Just got a callback for an interview

[James Bond]

I've been applying for jobs for over a month now, and I just got a call-back from one which I applied to on July 31st... Is this normal? It seems to be a fairly small company, judging from the website, so I'm not completely sure how I feel about it at the moment.

When I got the call, I had no idea what company the guy was talking about, so I just pretended I knew and told him I would give him a call back to arrange a time.

 

[xboxist]

Yeah, plenty normal. If it's a position of above-average relevance (marketing director, etc.) then companies like to take all the time in the world looking for the right candidates. Better to hire the proper person than to rush it and just try to replace them a year later. My GF recently got "the call" 10 weeks after her first interview. Just had the 2nd and 3rd interview these past two weeks.

 

[Capt Caveman]

It's normal. Folks are busy, summer-time vacation, etc...

One of my last jobs, I didn't get a call til 3 months after submitting my resume. Things worked out and it was one of my best job experiences to date.

 

[EagleKeeper]

It can normally take a couple of weeks, depending on the size of the company and the size of the HR department.

Being at the end of summer, one or more key people could have been on vacation and not have had a chance to review your paperwork.

And/or, you could be a second chance if their first preferred candidate backed out.

 

[James Bond]

Good to know. They want to fly me out next Tuesday. Wish me luck.

 

[HammerCurl]

Yea I've had callbacks from ~2 months to immediately after the interview. Depends on size of the company, how badly they need someone, when the opening starts, what industry, etc.

 

[FoBoT]

hiring process timelines can vary widely, some companies do the whole thing in days , others months

 

[Mxylplyx]

I've gotten calls for resumes floating around monster for over 2 years.

 

[RandomFool]

I got a call back for a interview like 2 months after I applied for a summer internship. I was so confused on the phone. "I applied? errrr...ok sure. I'll interview."
Two days earlier I got an offer for a (crappier) job. I was waiting for the information to come in the mail before accepting it. Luckily I ended up getting the better job which made me happy.

 

[chocoruacal]

Nobody can tell you it's "normal" since you haven't told us what field you're in. However, we can say it isn't unusual.

I'm in higher ed, and from application to interview can take anywhere from 1 - 4 months. I recently applied for a position at the end of May. They contacted my references at the end of July, and told one of my references that they intended to fill the position by January 2008! Uh, no thanks.

Anyway, knock 'em dead

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: chocoruacal
Nobody can tell you it's "normal" since you haven't told us what field you're in. However, we can say it isn't unusual.

I'm in higher ed, and from application to interview can take anywhere from 1 - 4 months. I recently applied for a position at the end of May. They contacted my references at the end of July, and told one of my references that they intended to fill the position by January 2008! Uh, no thanks.

Anyway, knock 'em dead

Oops, I thought I had included that. I'm looking for a Network Engineering job.

 

[SoulAssassin]

It's possible they had someone else lined up and couldn't reach an agreement on salary or something to that effect and now they're moving to the next person on the list.

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin
It's possible they had someone else lined up and couldn't reach an agreement on salary or something to that effect and now they're moving to the next person on the list.

That's what I was wondering too, but it sounds like they have a few candidates lined up. Maybe that did happen, and now they are going to all of their backups, like you said.

On the phone he said something like, "we looked at your applications and have decided that you are qualified for the interview semi-finals"... So it sounds like I'm not the only potential candidate.

 

[clamum]

I interviewed for the job I have right now about 4 or so months before they called me back and I went in for a second interview.

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: clamum
I interviewed for the job I have right now about 4 or so months before they called me back and I went in for a second interview.

Yeah. I had an interview about a month and a half ago (large company), and I still haven't really gotten any official word back. I email them about every two weeks to see if I'm still in the running, and I always get back a message like, "We are still in the process of interviewing candidates".

I assumed that meant they were playing the field and looking for someone better than me, but who knows, maybe I still have a shot?

 

[Rage187]

my company gets 110,000+ resumes a year. A month sounds about right for even a small company.

 

[imported_Imp]

Depends. Chances are they were busy. Otherwise you were put in the "bin" and all theur first choices bailed. Number 2 happened to me, and I told them to shove it after accepting a job that payed double.