Am I Just the “Plan B”?
I’m looking for insights from seasoned recruiters.
I applied for a position over a month ago and received a call from the internal recruiter, who stated that my skills and experience were a perfect fit for the role.
Here’s a breakdown of the interview process I went through:
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First Interview: I spoke with a junior manager and an HR rep. I felt it went reasonably well.
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Online Assessment: I believe I didn’t perform as well as I hoped.
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Second Interview: I met with the hiring manager and again felt it went decently.
After these steps, I experienced a week of silence. Initially, it was supposed to be a two-stage interview process, but the recruiter then informed me they wanted to schedule an informal chat with the director instead. When I asked if any other candidates had reached this stage, the recruiter confirmed that none had.
The chat with the director lasted about 10 minutes. He asked me general questions related to the role, and while I felt I did OK, I think I could have done better.
After three days of silence, I reached out to the recruiter, who called back to explain that they were finalizing details and that he would be handing off the process to his team while he went on leave.
Now that the long holiday weekend has ended, I’ve still received no updates, and I’m starting to feel anxious. I can’t shake the thought that I might just be a backup option in case their preferred candidate declines the offer. Is this a common practice in the industry? How likely is it that I’m in this situation?
Thanks for your thoughts!
RCadmin
It’s completely normal to feel anxious during the waiting period after interviews, especially when you’re invested in a role. Based on your description, it sounds like there are a few positive indicators about your candidacy:
Interest Throughout the Process: They’ve taken the time to interview you multiple times and even brought you in for an informal chat with the director. This suggests that you are being seriously considered.
Lack of Other Candidates at the Director Level: The fact that the recruiter mentioned you are the only candidate at that stage could indicate that you’re a strong contender. Generally, if they were very interested in multiple candidates, they would likely bring several to talk to the director.
Communication from the Recruiter: The recruiter has kept you updated, even amidst their own leave. This implies they value your candidacy enough to ensure you are aware of the process, which is a positive sign.
Regarding your concern about being a “Plan B,” it’s hard to say definitively without knowledge of the specific circumstances surrounding the role and other candidates. It’s not uncommon in recruiting to keep a backup candidate warm, especially if there is uncertainty around the top choice. However, it could also simply be that they are taking their time to make a decision or that they are navigating internal processes that have nothing to do with you.
In the meantime, it’s essential to stay positive and keep applying to other opportunities. This helps mitigate anxiety during the waiting period and keeps your options open. If you haven’t heard back by the end of the week, it’s perfectly acceptable to follow up again with your recruiter for an update. Best of luck!