Ask HN: Great candidate but company needs more time to make decision

#1

Post by cyrilbenson47 » Thu, May 16, 2019, 9:50 AM UTC

So I applied on a startup and passed all interviews including technical. However, after a follow-up email regarding the status of my application, one of the founders told me that they might need more time (2 weeks) to make a decision, but considered me as a great candidate.

Btw, this is a remote job. So, I need your advice if I should just wait or look for other jobs because this might still be far-fetched.

Thanks!

Re: Ask HN: Great candidate but company needs more time to make decision

#2

Post by onion2k » Thu, May 16, 2019, 10:23 AM UTC

I'd bet $50 you're their second choice but their first choice hasn't given them a firm yes yet, so they're keeping you in reserve. I'd carry on looking in that situation.

Re: Ask HN: Great candidate but company needs more time to make decision

#3

Post by HelloNurse » Thu, May 16, 2019, 10:35 AM UTC

onion2k wrote: post #2

I'd bet $50 you're their second choice but their first choice hasn't given them a firm yes yet, so they're keeping you in reserve. I'd carry on looking in that situation.

I agree with the recommendation to keep looking for a job (since this is a promising low-likelihood opportunity); there are other likely scenarios:

- They hope to find someone better and/or cheaper, and they can afford to wait. Presumably benign.

- The advertised position isn't certain; factions within the company might not want to spend money for a new employee (or for someone else's employee in particular).

Re: Ask HN: Great candidate but company needs more time to make decision

#4

Post by cyrilbenson47 » Thu, May 16, 2019, 10:42 AM UTC

HelloNurse wrote: post #3

onion2k wrote: post #2

I'd bet $50 you're their second choice but their first choice hasn't given them a firm yes yet, so they're keeping you in reserve. I'd carry on looking in that situation.

I agree with the recommendation to keep looking for a job (since this is a promising low-likelihood opportunity); there are other likely scenarios: - They hope to find someone better and/or cheaper, and they can afford to wait. Presumably benign. - The advertised position isn't certain; factions within the company might not want to spend money for a new employee (or for someone else's employee in particular).

I was thinking the first one since the founder told me they had a frontend dev from Russia and said they're really "cheap".

I had this in mind on the final interview, but I didn't want to lowball my compensation because of the fact that the position is remote.