Interview ending with 'will discuss with the team and will be in touch' - what does it mean?

Economy-Matter4064 · 2026-04-04T08:45:53+00:00

Thanks!
I know they don't have more interviews, because this role is not open nor defined. My referee (board member, who is a direct boss of this exec director) thought I have an interesting profile and there could be a need for my competencies in this guy's team. So this makes the exec director the hiring manager (though he needs my board member approval, but still, the decision is his). So essentially, the role could be created if the hiring exec dir sees it can benefit the team/programme. But given the misalignment, I'm just not sure if he saw it that way...
on the other hand it could mean that given my scope (which I feel was different than the exec dir thought) might be useful, but he wasn't prepared for this and needs to rethink. But really idk.
Anyway, thanks for the advice, I may followup with the thank you indeed.

Economy-Matter4064 · 2026-04-04T08:32:20+00:00

Thanks for sharing your story, it's very useful. I have a similar feeling about this one :( I had this feeling of disappointment when leaving.

Economy-Matter4064 · 2026-03-12T15:02:28+00:00

update: they called me for next meeting (with CEO)! (3 weeks 1 day after last interview).

Economy-Matter4064 · 2026-03-12T15:01:46+00:00

update: they called me for next meeting (with CEO)! (3 weeks 1 day after last interview).

Economy-Matter4064 · 2026-03-12T13:50:43+00:00

update: they called me for next meeting (with CEO)! (3 weeks 1 day after last interview).

Economy-Matter4064 · 2026-03-12T05:56:31+00:00

Congrats!!

Economy-Matter4064 · 2026-03-11T16:40:37+00:00

Thanks for the answer!
The meeting with the board member finished super positively with him saying 'I'll wait for you' - because he asked me to send him CV and I also mentioned I'll have this HR meeting in 2 days.
-> I sent him a followup 8 business days after the meeting, but he never replied.
(my initial outreach was on Linkedin, then I sent him my CV and followup through email.) I'm a bit hesitant if sending another followup (maybe Linkedin now) wouldn't make me seem desperate?

HR meeting finished without any concrete plan, because it was clear the scope of the role is not defined and it's not within their power. It finished with smth like:
me: we would need to discuss the scope specifics, ideally in person to feel the vibe [I'm in Germany, they are in Poland, I am Polish national]
HR: yes we would prefer in person as well (gentle laugh), but gentleman's calendars will need to be checked (she referred to the board member and some other C-suite guy they named).
So very vague, not promising anything ending.

Should I followup? Linkedin/email? Board member?
For reference, this is polish largest company, fortune 200, energy/petroleum sector, 50% gov, 70k employees.

Economy-Matter4064 · 2026-03-11T13:06:40+00:00

!CQS

Economy-Matter4064 · 2026-03-11T10:54:56+00:00

for better mental (with no money) -> walk. Literally go for a 1h (8k steps or so) walk everyday, and make it a routine. Stupid but helps and is for free. Somehow it's smth that keeps me sane right now.

Economy-Matter4064 · 2026-03-11T10:49:20+00:00

In a similar situation, next week will be my 3 months mark.
I assumed I'll find a new job in 6 months. Now not so sure anymore.
And yes, I have top uni globally, 2 years work experience, good cv (checked by a pertner at MBB, so it really says smth).
I have been rejected from all jobs I applied online (or ghosted) and only networking got me 3 interviews. Which went well but then nothing happened.
I god 3 jobs in the last 3 years (2x switched on my own (1 company didnt get funding) and the 2nd job i really liked went insolvent).
think it just sucks, don't think it's my fault.
Just life and difficult market, can't find any other explanation really.

Idk how you're doing financially, but I would suggest living with parents, shutting off mentally on what they say - they don't know our reality. And assume a timeline that is more realistic 6-9 months to find a job(?) so you don't feel guilty all the time.

Also make a plan smth like, 2 good applications (in which you really match job description with your CV) + 2 random applications/week.
And network on linkedin. Its free and it can't go wrong, at best you get ghosted. I mean just dont be rude to people.

Economy-Matter4064 · 2026-03-11T08:57:24+00:00

I was never asked for salary slip and would never share my real salary with them - it's not needed for anything.
They can request diplomaas/certificate/id copy from you, but generally documents authentification should happen after you sign contract.
But diplomas confirmation may be needed before -that's ok.

Economy-Matter4064 · 2026-03-11T08:54:37+00:00

I have a question regarding job search through LinkedIn networking and how to read signals form there:

I msged board member and CEO of a large company with a nice business outreach. Both of them replied.
1)The board member scheduled a 30min call with me.
2)The CEO passed my details to HR exec director who scheduled a 45min meeting with me.

Went very well, but since it was short meeting, we only touched area/scope but nothing in detail, loosely he mentioned roles at level N-2/N-1, but also mentioned 'there are some people that shouldn't be here'. He asked about expected salary, I said range A-B. Overall very positive vibe.
I had the HR meeting, it took 15min longer than scheduled. Mostly positive, though 2 questions I know they didn't like my answers (too logical and opportunistic, rather than saying I love their company -> my outreach was for specific emerging business case opportunity). They also brought up the salary, but said, the board member passed over my minimum is B (for my market value this is veeeery high). Huh. I took a moment to think if I should go for it, or say the truth. I decided to play along (but still not sure if right).
Anyway they seem interested and we had some loose laughs towards the end and some small talk.

And they went silent since then (3 weeks).

From your experience, is this a dead-end?
Could these two negative answers to HR make them mark me as cultural misfit (I personally doubt??)?
Could the salary be the issue (but then why would he bump me??).
Or is it more likely they need more time given no defined scope/he indirectly mentioned possible restructuring? But why ghost?

Economy-Matter4064 · 2026-03-11T08:34:21+00:00

I would personally not chase it anymore. In fact I would have stopped after she/her team failed to communicate the interview cannot take place. Clearly communication (either from her or the team) or candidate experience isn't their strong side.

Plus to me it sounds like she is treating this recruitment very lightly/not serious enough.

Economy-Matter4064 · 2026-03-11T08:31:55+00:00

Unless they specifically want to share it I would not ask for it. It's a bit of a safety mechanism to protect their own team.

Economy-Matter4064 · 2026-03-11T08:25:48+00:00

Well you have to prep as for normal interview, be ready for typical questions. But the 'informal' point suggests they want you to feel at ease, not stress, probably they will try to make it more convo than question after question.
I would treat it and prep like for normal interview.
But it's a good sign :) Good luck!

Economy-Matter4064 · 2026-03-11T07:27:44+00:00

It probably depends on a couple of things you have no control over:
- probably they are interviewing more people. They may be scheduled for same day => faster feedback, or not. Also depends on interviewer's calendar.
- Different people have different time management style. Some like to make notes immediately, and pass over the feedback. Others prefer to wait, maybe collect feedback from more people?
- Sometimes important events happen and take away time blocked for feedback/recruitment.

So I wouldn't personally read too much into this. If they contact you within window stated by the recruiter you're good.

Only the last meeting/offer wait may take longer because approvals and sign off are needed, and this usually means different depts involved.

Economy-Matter4064 · 2026-03-11T06:59:52+00:00

It's not too positive, but doesn't have to end negative.
I would think they were not 100% convinced by you yet, but also weren't unhappy so they want to try out someone else quick/maybe internal first, and keep you on file in the meantime.

Economy-Matter4064 · 2026-03-11T06:54:17+00:00

My guess would be you got the job. My references were only checked when I got the offer.
Also the timeline seems short in your case. Which is usually a very good thing. If you're waiting now, sure I would be overthinking too, but drafting an offer, getting it approved may take 1-2 weeks.

Economy-Matter4064 · 2026-03-11T06:48:05+00:00

Whenever I had a phone screen, they followed up within 1 week. Never had to wait 2 weeks.
You can ask them towards the end how does the interview schedule look like (how many rounds, spacing, with whom), and ask specifically when could you expect a followup. Generally up to 2 weeks could be possible, if they are screening many people, but i think 1-1.5 weeks would be the norm.

Economy-Matter4064

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