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Even with the knowledge of the family emergency I would still think she is stalling. Her references should have been in order from the beginning of her job search. When I began my job search, I contacted some old references just to make sure it was still ok to use them. Now when a job asks I just shoot them a quick message to expect a call or email. I am surprised you are still holding onto her. I would keep pursuing the 2nd candidate. That person made the top two for a reason and could turn out to be a great hire.
I agree that it seems likely she's got another potential offer and was hoping to get that one in before making a chance. At this point, you gave her a deadline, she missed it and you've moved on. I would stick with that. But you don't need to tell #1 that right away, you might as well wait to make sure you come to terms with #2, just in case it turns out they want too much money or whatever.
I also agree that she is probably waiting to here back about another offer. It's also right before a holiday. However, if I was truly interested in a job I would still call or at least email back.
At any rate, did you already offer #2 the position? If so then you need to stick with that and #1 had her chance. If not, you need to make a decision if you want #1 or #2. Family emergencies do happen so she might be telling the truth!
I received a call from her (our first choice) today at 3:00pm. She left a message on my work phone stating she had a family emergency and I guess did not call me or email me back yesterday. Her previous excuse was that she needed, four days I guess, to make sure she had her references in order.
So in the meantime I have already asked the second candidate about salary offers. Should I just continue with what I'm doing or call our first choice back and see what she has to say?
Did she sound interested in the position? or was it a flat, "I had a family emergency, please call me back?"
I mean, even if I had a family emergency, I'd apologize, tell them how interested I am and that I'll be awaiting their call. And then ANSWER when they do call.
I dunno. I agree with everyone else, #1 just seems to not really care if she got the job or not. If I was waiting on a job, even with a family emergency, you would have gotten an email from me at midnight (or right before I went to bed). I have even turned down a job offer, while on vacation in Hawaii.
Even with the knowledge of the family emergency I would still think she is stalling. Her references should have been in order from the beginning of her job search. When I began my job search, I contacted some old references just to make sure it was still ok to use them. Now when a job asks I just shoot them a quick message to expect a call or email. I am surprised you are still holding onto her. I would keep pursuing the 2nd candidate. That person made the top two for a reason and could turn out to be a great hire.
Per the bolded --- Spot on! I was telling my husband about this thread and he said the same thing---and I agree. Every time I've applied to a job that asked for references, I was able to give them right then and there.
I have to wonder what is so special about this candidate that the OP is bending over backwards for her.
I received a call from her (our first choice) today at 3:00pm. She left a message on my work phone stating she had a family emergency and I guess did not call me or email me back yesterday. Her previous excuse was that she needed, four days I guess, to make sure she had her references in order.
So in the meantime I have already asked the second candidate about salary offers. Should I just continue with what I'm doing or call our first choice back and see what she has to say?
"Family Emergency" is a red flag phrase. It is used by people who do not have a good excuse but don't want you to ask questions. The moment she used that phrase I would move on to the next candidate.
Don't let her jerk you around any longer. You gave her a deadline, she blew it off. Her problems, real or imagined, are not your problems. Move on.
"Family Emergency" is a red flag phrase. It is used by people who do not have a good excuse but don't want you to ask questions. The moment she used that phrase I would move on to the next candidate.
Don't let her jerk you around any longer. You gave her a deadline, she blew it off. Her problems, real or imagined, are not your problems. Move on.
lol, after she asked us for 'advice' on whether she should continue to pursue this candidate (after several of us said not to the first time), she probably called her back again regardless. I'm willing to bet the OP's next update is that they will move forward with the original candidate (or will continue to pursue her).
I went to a job interview the day after my father passed away. So to me, using the excuse of family emergency as a reason why she couldn't return an email or a call rings pretty false. And my father was my world. So please no accusations of being heartless....as devastated as I was at losing him, I also recognized that being able to pay my bills and not mooch off of my mom would be something he'd want.
I'm currently interviewing and in fairly final stages with a company. I don't care what's happening. I'm going to keep my eye on the phone and return a call or email within an hour or two, even if it's just to acknowledge receipt and ask for more time to get something together. Pretty sure everyone in my life would understand. If they don't, then they need to not be in my life anymore.
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