Facing Unexpected Interviews After Job Offer: Can They Still Reject Me?

2 months back, I got an offer from a company, and I accepted the offer and resigned from my current company. My company's notice period is 3 months. Now, after 2 months, with only one month left to join the new company, they scheduled another round of interviews. So, I want to ask, if I fail in this interview, can they reject my employment with the company?

Why were additional interviews scheduled after the offer?

The question is, why did they not schedule all these rounds of interviews before giving the offer and my resignation? If I fail in this round, I will be jobless, and who would be responsible for that? Can I take legal action on it?

Was the offer a written offer?

What were the words in the offer letter? Did they inform you earlier about the number of rounds of interviews, like HR, team leader interview, etc.?

No one can really predict how this additional interview can go. Theoretically, you can take legal action, but the result and timing of a court decision are unknown. Legal action involves money and time.

Communicate with your new employer

Talk to your new employer and tell them that based on the initial selection, you have given notice, and your current company has accepted your resignation. Try to find out why they have suddenly introduced one more round of interviews.

Seek further information

A tricky problem has come up, and you need to provide further information for suggestions to be given by other learned HR experts in the forum.

Hi,

As per what my friend mentioned above, it's better to contact them again and try to understand why they have scheduled one more interview. It could be that the vacant position will be filled by existing team members, or the company may have some other reason. So, don't panic and meet them face to face to discuss the situation further.

Interview Dilemma

Two learned members have given you sound advice. Let me reiterate that, as of now, you do not have any option but to attend the interview. Yes, you may try to ascertain the reasons, but whatever they may be, attending the interview is a sound option.

If I surmise, I can deduce that the reason for calling a selected candidate could be due to disastrous recruitment in the past. There might have been poor selection, and some senior authority might have wanted to intervene or been instructed to intervene in the recruitment process. In a zeal for intervention, the person has even called a candidate who was issued an offer letter. "Once bitten, twice shy," goes the famous proverb; hence, one more interview call to you!

Once the offer letter is issued, the selection process should end. Calling a job candidate who has been issued an offer letter is nothing but a revival of the selection process. It speaks poorly of the company or questions its professionalism. Therefore, another option is to start trying at another company as well. Who knows, you might find a better opportunity than the current one. However, this option is also fraught with risk, but it is worth considering.

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar

Thank you, everyone, for your suggestions.

Yes, I had no choice and had to go through this additional round, and it didn't go well like the other 3 rounds that were taken before the offer. I am going to search for more options, but still, these things sometimes depend on luck as well. When you are jobless, there are more chances that you will not get a job; generally, your luck doesn't work in these conditions. I am just waiting for the employer's reply on this. Let's see what happens.

Once a company has sent you an offer letter and after your acceptance, the company legally cannot terminate the offer via an interview round unless it is mentioned in the offer letter. It is better if you can contact the new company and discuss the matter because once a letter of intent (LOI) is issued, no further interview rounds can be scheduled.

Dear Nexusk, if I were in your position, I would have met with the person who called you for another round of interviews and politely informed them that I am no longer interested in joining your company. Such incidents reflect the internal workings of an organization.

Concerns about re-interviewing a selected candidate

What could be more concerning in a system than realizing they have called back a selected candidate for a re-interview? It seems like there is a lack of trust in the individuals who initially chose you, or perhaps a policy change occurred without considering the impact it would have on the company's reputation.

Advice on handling the situation

I suggest speaking to your current company about withdrawing your resignation. If they agree, you can continue with them; if not, it may be time to start looking for other opportunities. I am being direct with you because I understand the complexities and conflicts often present in corporate cultures. This decision may be difficult for you, but believe me, it is the right path to take.

Steps to Consider When Facing a New Interview After Resignation

1. Withdraw your resignation from the current company. Exercise this option only when the relationship with the current employer is good. If things have deteriorated during your notice period, you might still consider this to ensure that your income stream is maintained in the short run. Typically, unless the company has marked you for a layoff, they would permit you to stay on.

2. Understand your present situation with respect to the new employment. Did you get a signed offer letter? Did you provide a signed acceptance note? If yes, then the new company should not, and would normally not, call for another round. If not, things could go either way, and you have no grounds to complain.

Assuming that you have had a formal offer, please check the terms of appointment that have been agreed to. You might have a chance to pursue a legal remedy, but there is no guarantee of success. Contrary to what others might suggest, using this situation to 'prove' the company is not well-managed requires careful consideration. Avoid jumping to conclusions about the organization based on such experiences, as it could reflect poorly on your thought process and overall personality. Misunderstandings are common, but at the corporate level, they can be disastrous. So, avoid misunderstandings.

Talking to the company is a way to understand their perspective. However, I doubt you would receive an honest answer from them regarding their reasons for this decision.

You have stated that they had sent the offer. An offer can be sent only after the completion of the selection process. I hope that you had mentioned in your job application that you need 3 months' time to join. If that is the case, no further interviews can be conducted. It is better to talk to the HR people of the new company.