Dear Work Coach,
During my quest to find a new job, I’ve come across a perplexing problem:
I have been called by three finance firms to schedule an interview. Upon returning their phone call, I am met with the dreaded voice mail. I leave my contact information again and patiently wait to hear back.
In two cases I never heard back again, even after calling the person back a few days later (and checking with reception to make sure that the person wasn’t out sick or something…both were in the office). The third case I was actually scheduled for a day and I was told that someone would get back to me within a few hours with the specific time. Again I never heard back from this person and I saw the job reposted about a week later.
Is this common? Have you had any experience with this? It’s not as if these are small firms…these are Fortune 500 companies!
I don’t even quite get the rationale behind not calling back. If the position was filled in the 1-2 hour block of time it takes me to return a phone call just let me know. The fact that it has happened to me three times is really disconcerting. Could you shine some wisdom on this?
Oh and the old adage is true: Silence really IS deafening.
Tom
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Hi Tom!
This is awful. I can’t believe how some companies act.
Have to admit I’m scratching my head. Not sure I have any rays of light to shine on this. While I’ve certainly heard of many places not getting back – ever – you are talking about people who’ve actually called to schedule an interview! This is bizarre.
First…is there any outside chance at all that your phone or voice mail is having problems and you are not getting all your messages?
Sigh. I thought not.
Assuming that your phone is not the reason, I would suggest that you consider becoming a bit more aggressive in making sure that a warm contact is kept live. I remember that you’re looking to switch fields, and so every interview is key. (Of course, I know you’re painfully aware of that.)
In the case of being told you are scheduled and a call is coming, I would keep calling that day if I haven’t heard back within the promised few hours. And, if you get voice mail every time you try, don’t leave another message. Call the receptionist and explain that the person wants you to get back and so you’ll wait on the line until s/he’s available. And hang firm until you speak. (I don’t suggest this for everyone who is simply waiting to hear back. But Tom had actually interviews they wanted to set up and so he has a totally acceptable reason to go the extra mile.)
In addition, just to see what happened and also to give yourself another chance, I’d turn to old-fashioned snail mail and write a polite letter to each company contact explaining what happened, reaffirming your skills and determination, and that you very much want to be considered when another opening comes up. Especially when you saw it reposted, that was a good time to get a note to the person. It makes no sense that they withdrew your candidacy without meeting you.
Of course, I’m not suggesting you hound them. But maybe, especially now that you’ve had these unfortunate experiences, it might pay to be a little more proactive in making sure you at least get that interview they themselves say they want to schedule you for. But rest assured…I would have assumed, just as you did, that they WOULD get back. Quite honestly, it just doesn’t make sense.
Oh! Something just came to me. Is there anything about the voice mails you leave? I hate to even mention this, but you are an analytic person…if the only thing that changed between the time they called you and then didn’t call you back was the voice mail message you left…could this possibly be a factor? Is your voice firm? Are you easy to understand? Do you express yourself with positive energy? Could this have anything to do with it? (If so, fear not…we can work on it.)
Finally, if you haven’t already done this, I’d expand my search to smaller non-Fortune 500 companies, government, universities, and non-profits! 
If for any reason what happened to you IS about your voice mails, non-Fortune 500s should be more open to giving you the chance you deserve.
But of course, I’m just guessing. It may be nothing more than blatant inconsideration on their part. I am so sorry you’ve had this experience, Tom. It really isn’t anything I’ve ever seen (not that I’ve seen everything) and I strongly condemn companies treating people this callously. It sucks.
Anyone else have some ideas that can help Tom? Have you ever had this happen to you as consistently? Are there really so many applicants out there that it becomes like voting for American Idol where you have to rush to get through before the line gets busy and you lose your chance?
Please let us know if you get any responses or, I hope, when you get some interviews, Tom. I wish you much luck!
Ronnie Ann
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In case you’re curious, Tom wrote us before:
Recent Grad Wants to Go from Tech Job to Finance!
And he also graciously wrote us later AFTER he got a job:
10 Things I Learned in My 3 Month Job Search
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New Work Coach Cafe Policy:
Although I had to stop answering individual questions (to preserve my sanity), as always your thoughts and stories are VERY welcome here.
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nnn
I’ve always been told I have a good phone voice (I worked in customer service from 10th grade in high school right through freshmen year of college).
This last one left me a message on 6/1/08 to the effect of:
“This message is for Tom. This is Ms. X from XYZ company. I wanted to talk to you about the analyst position you applied for. Give me a call back at your earliest convenience at 123-456-7890 extension 1234. Thank you and have a great day.”
I called back maybe 20 minutes later and said something like:
“Hi Ms. X, I am returning your call concerning the analyst position. You can reach me at xxx-xxx-xxxx or yyy-yyy-yyyy. I look forward to hearing from you.”
I didn’t hear anything back so I called again the next day and got voice mail. After a few attempts, I just left a voice mail stating that I was likely going to be only accessible by cell phone and left that number. (2 voice mails in 24 hours might be an issue, but I really doubt it??).
After not hearing back after nearly 2 days, I called the receptionist and was told she was definitely in the office both days and she said that she’d give her a note stating I called.
That’s 3 contacts in about 3 days. I guess I could have turned her off by that, but my anxiousness was due to the fact that I had time to interview and I was going to be in that general area.
Well Tom…you’ve certainly addressed all the possibilities I could come up with. And there’s no problem with your frequency of contact since they told you they wanted to arrange for an interview. if that was me calling, I’d appreciate that you were making an effort. All within the professional range.
Honestly…it’s a mystery why this would happen not just once but three times! In this case it sounded like she wanted to do a preliminary phone interview and so there is a small chance that she found a few candidates and filled her openings. But somehow that seems unlikely.
At least from now on you know to include both your home and cell phones so they can reach you right away. If people give me that, I try both. And some just include their cell phones and make sure to always have them while in interview mode.
Wish there were some way for us to really know what’s going on. But if it’s at all comforting, this is NOT typical. Just keep the process going.
I guess the one bit of good news we can take from this is that you are getting responses to your resumes.
Good luck. Please keep us posted.
Ronnie Ann
At this point, is it safe to say that I should just not attempt further contact and move on? She clearly has my contact information and if she’s interested she’ll call eventually, I assume.
Anyway, I have an interview for a pricing analyst position at a defense contracting company on Friday, so that should be interesting!
I’d still send her a snail mail. It’s so uncommon nowadays it sometimes gets their attention. Even if this job is gone, she may have others. But other than that, I think your instinct to let it go is a good one. As you say…she has your info and knows how to find you.
Oooh! The pricing analyst job sounds like it might be a great match for your background and where you want to go. I have to say you sure are putting yourself out there. How I hope you get a “yes” soon!
Good luck, Tom! Please keep us posted.
Ronnie Ann
Eh, who cares…I just got offered a position with a top money management firm about 5 minutes ago!
Wuhoo!! Congratulations, Tom. This is really great news.
I think everyone joins me in wishing you good luck in your new job!
Ronnie Ann
Just for comedic purposes, one of these companies just called to ask for an interview AGAIN! haha
Hah! I am most definitely laughing. It’s companies like these that provide lots of opportunity for business process consultants like me.
Thanks for sharing, Tom. I enjoy a good laugh. It also lets people know that it’s worth following up – just in case the company goofed.
Ronnie Ann