This paper presents a study concerning the transient dynamics of the flow field inside a liquid metal filling a finite cylindrical container: The flow is created by applying a rotating magnetic field (RMF) in the form of a single pulse. The flow structure is governed by an impulsive spin-up from the rest state which is followed by a spin-down phase, with the fluid in a state of inertia. The pulse length has been found to have a distinct influence on the transient fluid flow. Two cases are considered: an enclosed cavity and a cavity with a free surface, in order to show that in both cases the recirculating flow in the radial-meridional plane displays periodical reversals. This phenomena is especially pronounced if the pulse length of the electromagnetic forcing corresponds to the so-called initial adjustment phase as defined by Nikrityuk, Ungarish, Eckert, Grundmann [P.A. Nikrityuk, M. Ungarish, K. Eckert, R. Grundmann, Spin-up of a liquid metal flow driven by a rotating magnetic field in a finite cylinder. A numerical and analytical study, Phys. Fluids 17 (2005) 067101-0671016].