How long should I wait to hear back from an employer?

[steve208]

I had an interview at the beginning of the month for a job within the civil service. I heard within a week that they would like to provisionally offer me the job, subjects to references and security checks etc.

They did say this would take a while, my current employer told me she did a reference about two weeks ago now. So my question is should i just hold on and i will be contacted soon?! its annoying kinda being in limbo, although their letter said not to take the job offer for granted, so maybe they will reject me due to their checks. I hope not as my employer has done her bit a nd given a great reference!

[dot.hawkes]

At the interview did they actually say when the job would be starting from? Often they are advertising because a vacancy has arisen and the employee leaving has given up to 8 weeks notice, and so there may not be any rush to start the new person and also references take time to write for and get replies. so be patient and try to remember what they told u at the interview about an anticipated commencement date

[steve208]

Well they said "a while" at the interview. But in the letter saying they would like to offer me a job subject to certian checks they said to expected start dates to be late 2006. I would presume that when they get back to me there will be time between that letter and a possible start date for me to give 4 weeks notice at my current job.

I would like to apply for other jobs but i think the job i am waiting to hear from is where i want to be, and also would if i got it offer good prospects.

[buildersmate]

Civil service are really slow at doing the checks, and if they are doing SC clearance or those required for working with children it could easily take two months. Don't give up - it will probably work out OK.

[hugnie21]

I agree with buildersmate, I would say a couple of months. That's how long mine took for my job. Hopefully you ticked no to most of the questions on the security questionnaire though, in which case you shouldn't have a problem getting the job. Once mine were completed I got a phonecall asking me to start a training course in 2 weeks time. I explained about my notiice period so they offered me a course in exactly four weeks so I had to hand in my notice that same day!

[chazza]

The civil service are very slow, i got the letter in June offering me the post, and didnt get a start date until the end of November

[steve208]

Thank you to you all for your answers.

I am rather scared by the last one! But it does tie in with a letter i got today from the office i would be working for, the letter basically said be patient the vetting checks could take 3 - 6 months.

[steve208]

I have seen some other jobs i would like to apply for but would feel like i had wasted the civil service's time if i got something else.?

[chazza]

I wouldn't worry about that, I got another job in the meantime just to keep me going, stayed a few months and then left

[dzug]

The civil service may be slow at doing the checks - but that's largely because the people they write to for information, who by and large are not in the civil service, sometimes take ages to respond. If there are security checks involved there will be more than your previous employer to consult.

[nikkibrisbou]

If I were you I would write to them, addressing the letter personally to the interviewer who interviewed you. I don't think that is being unreasonable due to the fact that you could be out of work if the job offer didn't come off. Either way then you will hopefully know and can start making other plans if need be.
All the best and good luck

[hugnie21]

Writing to them is unlikely to do any good I'm afraid. You just have to hang on. It's the way the civil service works, if you get the job you'll get used to it eventually!!

[chimpydoodle]

I'm afraid i am just going to agree with everyone else!! It took around 3 months from my assesments/interview with the civil service before i started work. They have to do criminal records checks plus all the usual checks with current and previous empoyers. Don't resign from your current job until you have written confirmation of your new post, its not worth the risk.

[steve208]

Thanks all.

I would never resign from a job without a new one to go to!

But i just hope all goes well if they give me the job im always so terrified of messing up. The 6 month probation period is scary too!

[hugnie21]

Don't worry about the probation period, I survived it!
It's there because it's easier for them to fire you within 6 months because you have less legal rights, but it still takes a lot for you to be bad enough to fire!