Dear Work Coach,
I am from Taiwan and found your website by google. My background is engineering, and I focus my job hunting on those positions in the high-tech industry. Currently I stuck in the waiting game after my 2nd interview. My situation is like this.
I went to the 2nd interview of a large high-tech company on April 17, and I wrote thank you note and follow-up letters after the interview to all the interviewer, but I did not hear anything from them over the past month. Therefore, I called HR last Monday for their decision.
She responded my job application is getting approval, but she does not know which candidate would be selected (It sounds weird). She assumed the approval process would be done by the end of last week and would give me call.
Until now, I still have not received her call. Is there still hope to get this job? I am very desperate for this job, cuz it is what I really want. Could you give me some opinions?
Thank many for your help.
VL
Taipei, Taiwan
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Dear VL,
So glad you found my blog. Welcome. I love having guests from other parts of the world. I’ll try my best to help you.
There’s no way for me to know for sure what they are thinking, but as of this moment, there is still hope. Sometimes, after a second interview, companies need to run your application through a variety of processes before they can even consider an offer, and those processes can take a long time. It sounds like you are one of several candidates, but she gave you no clue as to whether you’re the number one choice as of this moment.
All you can do right now is wait and think positively. (It never hurts.) Even if you aren’t number one, the person who they offer it to may already have another job or may say no. So many possibilities. But without a crystal ball, I can only tell you…there is still a chance – even though it’s past the deadline she gave you.
I wish you much luck, VL, and hope you do get this job. But just in case you don’t, take that positive energy and don’t give up until you get the job you want!
Good luck! Please let us know what happens.
Ronnie Ann
Related Work Coach Cafe posts:
After the Job Interview: Why Haven’t They Called Me Yet?
Hi Chanlee,
I wrote last week to you. Well, 1 position of the 2 has been filled. I have a feeling I am no longer being considered because I was willing to take a 15k paycut for this job. That is hurting my chances, as I was in a hiring mgr position and if the job paid $15 per hr and a candidate previously made 50k I wouldn’t even consider them. Guess I should be thankful I was considered. Anyways. I have 2 interviews scheduled. today and 1 next week. Next weeks interview would be more money, and a former coworker of mine who was recruited by them first, referred them to me. She is very big in my industry (multi-family housing)and I started her in the business 12 yrs ago. She gave me a glowing reference. Turns out, another ex employee of mine works there, and he too gave me a glowing reference. Also co-worker 1 knows the vice president of the company and sent her an email. They are flying in to meet me next Thursday as co worker #2 told them they better “grab me before its too late” Maybe the stars are aligning here finally!! advice to others-I know firsthand that obviously some salary is better than no salary..but it would probably be in your favor to apply for postions that are similar to what you were making before. Chanlee-what is your opinion on this? Good luck to everyone on here..;-) Mia
Mia,
One thing to consider — and that is rarely discussed here and on other sites — is that there are often many more candidates than you for any one position. Frequently, a hiring decision does not hinge on what you have done or said you need to make or any one particular factor over another — but simply a candidate who has more direct experience in an area than another.
The rule of thumb on salary is to not talk first if you can possibly help it. Ideally, you want the employer to start with the offer. Don’t sell yourself short, but don’t oversell yourself either…
Your opportunity this week sounds good…Good luck with the interview process and keep us posted.
All the best,
Chandlee
I’ve been in the process with a company for a few weeks. I had a phone interview with them about three weeks ago, drive 6 hours for a in person interview the next week, and submitted a requested writing sample this past Monday. In the interview, they said they would be wrapping up the process the middle of this week, but I have yet to hear anything from them one way or another. This leaves me with two questions:
(1) Should I e-mail expressing my renewed interest and asking for an updated timeline to their process, or is it still too soon?
(2) The company for which I work now has mentioned allowing me the opportunity to test into a high position early. However, because I am normally the one who checks applicant tests, they would have to write a whole new test for me. I REALLY want the job that I interviewed for. Should I ask to test early, or should I wait, knowing that if I get the other job, I will have asked them to create a test for me for nothing?
I had my second interview last week and feel it went really well. I had to interview with 4 different people and it took about an hour and a half. The general counsel did a thumbs up behind my head when he dropped me off with someone else after he interviewed me and she did thumbs up back. I’m sure I was not Suisse to notice but I did. Now I am totally stressed out because both interviews went so so well but have not heard back. I sent a thank you email to the human resource person as I did not have the other information. He said he was out if the office but would be back the next day and see where we were. No word but trying to stay calm. Does the thumbs up sound osirive or did it just give me a false sense of security???? Thank you! Cheryl
Cheryl,
That sounds like positive body language, and it sounds like you followed up appropriately. Given that they also likely have other applicants, keep you your job search until you receive and accept a written job offer for this position.
Good luck!
Chandlee
Hi Chandlee,
I am in need of advise on follow-up after a second interview. I have been in the interview process as of 3/11/13 for 2 months now. The first interview went extremely well, and the second interview was less formal yet went even better.
After the interview was over I was told to expect a call from the HR manager by the end of the week. This was a Monday night. 2/11. I immediately sent my thank-you notes and stated a few things we spoke of in the interview and re-interated by excitement and readiness to the chaellenges that were presented.
After a week and a half with no response I reached out to the HR manager, no response another week passed, I reached out to the Hiring Manager, no response.
Then on 2/28 I recieved a one sentence email from the HR Manager apologzing for her late response offering that they were indeed wrapping of the interview in the upcoming week and that she would contact me the next week. (week of 3/4) That week has come and gone no response.
Should Ionce more contact the HR manager and if so, should I call or email??? what do I say?
thanks
Wandat,
I recommend contacting the HR Manager, reminding them of your continued interest in the job — and asking them if they need anymore additional information.
You can email or call — it’s up to you. I recommend following up on a Tuesday as it is generally the most productive day of the week.
Good luck and all the very best,
Chandlee
Hi work coach cafe,
I live in Australia. My situation is this. I was approached by a customer at my current workplace a couple of months ago about a potential job offer. This customer approached me again a couple of weeks ago with a business card. I am a retail manager and the position is for a well known car dealership franchise. I had my first interview on a Friday and immediately I was phoned after to schedule a second interview with a different manager for the Monday (which was last Monday) at my second interview it was said to me that the first interviewer wanted me for the job and that they would have a meeting and if I was successful they would need to have a meeting with the board
(Owners) at the end of the interview I was told they would definately be in touch with me soon. He was also quite laid back, so I don’t take this as bad. I didn’t send follow up notes because I had never heard of doing so. It has now been a week since my second interview and I still haven’t heard anything. I am wondering if I should give a follow up phone call or not? And if so would I phone the first interviewer ( the one that wants me for the position) or the second interviewer
( the laid back one) and if so, how long till I should call?? Any insight would be great.
Thank you,
Natalie
Hi Natalie,
Since this is a sales job, you could treat this as an opportunity to show them your selling skills and act as you would if they were prospects considering making a purchase. It’s probably not too late to send follow up notes, reiterating your interest.
This might be a test, or it could be that they are so laid back that “soon” is April. For a non-sales job, I would recommend waiting until a couple of weeks had passed before calling them. Do what feels right to you.
Good luck with your job search!
Susan
Dear Work Coach,
). At the very beginning of the second interview, both people HR and CFO told me that I am the first candidate and they will have to interview more people which will take approx 2 weeks from which they will choose 2 top candidates for the 3rd interview. Of course after each interview I sent thank you emails to each person, and I received thank you email from CFO.
I follow your blog for a while now and I think you have a great knowledge about hiring processes.
I would like to hear your opinion about my situation:
On February 19th, 2013 I had first in-person interview at a large financial company. It went really well because they contacted me two days later in order to schedule an interview with CFO. On February 25th, 2013 I had that second interview. It is really hard to say if it went good or not. It was going to take about 25 minutes and we were talking about 45 minutes. I think the CFO liked me, he even said that I remind him of himself because I have similar approach to accounting (I know ..that doesn’t mean I will get that job
After three weeks I did not have any news so I decided nicely remind them about myself by sending follow up email (short one to HR on March 8th) and again expressed my interest. I received response from HR that they are still in the interview process and that they should know more at the end of the following week (March 15th). Now, it has been almost 3 weeks after that follow up and I did not receive any news. Do you think I can still have a chance or not? Please tell me your opinion.
Of course I am looking for another opportunities but that is my DREAM job
Thank You,
Anna
Hi Anna,
It sounds like you are doing all the right things at the right times, and it sounds like this is going well for you.
Since tomorrow will be 3 weeks since your last contact, it is appropriate for you to reach out again to see what is happening. Many things can de-rail schedules, but it’s good to let them know that you are still interested and available.
Excellent that you are looking for other opportunities. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you on this one. Stay in touch.
Good luck with your job search!
Susan
Hi,
I first discovered your blog back in 2008 after interviewing for my “dream job.” Well, I found your site and advice to be very helpful. Shortly after, I received a call back with a job offer. A few years later, I was back in the waiting game after interviewing for my “dream” “dream job.” And while that didn’t pan out, I didn’t quit and again was offered a similar position at a comparable organization. So here I am again.. I just finished a final interview at an ideal location — and really this time — THE dream job. And again, I have yet to hear back. It’s hard to tell how the interview went. I know I missed some key points, but other portions of the interview — involving passion and commitment for the job — I know I aced. The main interviewer and I delved off topic for a bit, but there was a connection that makes me think I would be a great fit for the office and organization. However, I can’t help but think how I majorly messed up the practical portion.
I want to send thank you cards but am not sure how to address the mistakes I made without highlighting them. Any advice would help… and some pixie dust, please =)
Thanks,
Tara
Hi Tara,
Yes, it is definitely possible to fill in those places where you feel your answer was inadequate in your follow up thank you note, and it is probably a good idea if you are concerned now.
Don’t say that your answer in the interview was inadequate. Introduce the subject by writing something like, “Upon further consideration, I would like to add that…” or “In addition, let me clarify my comments about…”
Hope that qualified as “pixie dust”
Good luck with your job search!
Susan
Dear Work Coach
I am browsing and finally ended in your site. And I found it really helpful especially during this time for me. I just finished my job interview from Dubai, and when my prospect employer ask me if I have any questions for him, I responded Yes, and I ask him If I got the job, when will it possible for me to come? he said the Hotel will be opening by September and we want you by August 4. And then he even told me that he will send me the site for our accommodation so I could see it for myself.. Now I’m totally confuse If I got the job or not? He even said that he will still do some local interviews there but he will think of me in a day or two and will definitely hear from him…. I’m totally in agony… but I did send him a Thank you email, thanking him for the opportunity and says that I’m enthusiastic with my profession and would see that I had the opportunity to expand my knowledge and experience with the support of the company’s trainings. – Thank you Work Coach.. – Lileth