Why does it take so long?

You see an advert for a job that you feel is right up your street, eagerly fill out the application and send it off and wait for the call to interview. But then, nothing happens, for weeks…

So, why does it take so long for you and your application to go through the recruitment system, particularly in our ATS/AI driven world?

Most candidates do not appreciate just how long it takes once they are in the ‘system’ - what we call the Waiting Game. To successfully play this you need to know the recruitment game and how to beat it!

You should be aware of the time it takes for a senior/managerial individual to be recruited:

• For example, a company decides that it wants to recruit; it could be 1-4 weeks before this is authorised internally or it is put in the hands of a recruitment firm.

• If the position is then advertised, it may be days or weeks before it is put out there and they have to wait for all applications to come in, which may be weeks

• If you apply for the role, you may hear back from them in 1-2 weeks regarding the next stage, or, more likely, hear nothing until your application has been assessed

• If candidates are invited to interview, it may be at least 2-6 weeks since the job went live

• You may get invited to a further interview which could be in 1-4 weeks time

• A typical time to shortlist for a recruitment firm is 4-6 weeks at which stage you will be invited to meet the client, which may take 1-3 weeks to take place; second and subsequent interviews may be 1-4 weeks after this before you get to offer stage

• An offer may be made 1-2 weeks after your final interview

Total time: Minimum timescale is 7 weeks; typical is 12 weeks plus (the longest we have been involved with as recruiters was 18 months!).

This means that if you apply for a position today it is unlikely that you will be made an offer for up to 12 weeks.

Consequently, you need to ensure that your activity in applying for positions is both regular and in sufficient numbers.

You also need to have a follow up system in place to ensure that you keep a track of all applications and all conversations/contacts you have had with recruitment firms and employers.

Never rely on just one application that you have set your heart on because it is a great job – always have other applications as a back-up; many projects get cancelled or put on hold or they take on an internal candidate, which may have been their aim anyway…

Learn to play the recruitment game!