Last year, we represented a partner candidate who had some really great initial meetings at a new firm. However, the firm went silent for a few weeks and the candidate took it as a sign that they weren’t interested. During our subsequent conversations, the candidate conveyed extreme disappointment and he actually decided that he wanted to pull out of the process.
I’ve been doing this for awhile so I understand that the cadence of the process doesn’t always reflect the eagerness of the firm to make the hire. It’s actually quite common to experience a delay when you’re waiting for the next round of interviews to be scheduled and an initial offer. I highly encouraged him to remain patient and hold out for the firm to come back, which they did, within a few weeks. Fast forward to the present day and he’s now practicing successfully at that firm.
What’s the lesson here? The firms’ silence, hesitation or lag time does not always reflect their feelings for you. It’s often a long process and it requires some patience on the candidate’s part.
Business is probably the most personal thing out there. That being said, when going through the interview process, at any level in your career, try not to take it personally.