When a job offer takes too long? (2023)

How long is too long to wait for a job offer?

In general, if you don't hear back from the hiring manager two weeks after they told you they'd be in contact, you can probably assume the company has decided to go with another candidate.

Why Do Job Offers Take so Long? Job offers take so long because hiring decisions are crucial for a company and the wrong decision is costly. The interview and hiring process involves multiple people and departments which creates more likelihood of delays, complications, and a long duration.

There is no hard and fast rule about how long employers will take to get back to you with a job offer (or a job rejection). The hiring process can vary from employer to employer, the type of job you are applying for, and the industry in which you work. You could get an offer in a day or two or it could take weeks.

While employers can call with a job offer any day of the week, Tuesday is statistically the most popular day to send out offers, closely followed by Thursday.

The sooner you hire someone, the better-quality candidate you get, on average. The average time it takes for candidates to hear back about a job offer is between 20 and 40 days after an interview, according to Glassdoor.

Salary negotiations can take some time. They're typically representative of the company's hiring process on the whole. If the company already has a lengthy interview process (upwards of two months), expect salary negotiations to take a week or two.

They may have an internal candidate that surfaced, the hiring manager may have changed their mind, or the position's budget may have been cut, etc. I will say it is not necessarily a reflection on you. So, continue looking for work as if this opportunity has passed.

If you're wondering how long does it take for HR to approve a job offer, the answer may vary. After your interview, it's common for companies to give a rough timeline of when they expect to make their decision, with this usually being around two to four weeks.

How do you know if the job offer is not right for you?

“I understand that candidates need time to make a thoughtful decision,” Nelson says, “but anything longer than a week means that they aren't sure. Hesitation is a big red flag.” In fact, asking for more than one week could actually disqualify you, Ernst says, as it suggests you may not be excited about the opportunity.

It's not uncommon to receive job offers over the phone or by email, because historically, verbal contracts were the norm. While the law now requires employers to provide a written contract, it's normal to first receive an informal offer by phone or email before the company sends out this hard copy.

All questions and concerns can be ironed out during the remainder of the week, and the candidate can sign their offer letter by Friday, if not sooner. The truth is job offers are made every day of the week. However, Tuesday is the most popular.

While accepting an offer immediately can be tempting, especially when you're excited/relieved to finally have a new job opportunity, you should always wait a day or two to accept the offer instead of accepting on the spot.

For the most part, 24 to 48 hours seems to be the standard observed by most sellers and their agents, but there are some exceptions. In today's market, multiple offers are quite common, and in these situations, response times can increase.

Short answer: Yes, but only if you behave poorly or miss obvious cues that you mustn't try to negotiate. In most cases, you should negotiate your salary when accepting a job offer. The reasons for negotiating are outlined in our “Reasons to ask for a higher starting salary” guide.

It is possible to lose a job offer while negotiating a salary, but Appiah said it only happens in certain contexts. The job offer tends only to be rescinded if the candidate is “negotiating for the sake of negotiating” or the number they are proposing is unreasonable.

It really depends. Some people feel you should take the first offer if you're happy with it. Never negotiate just for the sake of negotiating. Other people disagree with that position and believe anytime you're given the chance to negotiate, you should.

How long can you make a company wait before accepting a job offer?

Ben Bengougam, Vice President of Human Resources for Hilton Worldwide, warns not to take too long to consider. “Take 24 hours, 48 hours max. An employer won't wait for you longer. They will interpret your indecision as lack of interest, or think you're playing offers from elsewhere against theirs.

How Long Does It Usually Take to Hear Back After Applying for a Job? The average waiting time to hear back after applying for a job is one to two weeks. For government jobs, it can take three to four weeks as the number of candidates is higher and the review process is more complex.

Two weeks is usually a good time period to wait before contacting them, especially if you were expecting some type of contact within that timeframe. Whatever you do though, do not be rude. The hiring process can get complicated quickly, and you should be courteous to them throughout it.

The sooner you hire someone, the better-quality candidate you get, on average. The average time it takes for candidates to hear back about a job offer is between 20 and 40 days after an interview, according to Glassdoor.