I did a recruitment assessment day with IBM last year. The role was due to start in Jan. The feedback was that I had been successful but I would need to wait 1-2 weeks for a formal offer due to a review period having hit early. This turned into several weeks and then no word. The agency have now told me this is still in the pipeline and a delay, not a rejection, whilst they wait for a review period to be lifted. I find the whole treatment bizarre and am interviewing elsewhere. I just wondered if anyone else had this experience.

Yes, extraordinarily bizarre given that they interviewed you on December 23rd and they STILL haven't got back to you 2.5 weeks later with a Christmas break in the middle!!How bizarre you are!

It was at the end of October last year. Should've included that information. If any one has any constructive comments they would be appreciated?Thanks

Don't be a smart ar5e 3am.Hi Andrew, you need to seek clarity around the 'review period' you mention. What exactly are they reviewing? If they are reviewing the possible intake numbers, then the agency can't tell you it's a delay.I am also waiting on an offer after being promised one - not IBM - and it has been a month now. The Xmas/NY period would account for, say, one week, so the 'delay' doesn't fill me with much confidence.....afterall, it cannot be that hard to produce an offer once they have signalled their intention to do such that.

Chase HR at the MC and/or the most senior person you interviewed with directly.

Look for another job.Seriously. You may have a verbal acceptance but if they've gone into hiding, chances when that gets lifted they'll go back out to market anyway.Worst way round, you'll have a pick of jobs if they do switch it back on again.

Hi Andrew,Don't worry too much. I've had a very similar experience with IBM. It took between 2 and 3 months to receive the offer, but it came eventually.

Andrew.. which practice did you apply for.. did they tell what practice in the first place? you said you attended an assessment day so i'm guessing you are coming in as either B6 or B7. If that's the case, then MM is right.. just wait.. Oct is end of qtr.. everybody who's got to decide are all chasing signings.. Nov is nothing but rush bec dec is treated as almost dead month for signings... (good for clients though as sales people tend to throw a lot of freebies with the contract).. Jan.. well you know where i'm heading.. a lot of B6-B8 people are also in the bench at the moment.. it's typical for this time of the year.. so really, hiring mgrs are not rushing to get new guys on board..finally, s&t and BAO practice hired an army of consultants last year... so if you are rushing to get a new consulting opps, i suggest you look for other roles in the market.

Thanks everyone for your replies. It was GBS financial services practice.They had just recruited from a previous intake but said they were recruiting another 500 in the next year. I'm not holding my breath and am interviewing elsewhere and I have work. I just wondered if anyone could shed any light on it. I totally appreciate that Nov-Jan are busy months but they held the assessment on that date and made people take time off work, waste time and lose money to attend and then weren't in a position to offer any roles. The start date they gave at the day was 11 Jan. From what I've heard from other agencies that was the treatment of everyone at that day. Many were rejected but some have just been told to hold on. I did try and speak with HR and they just said I needed to talk to my agency and they couldn't give any information. It could be a delay or perhaps they've had a recruitment freeze from the top or perhaps …I will see what happens!

You are in good company! I went to an IBM assessment day in Late October 2010 and only now have received an offer letter! It seems that they are obsessed with only starting new people when suitable projects have been identified for them. They don't recruit to the 'bench'.

Ahhhh thank you Marcus you have really shed some light on the situation. It has been a bit baffling to me. Not a good sign then that I haven't had anything still yet and means that I might have a long wait. Are you taking it?

I also have an offer from Atos Origin and it's a tough choice as they are both very similar.

IBM is committed to make the Smarter Planet ...!!!The most hilarious ads of the decade...The most unsmart , unethical people like IBMrs who does not even have ethics to roll out the offer to selected candidates , not even responsible in informing the candidates keeping them waiting for the offers are trying to make the PLANET Smarter...:)

At the end did you get the offer? I'm in a similar situation.. Thank you!