How Long to Wait for a Job Offer after an Interview

After investing so much time and energy prepping for your job interview, you probably find the post-interview anticipation excruciating. Some lucky applicants receive a job offer on the spot or later that day, but most people have to cool their heels for weeks or even months before hearing back. That’s why we want to take some of the mystery out of at least one big question: How long do I have to wait for an answer?

Simply put, the average interview process in the United States takes around 23.7 days, according to a fairly recent Glassdoor economic research study. But stay with us for the rest of the numbers, because with several variables in play, your mileage may vary—wildly.

The Job Level

The higher the level of the job, the longer the hiring process can take. Senior-level positions typically require more thorough screening and evaluation, and the final decision may need to be approved by multiple stakeholders within the company. Experts estimate that a senior-level position can take as long as six months to fill after interviews, depending on the industry (more on that in a minute) and specific requirements.

Midlevel roles like managers, analysts, and coordinators could average four to six weeks for a response, while about three weeks seems to be the consensus for entry-level positions like administrative assistants, customer service representatives, and interns since there’s usually a smaller applicant pool and fewer decision-makers at that level.

The Industry

A comprehensive LinkedIn study reveals that industries like administration, customer service, and accounting/auditing have pretty short median times-to-hire at between 33 and 37 days. Health care, marketing, and management can take around 40 days. And at the far end of the spectrum are project management (47 days), research (48 days), and engineering (49 days).

Size of Company and Other Factors

As you might expect, if you’re going for something at a larger corporation, you’ll encounter a more formal—and thus more time-consuming—hiring process. Smaller companies are more streamlined and quicker to decide. Also, companies may have seasonal hiring patterns or budget cycles that affect their hiring decisions. For example, they may be more likely to hire in the fall when planning for the following year's budget. And another factor is how many people you’re competing against for that one position, which affects how long the screening and evaluation process will take.

Keep Calm and Follow Up

Obviously, there's no set timeline for when you can expect to know your fate after a job interview. But armed with these general time spans, you can focus on staying patient, positive, and proactive. That last one means sending a thank-you note within 24 hours of the interview and following up a week later and again after two weeks if you still haven’t heard back. You should give the employer a chance to ask for any additional information they may need from you, and more importantly, you want to reiterate your enthusiasm for the job.