also have more specialized questions to ask you to compare you to other candidates. Related: How To Succeed at Your Second Interview

5. Discuss the candidates

After the interviews are completed, the human resource department, the hiring manager and other employees relevant to the decision may discuss the candidates. They may compare notes from various interviews and evaluate which applicants may be a good fit for the role. These discussions help the team narrow their choices to a few impressive candidates.

6. Make the final decision

After extensive discussion, the hiring team makes a final decision on its new hire. They may extend a job offer by email or phone call. Depending on the quantity or quality of candidates and how urgently they're looking to fill the role, the time to reach this decision may vary.

Why might you have no response two weeks after an interview?

Because the hiring process is extensive and has several stages, you may be still waiting for an update two weeks after your interview. This may feel frustrating, but usually, there's an explanation. Here's a variety of reasons you may have no response two weeks after your interview:

The company is still acquiring funding for the position

Sometimes, a company advertises a role before they have the funding to onboard a new employee. This may contribute to a two-week waiting period. If this is the case, it's likely that the company alerts you to maintain your interest in the position.

The hiring manager hasn't concluded the process

It may be difficult for the hiring manager to decide on a candidate. If you haven't heard in two weeks, it's possible they haven't reached the final stage. If there were many applicants, it may take longer for the hiring manager to compare candidates and make their final choice.

The hiring manager hesitates to close your file

If the hiring manager selected a different applicant for the role, it's polite for them to inform you. However, they may have enjoyed getting to know you and are now hesitant or disappointed about sharing bad news. Possibly, they wouldn't mind keeping your file open as a possibility in case their choice of candidates doesn't work out. Try to maintain a positive relationship with the company in case a position opens in the future.

The decision-maker is out of office

Another reason you may not hear from the company within two weeks is that the hiring manager who makes the final decision is out of the office. For example, during a hiring process, the head of the human resources department may go on a five-day vacation, and without that decision-maker, the hiring team may not move forward in the process. If this occurs, it's likely that the team plans to decide once the important employee returns.

The company shifted priorities

Sometimes, other situations arise in the workplace that need immediate attention. Your lack of update could relate to another issue taking place within the office. Once the employees resolve the issue, they may resume the hiring process.

The company isn't rushing to hire

Occasionally, a company has an open position that they don't need to fill quickly. If there's less urgency to fill the opening, the hiring team may take their time with the overall process. This may delay their response to beyond two weeks.

The competition is well-qualified

If there are several impressive applicants, the hiring team may have trouble selecting only one person to hire. This means you may be in fierce competition with the other applicants. Having several high-performing candidates may cause the hiring manager to spend more time making the decision.

Tips for what to do two weeks after an interview with no response

If you haven't received a response from an employer after two weeks, there are a few strategies you might implement. Consider these tips for what to do:

Encourage yourself: It's important to maintain a positive attitude by encouraging yourself for doing your personal best.
Stay busy: Stay occupied throughout the day to keep your mind from thinking about the interview.
Continue looking for a job: Try to maintain momentum by applying for other open positions while you wait for a response.
Start a project or class: If you have spare time, consider starting a project or taking a professional class to challenge yourself.
Improve your resume: Consider adding details or editing your resume for improvements as you wait.
Send a note: After 14 days, it's appropriate to send a note that asks about the status of the job. Consider asking if they need any other information from you to help with their decision.