What HR Really Means When They Say “We’ll Get Back to You”
Job interviews often end with 'We'll get back to you'. This phrase leaves candidates in uncertainty. Recruiters use it to manage internal processes and approvals. Applicants, however, experience anxiety and difficulty making career choices. The wo...
The last round of interviews is over, and the conversations have been rather pleasant. This is when the anticipation begins to build, and ends with the closing line: “We’ll get back to you.” The process does not necessarily end: instead, it enters a state of limbo in which everything is undefined. “We’ll get back to you” represents an unfinished decision rather than a secret decision in most cases. Hiring teams require additional time to gather feedback and get everyone on the same page, according to JobCurators. The decision-making process does not end with the interviews.
The phrase is actually chosen for a reason, since HR managers use it to keep the communication lines open while not making any promises about the timing or outcome of the process. The vagueness of the phrase is actually a tool for recruiters to address the uncertainty of the process, especially when approvals and budgets are still being considered, as explained by Lectera. It is not really a matter of not disclosing information, but more about being flexible. However, the experience is actually quite different from the applicant’s point of view. The vagueness of the phrase creates a vacuum that is immediately filled by assumption. There is no clear timeline or indication of the next step, and the applicant is left to assume that there may be something wrong with their performance or application. This creates a level of anxiety and makes it difficult for the applicant to make career decisions, as reported in JobCurators.
Image Credit: Gemini
The emotional impact of this phrase may not be immediate, but it develops over time. The lack of closure forces the applicants into a state of limbo because they are unsure of what to do, but also cannot count on the opportunity. How the applicant perceives this phrase also has an impact. The applicants may see it as a way of letting them down gently. Communication may be perceived as evasive if it is not clear (Lectera). This will affect the organization's overall perception.
It is often a reflection of complexity rather than indecision, at least behind the scenes. The hiring process involves several stakeholders, which includes HR departments and hiring managers. This process may take longer than the candidate expects. This is one of the primary reasons why communication is so cautious, as stated by JobCurators. The catch here is that it’s a reflection of the inner workings of the organization versus what’s happening outside. “We’ll get back to you” is a reflection of the ever-changing nature of the decision to the organization, and it’s a reflection of uncertainty at a critical time for the candidate. The same words have two very different meanings. This phenomenon helps to explain why the hiring process often stalls after it’s seemingly over. The words may be simplistic in nature, but it’s also a reflection of the process of going from evaluation to decision, which still hasn’t been confirmed.
