Second Interview Etiquette

[Romany]

Have had a successful first interview with a well known MNC. The first interview went well and the manager I spoke to asked one of his subordinates to contact myself for a second interview.

Since then nothing has happened. He didnt respond on the time agreed by his boss, and gentle reminders have been brushed aside with "later later" and "I'll get back to you".

Thought of going back to the first guy (the manager) but probably not a good idea to tell on a potential boss/colleague before even getting a job.

Whats the general etiquette here for the job seeker? Dont want to be pushy and keep asking but dont want to wait forever either when there are other options around.

[I would]

I would contact the person who interviewed you first.  The subordinate may have an agenda.  Maybe he wants the job to go to someone else and has not told his boss that you have been in touch or told him you took anothe job.

[Tardiness]

Sigh. Sadly tardiness like this is pretty common here. The concept of getting back to people in a professional manner is often a foreign concept.

Cut your losses and forget about this firm. If they are not professional enough to arrange an agreed meeting then imagine what it would be like to work for them. In the war for talent if you snooze you lose. It's their loss. Plenty of other fish in the sea.

[Romany]

Yep good advice, in the end have decided to go for another opportunity.

This kind of game just gives a bad impression- if they behave like that before employment, I can imagine what it would be afterwards

[Still...]

Sril...I think you should let the guy who interviewed you know.

[snitch]

I agree with the above, I think you should write directly to the manager who interviewed you and tell them what happened.  If their subordinate is treating people like that, the boss may be unaware of it.

[snitch]

What is the benefit to OP in doing that, PP, now that he has taken another job?  I can see plenty of risks if OP does that, but no benefit in poking the hornets nest.

There is no benefit to the OP but there is plenty of benefit for others who may come afterwards. 

People use forums and websites to report on bad hotels or rubbish restaurants - there's no benefit to them at that point, but people who are interested in staying there or eating there will benefit from reading about their experiences - same with this situation.

All the OP would have to do is say thanks to them for taking the time to interview him/her again but as they didn't get back to them, they've taken another position.  No finger pointing, but if there is something going on backstage, then the boss should be able to read between the lines from that and work it out.

[benefit to OP]

There is certainly benefit to OP.

OP, I wld write to the boss you interviewed with, thank him/her and say that whilst you were waiting for a 2nd interview to be arranged, you got a better job offer. You're now with XYZ company. Let's keep in touch blah blah. This not only signals your courtesy, but keeps your lines of communication open; never know whether in future you may want a job there, the boss may end up being your client etc etc The world is a v small place.

By the way, this is v common, it's not Singapore, it's not you. It happens in American MNCs and UK companies. People are just busy and though your own job is the most important thing in the world to you, unfortunately it isn't to others. Large organisations in particular have so many layers of approval to go through. In fact I personally got hired the fastest by local companies where decisions could be made by 1 or 2 people and it was usually the boss who was hiring, so didn't need anyone else's approval. Invariably HR is always the stumbling block ...

[henrys]

where do you jokers get off referring to people as subordinates?

[Pardon?]

what's wrong with subordinates

[fritjes]

what's wrong with subordinates

I personally prefer the term "minions". Heh.

[big boss hoss]

i think that you can score a point here. you can say that you have waited and hoped tto be able to join the mnc but that another corporation acted more quickly and that while you would have wished to at least do the second round of interviews that you are now accepting another position. however you enjoyed the meeting with the big boss and hope that you van maintain a contact as if the right opportunity arises in the future that you would like to find a way to work for big boss... or something like that...