From your experience, how long after applications close do interviews normally begin? (apply, interview)

[NHHiker1]

I realize it's going to be different at every job based on any number of factors, so no need to explain that to me.

But I am just trying to get a general gauge of what people have experienced in the past with companies, and/or how their current company does things.

How long after the time the application process closes does a company begin calling people for interviews?

[MPowering1]

We contact people the second day the ad runs. We don't wait for a hundred plus resumes to hit, then pull the ad, then start calling people. I doubt any company does that.

[joe from dayton]

We try and schedule interviews 2-3 weeks after the window closes.

[fishbrains]

Originally Posted by MPowering1

We contact people the second day the ad runs. We don't wait for a hundred plus resumes to hit, then pull the ad, then start calling people. I doubt any company does that.

We do. As a state agency we must advertise a posting for a minimum of one week, and all applications that meet minimum qualifications are reviewed. The top 4-6 scores get called for an interview.

The trick is to advertise for the appropriate amount of time so that we are not overwhelmed with applications.

Nobody is contacted until all applications are reviewed. This might take 2-3 days, it might take 2-3 weeks.

[Hemlock140]

We wait until after it closes, then the hiring manager finishes reviewing. Normally we will keep it to 10-15 interviews, so if we have 100+ applicants it can take a few days, but usually we end on a Sunday night, calls are made by the end of the week for appointments the following week. So two weeks is normal.

[MPowering1]

Originally Posted by fishbrains

We do. As a state agency we must advertise a posting for a minimum of one week, and all applications that meet minimum qualifications are reviewed. The top 4-6 scores get called for an interview.

The trick is to advertise for the appropriate amount of time so that we are not overwhelmed with applications.

Nobody is contacted until all applications are reviewed. This might take 2-3 days, it might take 2-3 weeks.

Thanks for the scoop, fishbrains. It seems we're in the minority given what you, Joe and Hemlock have posted.

It just seems like a lot of work to have to go through over a hundred resumes at once, but then, we've cut out HR completely from the process and are always working on things the client needed yesterday.

[fishbrains]

Originally Posted by MPowering1

Thanks for the scoop, fishbrains. It seems we're in the minority given what you, Joe and Hemlock have posted.

It just seems like a lot of work to have to go through over a hundred resumes at once, but then, we've cut out HR completely from the process and are always working on things the client needed yesterday.

This seems to be a private sector vs public sector thing. When I was the in private sector I would do things your way. Review resumes as they come in and schedule interviews as soon as you have a few interesting applicants. With public sector responsibilities we need to give all interested applicants equal opportunity to apply so as to prevent nepotism, otherwise people would post a job, leave it open for 20 minutes, then take it down once their brother in law got his application in. This is one reason why we tend to have hiring committees, rather than a single hiring manager. It adds to transparency.

Like you, I don't have much interest in having HR run the show, and I have never seen the antics that people on this board complain about. HR handles the bureaucratic process, but minimum qualifications, advertising, budgetary decisions and approvals are not in their realm at all.

[MPowering1]

Originally Posted by fishbrains

This seems to be a private sector vs public sector thing. When I was the in private sector I would do things your way. Review resumes as they come in and schedule interviews as soon as you have a few interesting applicants. With public sector responsibilities we need to give all interested applicants equal opportunity to apply so as to prevent nepotism, otherwise people would post a job, leave it open for 20 minutes, then take it down once their brother in law got his application in. This is one reason why we tend to have hiring committees, rather than a single hiring manager. It adds to transparency.

Like you, I don't have much interest in having HR run the show, and I have never seen the antics that people on this board complain about. HR handles the bureaucratic process, but minimum qualifications, advertising, budgetary decisions and approvals are not in their realm at all.

Thanks, fishbrains, that makes sense. I've never had to deal with that and so I know nothing about it other than what you folks have posted.

I've not seen most of the issues people complain about either with HR, although I have seen them lure people into opening up when they have a complaint, and then running straight to the manager to repeat it. So I do tend to jump on the HR isn't your friend bandwagon when it rides by. But I cut them out of the loop for the reasons you stated. They're good at what they do, but are generalists. You need a specialist when you're doing anything department specific.

[wonderwall]

I just interviewed for a job. It was posted a month ago, I was called for a phone interview 3 weeks ago, then shortly after that, the job was reposted. I just interviewed for it in person, and the posting is still active.