Dear Work Coach,
I just found your blog and absolutely love it! You have a lot of great information and advice on your site. I have a question for you I am sure you get all of the time but I’m at a loss on what to do at this point.
I had an interview last Tuesday (18th) that I thought went really well. It lasted an hour and a half (someone had to knock on the hiring manager’s door to stop the interview for her next appointment). I really like the hiring manager and she seemed to like me. She said she was down to 5 candidates that she wanted to have interviewed by the end of last week. She said she has been doing this a long time and I am definitely on the top of her list. The only concern she had was that I might be overqualified for the position but she wasn’t sure. She mentioned that could be to her advantage as I would be able to help her execute some strategic programs she wants to implement. She said she wanted to have me come back next week (which is this week) for 30 – 45 minutes to get a feel for the position, kind of a “day in the life of” this management position. She also said that the next step after that would to bring the top 2 candidates back for an interview with her team.
I followed up with an email thank you letter the next day, reiterating my enthusiasm for the position and why I think it would be challenging given the region and the change in industry.
I never heard back from her, no response to my emails. Late Monday afternoon I left her a message on her voice mail. I wasn’t pushy, just said that I wanted to follow-up with her to discuss setting up a time to come back (like we discussed). That was 2 days ago and I still haven’t heard anything. It seems really odd to me. Do you have any thoughts or advice?
Thanks,
Anne
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Hi Anne!
Thanks for the kind words. And even though I get lots of question about interviews, each one has its own interesting twist. Like yours.
It really does sound like you have done everything well. Great interview. Good follow up. Able to field the “too qualified” comment with a good comeback. Although I wish I had a way of figuring out what they are thinking, truth is…it could be lots of things. Maybe she or someone else critical to the process is sick. Maybe an emergency came up. Maybe they haven’t been able to finish the five interviews yet. Maybe they found someone they made an offer to despite what was said – if a perfect fit walked in the door after she met with you, it just could have changed their plans. Maybe they just can’t get past all your experience despite how well you handled your answer – niggling doubts sometimes grow when fed by the input of others. But maybe it is as simple as they just haven’t gotten around to it yet.
It’s only been a week and time feels very different on the employer end. (It’s like dog years!) I like that you are an action person looking to help yourself, but at this point you really have done all you can and now it’s time to just wait. I know it’s hard – and I’m sorry about that. Do what you can to keep busy with other things. If it’s the right job, you will get it. If not, then you might very well have lucked out for reasons you will never know!
I wish you much luck, Anne. Please let us know what happens.
Ronnie Ann
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Hello. Went on an interview last Wednesday. A day & a week ago. Right after the interview, I sent her my last professional reference via email & thank you note. She seemed genuinely interested in me & the interview lasted a good amount of time. We sat together in the office for quite some time. It was a nice interview I felt good about all week. She also told me in person she would be in touch with me within the week, and again via email. That was last said last Thursday. It’s Thursday now it’s been a week still no call/response. I feel a little upset about it I was confident she would have contacted by now. So, with that said- I was thinking about giving a follow up call either Friday or Monday just to see if the position was filled. It’s a nurse position btw a job I really want. When do you think I should follow up?