Hired A MONTH ago, but haven't started working - UPDATE

I have been out of work since the end of June. I had applied for a particular job probably in May or so, and finally got called about it in August. I went in for an interview, and the interviewer said to call him to follow up in a week to two weeks. So I waited about a week and a half and then called and left a message letting him know I was interested. A couple of days later he called back and asked me to come in to discuss the position further. I went in that day, and he pretty much hired me, but said HR had to do the paperwork with me. So a week went by without hearing from HR, and I called the interviewer asking if there was anyone I could contact. That day I got a call from HR, set up a meeting, and filled out paperwork. That was August 23. Here it is, October, and I have yet to get my "start date". I went to orientation, filled out ALL of the required paperwork, and constantly call to follow up. Because I'm a social worker, I need to be cleared by the Dept. of Social Services, and apparently that is what is taking so long. I have NEVER had to wait this long to be cleared, and I KNOW I have a clean record! I am so tired of sitting home and waiting!!!!!

UPDATE: Yesterday, nearly TWO MONTHS since I was unofficially hired, the guy who interviewed called me, and so casually says, "We're ready for ya!" And I'm thinking, "***!! You're ready for me NOW?!" But I calmly told him the truth - that I had basically given up on them being that it was 2 months and that I had been going on other interviews. Coincidentally, that same day I was called back for a 2nd interview for a different job. I told him about this and said that I hadn't received an offer yet, but that since it had been so long to hear back from him, I needed to take care of myself and see what else was out there. He said he understood and encouraged me to go on the interview, but kept saying how he wants to get me in for "training".
So last night I spoke to DH and weighed the options of both jobs...The second interview today turned out to be better pay and more hours than the original job. So pending an offer, I'm going to go with the second one. I told the guy from the first job that I was disappointed it didn't work out because I was looking forward to working with him, and we left it that if this other job didn't work out, I'd let him know.
This is what happens when HR takes their good old time doing paperwork and people don't return phone calls!

Message edited 10/21/2010 9:00:49 PM.

Re: Hired A MONTH ago, but haven't started working

have you followed up again with your interviewer?

I would just keep following up and see if you could at least get a target start date.

Re: Hired A MONTH ago, but haven't started working

That sounds so weird. I'm a social worker too and usually all jobs I've been at did a quick background check on their own and I started right away.

(Well after I gave notice of course).

Is it the agency or a seperate place tht was doing the background check? In any event I would stay on both of them daily. In this economy a lot of jobs are drying up for social workers so you don't want to find yourself in that situation by not being a little more aggressive/assertive.

Re: Hired A MONTH ago, but haven't started working

Re: Hired A MONTH ago, but haven't started working

Re: Hired A MONTH ago, but haven't started working

I followed up most recently this past Friday, but the HR woman is off on Fridays, so I left a message. Before that, I had called the week before. The whole thing sounds fishy to me, but it's a fairly big agency, so I don't understand. The last time I spoke with HR, she told me it's the Department of Social Services check that's taking long (I had to list everywhere I've ever lived and they make sure I'm not a child molester - which I'm NOT!!!). But as a PP said, that usually takes only a few days. I specifically asked her if it was the fingerprints, because I had that done right after I filled out the other paperwork, and she told me it's not that. I have been applying to other jobs in the mean time, and at this point, I want to tell them that I'm no longer interested, but I can't do that since I don't have other offers right now. Every week, I say, "Well, we can't make plans because I may be working then", and yet every week, I'm still sitting at home!