8 Common Reasons Employer Took The Job Posting Down After You Interviewed

The last time I interviewed for a job, they took the job posting down after I interviewed. However, I didn’t end up getting the job. I found this very confusing and wondered if others have gone through the same experience.

Looking for a job is a huge undertaking. It can be stressful and disheartening at times and, no matter how much you say you won’t worry, you do. Often, you begin to overthink situations and try to read between the lines to make sense of the stress you are under.

Why did a job posting get removed from a company website just after I interviewed for the job? They took the job posting down after I interviewed. What does it mean?

You get called for an interview and think it goes well and then, before you know if you have the job, the job post is missing. What does this mean? Is it good or bad? It’s bound to make you wonder why they took the job posting down after an interview.

What Does It Mean When A Job Posting Is Taken Down After Interview?

1. Not Enough or Too Many Applicants

“Most fears of rejection rest on the desire for approval from other people. Don’t base your self-esteem on their opinions.”. – Harvey Mackay

An employer may be looking for an exact formula they want in a candidate for a certain job. If you interviewed for the job and felt it went very well but you still haven’t heard back and the job posting has been removed after interview, they may be rewriting the posting to hone in on exactly what they want to limit too many applications, or they want to invite more applicants in who have the exact mix of qualities they want.

This does not mean you are not in the running. It may simply be that they are trying to get the best possible employee for the job. You can still be called back, especially if you felt good about the interview.

Equal Opportunity Employers may not have enough applications from persons of all races, genders, etc. to complete the application process. They may need to revamp the posting and post it again to make sure they allow anyone who wants to apply the opportunity to do so.

2. The Job Has Been Awarded to Someone

Once again, try not to jump to conclusions one way or another. Just because the position is closed after interview, and you haven’t been called does not necessarily mean you didn’t get the job. They may have taken it down because they are calling you back with an offer. On the contrary, the job may have been filled but it was given to someone else. There is no way to know immediately but try to stay calm until you know for sure which way this goes.

If the company took the job posting down after a second interview, that may be a good sign you got the job. Do not quit your current job if you have one, announce it on social media, or quit looking for other jobs. Nothing is certain until you have signed a contract and arrive for the first day on the job. Several things can happen between the second interview and signing your contract and you don’t want to miss out or mess anything up because you were impatient.

I like to document as much as I can remember about each interview. That includes questions asked, answers I wasn’t sure of, and any other important details. You can get a journal that you use just for this purpose, to help you improve. As a result, you will probably have better results on your next interview.

3. Received Enough Qualified Applicants

Oftentimes, a job posting is taken down when the hiring manager has received an ample supply of qualified applicants. This means the job has not been filled yet, but they are relatively sure they have a good pool of people who can fill the job. For some high-demand jobs, especially with websites available for hiring people, hiring managers can get overwhelmed with hundreds of applications. To curb this, the job posting is taken down when there are enough from which to choose instead of keeping a constant influx of applications coming in.

If you don’t get the job, consider practicing your interview skills with a friend. There are some great books out there, but “How to Answer Interview Questions: 101 Tough Interview Questions” by Peggy McKee is one of my favorites.

4. The Ad Period Has Closed

Generally, ads are purchased for some time, then you must buy a subscription again. If the job posting is suddenly gone, it could simply be the period for which they are paid up. If you haven’t been called back after your interview and the job posting appears again, there may be other reasons you can then consider.

5. Illegitimate or Scam Job Posting

Technology can be an amazing tool for almost anything. Unfortunately, it can also be wielded to harm as well. With so many jobs posting sites, occasionally you will run into a job posting that is designed to try to get a person’s information.

Some scams involve inviting people to move from one platform to another for an interview. This is often a red flag for a scam. As with anything on the internet, protect yourself by not giving out personal information until you have verified that you are dealing with a legitimate person or company.

Read More: How To Spots Companies That Interview With No Intention Of Hiring You

6. Job Posting Closing Date

While this is like an ad closing date for a job posting date, hiring managers or human resources will set a certain number of applications that can be accepted or a certain date that they will stop receiving applications.

This is done to help keep the number of applications to a certain number to keep the sifting process easier or if the job needs to be filled by a certain date. Many companies, especially large ones, create these kinds of protocols to maintain organization over what can be an enormous task.

7. The Job Has Been Put on Hold

“In order to succeed, we must first believe that we can.”. – Nikos Kazantzakis

Situations happen every day that can stop a process dead in its tracks. Illnesses, budgets, mergers, and other problems can cause a hiring manager or boss to have to stop the hiring process. This doesn’t mean the job is filled or has been canceled at all. It could simply mean there is a situation in which the person or company hiring has to take a step back.

Generally, once the situation has been alleviated, the hiring manager will call people back who have already been interviewed for a second interview. Sometimes, they can post the job again and start the process anew.

8. An Offer Was Made but Didn’t Go Through

There are times when an offer is made to a candidate, but for some reason had to be taken or given back. An offer may be made to a person and that person has either received another offer or for whatever reason, decided not to take the job. In this case, the hiring manager may want to go back to the drawing board and post the job again. This may be to see if other talents will now apply, as well as looking at other applications and interviews from the latest pool.

Another reason is that one of the checks or references fell through. Most times, the final determining factor of employment is the background check. If a person is chosen for a job and their background check doesn’t come back the way the employer hoped, the offer will be rescinded. It is also possible that a reference check didn’t go as expected either and, once again, the offer is taken back.

What Should I Do If A Job Posting Disappears And Then Reappears After I Interview?

First, you want to stay calm. Do not do anything until you have had time to get your emotions together. You do not know the reason and to act unprofessionally could thwart your chances of a job at that company.

There are many reasons this occurs, so give the hiring manager time to call you, especially if you feel the interview went very well or they introduced you to anyone else in the company or any other factor that made you feel you were considered. Wait 2-3 weeks then contact the employer. You can simply call and leave a message thanking them for the interview or asking about the status of the job. You may also want to send an email.

There is nothing wrong with asking if you are still being considered for the job. If you don’t hear anything, be happy you aren’t hired at a company that does not offer better communication.

Have you ever wondered why a company took the job posting down after interviews? It happened to me recently. I thought I did well since they took the job posting down after I interviewed.

There is a wide array of reasons a job posting disappears after an interview. This can make you stir crazy, especially when you feel you were seriously being considered for the position. Some of the reasons are out of your control and some you may want to investigate.

Instead of being mad and upset, even with yourself, use this time as a reflection period. Look over your resume. Prepare questions you can ask next time. Think about what you need from an interviewer to help you not feel this way the next time. Is there a new skill set you can gain that would make you an even better fit for this type of job in the future?

Trying to get a job is frustrating and can be consuming if you aren’t careful. Use this time to benefit from and make yourself even more irresistible for the next interview.

How About Company Took Down Job Posting Before Interview?

Many applicants also encounter the situation when a company took down the job posting before interview. They can’t help but keep wondering “why job posting closed before my interview?”.

The reasons are similar to job posting taken down after interview which have been explained above. One more possible reason that company took down job posting before interview is due to budget constraints. If the company’s budget gets compromised or they need to reassess the necessity of the role, they may temporarily suspend the hiring process and remove the job posting.

I understand that this can be frustrating and confusing for job seekers. Here are a few steps you can take in response:

1. Don’t overanalyze it: Job postings can be taken down for myriad of reasons. It doesn’t always reflect on your qualifications as an candidate. Don’t dwell on it much. Shift your focus towards other potential opportunities.
2. Contact the hiring manager: If you’re worried about the job posting being removed, consider reaching out to the company for clarification. Politely inquire if the position has been filled or if they are still considering applicants.
3. Explore options: If the job posting has been taken down, it’s possible that the company has already found someone for the role. It’s best to move on and explore job prospects instead.
4. Search on other websites: If the job posting is no longer available on one platform, try searching for it on similar job boards. It’s possible that it might still be listed elsewhere.

When reaching out to the hiring manager, make sure to maintain professional tone, show your interest in the position and use positive language. Here is a sample email template you can use to follow-up with the hiring manager:

Read More:

• I Think I Messed Up My Interview: 7 Tips to Recover
• How To Describe “I Am A Quick Learner And Hard Worker” In Resume
• What To Expect During Interview With HR After Interview With Hiring Manager
• How Often Are Job Offers Rescinded? (And How To Respond)
• What To Do While Waiting On A Background Check After A Job Offer