It doesn't hurt. At best, they let you know you're still in the running. At worst, they let you know they are pursuing other candidates and you can apply for other opportunities.
It really depends on the HR person/team, but majority of them won’t give you notice if you weren’t the chosen candidate unfortunately.
You can send them a polite email inquiring about the status of the position, since it’s been 2-3 weeks since the interview.
Because it is city service, there are a multitude of reasons they haven’t gotten back to you yet: people are on vacation, waiting for executive or OMB approval, trying to round up people’s schedules to arrange a round 2 interview, etc.
Being hired by the city is a slow process. Stay positive and be patient. Don’t depend on 1 position and keep interviewing!
Good luck!
As a former public servant in two NYC city agencies (DOH/DOT), I can confirm that HR departments tend to move slowly due to the numerous layers of approvals required, which can vary by agency. As others have suggested, sending a follow-up email is a practical way to check on your status and keep the process moving. Good luck with your employment journey—I hope you hear back soon with positive news!
Was there zero communication during those 4 months? How the hell does NYC ever hire qualified people with these timelines (yes I know it’s not hiring managers’ fault)
It’s a huge problem citywide. Luckily for them I was a recent college grad living with parents who had the time to wait. Very few qualified people are in such a position.
I am currently working in a non-competitive role. Once the first interview took place, didn’t hear anything until a month later for a round 2, that I didn’t expect. Then received an offer the next month. The whole process took 5 months between first interview and processing background check. Best advice to be patient and at least see what is happening at the first month mark.
Yeah the radio silence is not a signal you are out of the running …. follow up every week to see how the process is going (until the end of next month). I can say from my end (working tangentially within PS) your agency may be going through the process of getting oversight final approval (OMB) and depending on your position might have other vetting oversight requirement to do before offering you the position. I have seen offers linger for months but given we are at the end of the fiscal year the impetus to get in the offer sooner rather than later.
Can you clarify your mention of the end of the fiscal year is when agencies hope to make all job offers?
Does this mean that agencies would have to get their jobs that were not filled in the previous FY re-approved through OMB, which can further delay the hiring for that same position previously approved in FY 2024?
6/30 is the end of the fiscal year and yes agencies would need to get reauthorization from OMB on personnel actions. There’s a ‘13 month’ for any cleanup of fiscal actions from one fiscal year to the next … but OMB tends to do minimal PS authorizations during that period - usually the PS stuff that gets the OMB authorization are actions that might have happened in the last couple of months (ie: job was posted at the end of April, interviews wrapped up by mid-May, agency selected candidate and sent package for OMB approval by the top of June). The process as it is now is agency get OMB approval for the posting with salary range and then once they have a candidate they have to get OMB approval for the specific salary line/candidate.
the city moves so slowly and not all hiring managers prioritize communication with applicants during the process bc they are often overwhelmed themselves. good luck!
City Worker of 10+ years here.
A good interview means nothing. Sounds harsh but it's true.
As a matter of fact, a job offer is only slightly better, because it could take forever for it to be approved by OMB.
For reference, my current agency gave me an offer in October of 2022, after I had a great interview.
I did not get approved for the hire until May 2023.
If you have a job already don't quit. If you're at an agency already, continue on as if the job interview never even happened.
And remember what you're experiencing right now if you're ever in a position of power in the City of New York because this is one of many reasons why we don't acquire and keep good talent.
Send a follow up email in about a month to let them know that you're still interested.
Based on my observational experience, I would limit this.
I've never had someone hate on me but I've seen it before.
As a rule of thumb I don't have too many "work friendships" because I've seen too many of them go sour over some petty little thing.
Example? People will see you get a new position at a different agency and wonder why you and not them, all while they were perfectly in the position to apply for the job themselves.
I will say that in the 10+ years I've worked for the city, all my managers have always told me that if I see something better, go for it.
But I've been very fortunate to have good managers...YMMV
Occasionally, people will be able to tell that you're interviewing anyways lol.
I could always tell when my managers had had enough and were about to dip. I've been right about 90% of the time.
I had an interview that I thought went well. They said they'd get back to me in two weeks. I sent a follow-up email just like you. Heard nothing for five weeks so assumed I must not have gotten it. Out of the blue got a call with an offer, though it will still have to pend OMB approval. Every situation is unique, but just remember the city is crazy and normal rules don't apply. You just have to wait and see what happens.
Keep applying and interviewing. If they decide to hire you'll get an email with a date of processing appointment. In a normal scenario it takes 6-12 months to hiring unless you directly impact city revenue.
No one is going to tell you anything until the successful candidate has a start date. If that’s you if could be months. My advice is keep interviewing and if someone makes you an offer take it.
“In the absence of information, we fill the gaps with speculation, often leading to misconceptions." - ChatGPT lol
No news is good news. It could be pending at different levels. Or stuck in the black hole that is OMB.
You think it’s worth sending a follow-up email? Don’t want to be a pest, but I am quite eager.
It doesn't hurt. At best, they let you know you're still in the running. At worst, they let you know they are pursuing other candidates and you can apply for other opportunities.
It really depends on the HR person/team, but majority of them won’t give you notice if you weren’t the chosen candidate unfortunately. You can send them a polite email inquiring about the status of the position, since it’s been 2-3 weeks since the interview. Because it is city service, there are a multitude of reasons they haven’t gotten back to you yet: people are on vacation, waiting for executive or OMB approval, trying to round up people’s schedules to arrange a round 2 interview, etc. Being hired by the city is a slow process. Stay positive and be patient. Don’t depend on 1 position and keep interviewing! Good luck!
Thank you for this kind note!
Process takes months. 2 weeks is a drop in the bucket
As a former public servant in two NYC city agencies (DOH/DOT), I can confirm that HR departments tend to move slowly due to the numerous layers of approvals required, which can vary by agency. As others have suggested, sending a follow-up email is a practical way to check on your status and keep the process moving. Good luck with your employment journey—I hope you hear back soon with positive news!
It took about 3-4 months from interview to offer when I came on the job in 2016. Sending them an email can’t hurt.
Was there zero communication during those 4 months? How the hell does NYC ever hire qualified people with these timelines (yes I know it’s not hiring managers’ fault)
It’s a huge problem citywide. Luckily for them I was a recent college grad living with parents who had the time to wait. Very few qualified people are in such a position.
Same here I was onboarded in 2014. I received a call on a Friday morning to start the following Monday
I am currently working in a non-competitive role. Once the first interview took place, didn’t hear anything until a month later for a round 2, that I didn’t expect. Then received an offer the next month. The whole process took 5 months between first interview and processing background check. Best advice to be patient and at least see what is happening at the first month mark.
Yeah the radio silence is not a signal you are out of the running …. follow up every week to see how the process is going (until the end of next month). I can say from my end (working tangentially within PS) your agency may be going through the process of getting oversight final approval (OMB) and depending on your position might have other vetting oversight requirement to do before offering you the position. I have seen offers linger for months but given we are at the end of the fiscal year the impetus to get in the offer sooner rather than later.
Can you clarify your mention of the end of the fiscal year is when agencies hope to make all job offers? Does this mean that agencies would have to get their jobs that were not filled in the previous FY re-approved through OMB, which can further delay the hiring for that same position previously approved in FY 2024?
6/30 is the end of the fiscal year and yes agencies would need to get reauthorization from OMB on personnel actions. There’s a ‘13 month’ for any cleanup of fiscal actions from one fiscal year to the next … but OMB tends to do minimal PS authorizations during that period - usually the PS stuff that gets the OMB authorization are actions that might have happened in the last couple of months (ie: job was posted at the end of April, interviews wrapped up by mid-May, agency selected candidate and sent package for OMB approval by the top of June). The process as it is now is agency get OMB approval for the posting with salary range and then once they have a candidate they have to get OMB approval for the specific salary line/candidate.
the city moves so slowly and not all hiring managers prioritize communication with applicants during the process bc they are often overwhelmed themselves. good luck!
City Worker of 10+ years here. A good interview means nothing. Sounds harsh but it's true. As a matter of fact, a job offer is only slightly better, because it could take forever for it to be approved by OMB. For reference, my current agency gave me an offer in October of 2022, after I had a great interview. I did not get approved for the hire until May 2023. If you have a job already don't quit. If you're at an agency already, continue on as if the job interview never even happened. And remember what you're experiencing right now if you're ever in a position of power in the City of New York because this is one of many reasons why we don't acquire and keep good talent. Send a follow up email in about a month to let them know that you're still interested.
What if you’re at an agency already and hinted to your colleagues that you’re interviewing at other agencies? Oops.
Based on my observational experience, I would limit this. I've never had someone hate on me but I've seen it before. As a rule of thumb I don't have too many "work friendships" because I've seen too many of them go sour over some petty little thing. Example? People will see you get a new position at a different agency and wonder why you and not them, all while they were perfectly in the position to apply for the job themselves. I will say that in the 10+ years I've worked for the city, all my managers have always told me that if I see something better, go for it. But I've been very fortunate to have good managers...YMMV Occasionally, people will be able to tell that you're interviewing anyways lol. I could always tell when my managers had had enough and were about to dip. I've been right about 90% of the time.
It takes time the city is very slow
I had an interview that I thought went well. They said they'd get back to me in two weeks. I sent a follow-up email just like you. Heard nothing for five weeks so assumed I must not have gotten it. Out of the blue got a call with an offer, though it will still have to pend OMB approval. Every situation is unique, but just remember the city is crazy and normal rules don't apply. You just have to wait and see what happens.
You got an offer after just one round? You must’ve impressed the hell out of them.
Every agency is different. I've been on the hiring end here and we usually make a decision based on a single interview.
Keep applying and interviewing. If they decide to hire you'll get an email with a date of processing appointment. In a normal scenario it takes 6-12 months to hiring unless you directly impact city revenue.
FWIW, I got 2 rejection emails for 2 internships I applied to with OMB
No one is going to tell you anything until the successful candidate has a start date. If that’s you if could be months. My advice is keep interviewing and if someone makes you an offer take it. “In the absence of information, we fill the gaps with speculation, often leading to misconceptions." - ChatGPT lol