Short answer: Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
People wonder what to do after the job interview . I just read a recent comment from one of my readers who said “I still haven’t heard back from them after my job interview and they stopped answering my weekly follow up calls and emails so I just assume they don’t want me. I think that’s rude not to respond to me, but oh well. I will continue applying for more things!”
Of course my heart goes out to her, but I almost jumped out of my skin when I read how often she was following up with both phone calls AND emails after the job interview. I get she was just eager to know “Did I get the job?”, but there’s good reason not to do what she was doing. What you do after an interview can count as much as before or during!
While I well understand the agony of waiting to hear back after the interview – and do love her positive attitude about moving on to look for the right job – I worry some of you, including this reader, may actually hurt yourself badly with an overly zealous approach. Bugging a potential employer week after week – no matter how wonderful a hire you might be – is not going to get you the job. In fact, too many phone calls or e-mails can totally turn off the very people in the company you want to impress.
Avoid weekly follow-up calls and emails after an interview
Sending all those e-mails and making all those phone calls does not help your case with the company – and in fact only irritates HR folks and other hiring managers, many of whom have inboxes full of e-mails all demanding immediate attention. An occasional polite post-interview e-mail or phone call can be a good thing…but after that, believe me…if they are interested, they’ll remember you!
Unless you have something you absolutely need to tell them or maybe a new Pulitzer Prize you just won and want them to know about…less is more is a pretty good rule to follow when it comes to contact after the interview. And if they aren’t getting back to you – as annoying as that can be – just assume they have a good reason and do your best to focus on other things…like continuing to look for a great job!
(If you are waiting to hear back, you might find some helpful hints here: 12 Ways to Stay Sane After a Job Interview)
What about phone calls or email before an interview?
Speaking of following up…here’s a post from Kerry over at Clue Wagon that generated some great discussion. Basically, she tells us be wary of online experts who advise us to call or email after sending a resume (before any interview):
Calling to Follow Up? Hand Me a Fork.
(Kerry, a former HR person, is not one to mince words you’ll notice.)
Seriously…unless you have a contact there or a very good reason to call or are in an industry where this is ok (as Kerry also advises in 3 (Possible) Exceptions to the Do-Not-Call Rule), you are probably not helping yourself one bit by calling before an interview to follow up on your resume. Employers sometimes get a hundred or more resumes for one job posting. Believe me…they do not want a hundred or more calls or e-mails for each job they post! (Hmmm…maybe we should call anyone who suggests you do that?)
Of course, for every rule there are exceptions. And I will admit I may have helped myself get to a couple of interviews by using the send-resume-then-make-polite-follow-up-call technique – but then again, it may have been my particular circumstance. And I also might have gotten there anyway based solely on my resume and strong cover letter. (That’s what a good cover letter is for.) So please…if you do try this, just tread gently.
Nuff said.
So what’s your take on how often to follow up AFTER an interview? How have you handled your own post-interview follow-ups?
Hi,
I had a second interview with a company a month ago but I didn’t get the job as they hired somebody else who was more qualified for the position. Last week the same company had another job opening and my skills match up perfectly for this position. I have applied for this position but I haven’t heard back from them yet. It has been a week and a half since I have applied, should I call or email to see if they have received my resume/application, or should I just wait another week to respond?
This company responded to my first application the day after I sent my resume and we set up an interview for later in the week. I don’t know if this has anything to do with second job posting or if they are just not interested.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Chad,
Even though it’s a company you have spoken with before, this may be a different group, hiring manager or simply early in the process. Yes, you can follow up to HR to make sure they have your application and to see if there is any other information you can provide. Some companies may not provide feedback on receiving applications as they get so many for a posting. Hope you hear soon.
- The Work Coach Cafe Team
I had an interview on the morning of December 15. I mentioned I would be traveling out of state for the holidays and asked when the decision would be made. I was informed the position would start January 2 and the decision of who would fill the position would be made before the Christmas break. I called to check in at the end of the day on December 22. I was told the week had been busy and the decision would be made when the manager returned from his vacation after New Years.
I am being advised that calling in to check on the progress of the decision is a good thing and that I should do so as soon as possible. I believe, however, that calling too soon can be pushy and I thnk I should wait.
I would appreciate any advice on this. I have been out of work for a year and this part of the process seems to bring the most confusion & stress.
Thank you.
Hi Jennifer! We are in the EXACT same situation. The only difference was my interview was on December 21st. The company wanted someone to start right after the first of the year. I was traveling out of state for the holidays as well (but would be back in plenty of time to start after the New Year if they chose to hire me). I havent heard anything. I called to follow up last Friday & was told the person I interviewed with had stepped out of the office. I have gone back & forth about calling again. My husband thinks I should send a follow up email. I figure at this point I have nothing to lose but my problem is I have no clue what to say in my email. Please let me know what you decide to do or any advice from anyone else will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks so much!
I think you’re absolutely right, Kasa. At this point you have nothing to lose. Call again, or sent an email, whatever feels most comfortable for you. And ask, politely, about the status of the opportunity.
Cheers!
Susan
Work Coach Cafe Team Captain
Jennifer and Kasa -
People often have personal deadlines to finish something, like adding a new person to the staff, before the holidays so that the new person can start immediately in the New Year. Then, “life happens.” And the deadline is missed, particularly common around the holidays, but definitely NOT limited to the holidays.
So, get back in touch, in what ever method feels comfortable for you. Don’t sound angry or be confrontational. Say/write that you hope they had a happy holiday season, and would like to hear soon about the job you discussed with them which they had anticipated filling before Christmas. Hopefully you’ll get good news!
Cheers!
Susan
Work Coach Cafe Team Captain
HI! I got called for an interview last week, and I felt like it went fairly well. I was told that Monday was a holiday and they had some deadlines to meet Tues. and Wed. and it would be atleast Thursday or Friday before I heard anything. When I didn’t hear from them by Friday, I called to follow up and she said a decision had not been made because they had been so busy. I sent an email to the manager and his response was ” No one has been hired yet. They are still interviewing” He will have the final say in the job so I don’t know why he just didn’t say anything. Do you think that if they had already narrowed it down to the two he was gonna interview..he would have told me? This is driving me crazy!
Chill, Jessica. Yes, this is the most important thing in your world right now. But not in their world! They still have their jobs to do every day, probably too much to do (which is why there is a job open).
So, don’t ruin your chances at the job by bugging them. Wait at least a week before contacting them again.
Susan
Work Coach Cafe Team Captain
I can identify with everyone on this post. In this current job market, is it acceptable for employers to be rude (broken promises to effectively follow-up)? If job seekers displayed the same behavior (arrive late to an interview), the consequences would be irreparable. Why isn’t everyone held to the same professional standard?
Hi Renee – I hear your frustration, and I agree with you! Being rude to job seekers really is NOT acceptable. But, it’s also not uncommon, unfortunately.
Many HR staffs are stretched very thin, because HR people are laid off too. And smart employers know that this kind of treatment hurts their “brand.” But it keeps happening. The process needs accountability built into it, and it’s not there yet.
I think it will change some day, when employers feel the heat from NOT treating job seekers and job candidates better. I’m hoping that will happen with the economy turns and the job market improves to the point where employers really are in that “war for talent” they talk about. They will have to be more professional, then, or face the consequences.
Soon!
Regards,
Susan
Work Coach Cafe Team Captain
My husband has been waiting to hear from 2 companies. He interviewed with one in November and the other in December. He was told by one that they don’t like to keep candidates waiting so he would hear back from them either way. The other one was for a supervisor position. They talked about money and what his budget would be. They did a phone interview and then he was called in for a face to face interview. He was told his background was the most experienced that they have had from all the resumes they received. He was told he would definatly hear from them. Both companies still have the positions up on the website. He has called and emailed and still has not heard as of yet.
If companies are not interested they should at least tell candidates. I think they are rude and inconsiderate. I have been in management and hired as well. I would never have done that to candidates.
Absolutely agree, Bobbie. Very rude! And also very common. Today.
With all of the excellent people looking for jobs right now, employers are holding out for the absolute “best fit” they can find. In better economies, they would jump to offer the top candidate a job so that the top candidate didn’t accept a job with someone else (like the competition). They are as worried about that now, unfortunately.
The best solution is to keep slogging – keep looking without waiting for an offer from that employer who was so encouraging and enthusiastic last week (or yesterday). And, don’t stop looking until receipt of an offer – something from them in writing or (less preferable, but acceptable) in email.
Regards,
Susan
Work Coach Cafe Team Captain
OK, I need some advice, and this seems to be the place to get it. I am in the Safety Industry, and I am assigned a Risk Management Consultant through our W/C carrier. This consultant was impressed with my job performance, and when another of his clients said they were looking for someone in my field, he gave them my name. I sent them my resume, I had a phone interview in a few days, and an onsite interview 3 days later (On December 14th). The interview lasted 3 1/2 hours (we were there an hour and a half after they closed) and she mentioned the possibility of coming back for a second interview, but she didn’t say when. I thought the interview went VERY well.
I already help others in my community develop certain programs, and I told them that even if they decided to go another way when filling the position I would still work with them because I am good at it and I enjoy it. On December 27th I emailed an invitation to the event (Safety Professionals from around the community were also invited, and for the same reason as her) and on December 30 she replied and said she would make it if she could. I did not see her there, but she could have been there because there were over 200 people there and I missed many of them.
The consultant who gave them my name said they told him I was still a “strong candidate” but he did not know when I should expect to hear something. It has now been almost a month since my first interview, and I am extremely anxious to something (ANYTHING, for that matter). I know I already contacted her by inviting her to my event, but should I try to contact her again to let her know that I am still interested in the position? I don’t want to be annoying, but I really want to know something!! ARGH!!!
I should mention that they have had the position open since August and they are being very selective. Apparently they have hired a few people who didn’t work out, and they want to make sure they pick the right one this time. I know this message is long, and I appreciate your time!
Sorry for the grammar/typos… it is 2:17 in the morning and I am off to bed! Again, thanks.
I think I’d wait until Monday afternoon (the 16th, so, technically “over a month” since you interviewed) or Tuesday to contact her.
Then, I’d call. Mention that it has been over a month since you interviewed, and you don’t want to be a nuisance but you were wondering how the process was going and when she expects to fill the job. Since it was the holiday season, you understand that schedules can slip, but you are still very interested in working for the company. Does she have any questions for you or anything else she would like to discuss?
Since the position has been open since August (!), either it’s not an urgent need for them, or they’re being very picky. It would be good to know which is happening – perhaps your consultant friend can give you some insight.
Depending on how friendly and encouraging she sounds, you could ask if she would like help with any projects. It would give all of you a chance to see how good the working relationships could be. This could potentially be a deadend for you (they hire you for the project and decide they don’t need you full-time), unless you are considering building a consulting business of your own.
Meanwhile, I’d keep looking for another job and keep my public profile high.
Good luck with your job search!
Susan
Work Coach Cafe Team Captain
Thank you very much for the advice. The individual I spoke with is extremely busy because she has been performing all functions of the position I have applied for in addition to her primary duties as HR Manager (she says she has so much work that she pretty much lives there). With as busy as she is, would emailing her be less effective than a phone call? I’d like to convey my interest in the position without interrupting her too much. Again, thank you for your help!
Hi John,
Hmmm… It’s been open for 4 months, and the HR manager is doing the job along with her own job. Yet, she hasn’t set up the second interview for you. Doesn’t feel promising to me.
I’m feeling like this isn’t going to be filled any time soon, sorry to say. Perhaps they are waiting for the “perfect candidate” to appear – that is happening a lot lately. Perhaps she’s contemplating a career change, and this is good for her resume. Or, perhaps her part-time efforts are sufficient so there is no urgency to fill the job. Hard to know.
A phone call is an interruption, but if she has voice mail, she can ignore it, particularly voice mail with caller id. When you speak with her, ask for permission to call her once a month. If she says no, don’t call back, but do send an email every couple of weeks reiterating your interest (if you are still interested).
And, I’d move on to other opportunities, no matter how much I wanted this one.
Good luck with your job search!
Regards,
Susan
Again, great advice! Thanks!
This is beginning to feel less than promising to me as well, but I do have a feeling that it could work out. When we spoke I asked her why the position had been open for so long, and she said that they actually had hired for this position twice and that each person didn’t work out. This brought up a red flag, and when I asked her why the others didnt work out she said that many safety professionals have no accountability (this is definitely an accurate statement), and because of this they were unable to handle the accountability in place at her company. She wants the third time she fills the position to be the last.
She also said that she has been performing the functions of this position, albeit not very well. Their incident and severity ratings have been rising for several years and she does not have time to address the issues; the only thing she has been doing is the bare minimum in order to remain compliant.
Considering all of this, does it seem even a little more promising? I do still have high hopes for this position, but I have also taken your advice and I have applied for several more positions. Again, thanks!
Hi John,
Yes, it does seem a bit more promising – they are being very deliberate hoping for a “good hire” this time. Perhaps they feel they rushed the last two times, although clearly they didn’t waste a lot of time once it appeared the people were not working out.
It also seems a little more worrisome. As you suggest, definitely a red flag for hiring and then letting 2 people go so quickly. Excellent that you asked why they were let go! I hope she was specific on what kind of “accountability” they were expecting, and it’s the kind of accountability you are comfortable doing.
It would be very interesting to know who either or both of those people were so you could talk with them to get their side of the story. I wonder if you could track them down through LinkedIn doing a company search for former employees? Perhaps the duration was so short that there is no mention on the profiles, but if there is and they would talk with you, it could be very enlightening!
I think I’d also check GlassDoor.com to see what is being said there about this employer – if anything.
If you do land this job, I would be sure to ask for frequent feed back, and some documentation on the specific process they want the person in this job to follow. You want to know if they are getting unhappy with your work, too, so you can do a course correction to keep the job.
So, keep plugging on those other jobs. Hope this one works out for you, but if it doesn’t, something else will!
Good luck with your job search!
Susan
I last posted on January 3rd. I ended up calling HR on the 4th only to be told that there were a couple interviews that could not be conducted due to the holidays. The interviews were conducted on the 5th and I was told I should hear something by the 13th.
At the end of business on the 12th, I was applying for jobs on an online site when I noticed this same position was reposted that morning. So, I called the hiring manager instead of HR. He told me that the decision was being put off due to year end processing and that I was one of the top contenders for the position. I was also told to feel free to call at any time if I had other questions, but a decision would likely not be made until the end of the month.
I am now confused. Though I like hearing that I am a top contender, why the job reposting? Could it be that the right hand doesn’t know what the left is doing? I do not have all my eggs in this basket, but it is a position that suits my needs and would like to have. In the meantime, still searching.
Any advice/opinions on this?
Thank you
Hi Jennifer,
How frustrating! Things were moving along so nicely, and now everything seems to have shut down for a bit.
You may never know why this happened — it could be any number of things — so try not to fret too much over it, and please don’t blame your interview performance. The delay probably has absolutely nothing to do with you or your fit for the job.
I’m glad you’re not focusing solely on this job. Other opportunities may present themselves but, also, keeping busy with your job search plan may lessen the sting of this annoying development.
Since the hiring manager left the door open for you to call at any time, why not call him in a week or so to see if you’re still in the running.
Good luck landing this one!
Meg Guiseppi
Member of the WorkCoachCafe Team
I have a dilemma where I was interviewed just this past Friday for a job that I really want. It is within my field of expertise, I’ve wanted to work for the company for a while, and I thought the interview went well. However, they’re still interviewing few more people. Few hours later, I had another interview for a job I don’t care much for but am capable of doing, already know that it pays pretty well, benefits, and I was offered the job. I asked to give a few days for an answer.
So even though it’s Monday, would it be pushy to contact the first company to check on my status and let them know that I was offered a job somewhere else but I really want to work for them? I’m really pulling my hair on this one all weekend long!
Hi Tia,
Yes, you have a legitimate reason to contact the employer you want. Explain the situation carefully, without mentioning the name of the other employer. Ask the status of their process and when they are going to be making offers. Maybe there will be enough time.
Good luck!
Susan
Susan, thanks for the feedback. I contacted the company I really want to work for explaining my situation, and they were still considering me for the open position. The company owner said he is still interviewing few more people before making a decision, but would like to take me in as a contractor to work on couple projects to get a sense of the process between me and the company.
Then, this week I was invited for a second interview to meet with the co-owner… That second interview was today.
It went really well, I thought. The co-owner said I had the qualifications and personality that the company is seeking. However, they’re still interviewing few more people, but was informed that because I was given contract work, and none of the other candidates did, it was a positive sign.
So here’s to more waiting, but I am feeling positive about it.
EXCELLENT! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!
Hello All,
I am reading all of these comments and I can totaly relate..
I was laid off from my employer almost 3 years ago. I have since relocated to another state because the market was so bad. In my search I have found nothing that measured up to what I was going before, (responsibility, benefits, pay, ie). I finally came across a job relative to my last position. I had a phone screening December 20th. They called me in for a face to face interview with the VP on January 7th, which I thought went very well. I sent a thank you letter to the person I interviewed and sent a follow up email to the HR Rep on January 11th. I was also informed that the VP will select his final 3 to do a final interview with the Owner. I was also told the training starts January 23rd. It is now Tuesday. Should I follow up again?
I am getting a bit eager because I have other interviews going on this week and don’t want that to interfere if they call me back for a final interview. I would at least think they would take care of this as soon as possible so that the candidate/potential employee can prepare to start work on Monday. Why is it so hard to say “Yes” or “No” you have/don’t have the job?
This is frustrating and I really want this job and am willing to put everything on hold until I hear something. What should I do?
Hi Genny,
I’d keep working at the new opportunities and interviews. Don’t put it all on hold for this one opportunity.
I would definitely contact them today since it is now less than a week from when the training is supposed to start, and I think I would call. If you can’t speak with someone, then send the HR Rep an email and ask for an update on the status because of the trianing deadline. Expecting you to have you processed in as an employee and ready for the trianing in less than one week could be a challenge for them – and for you.
Good luck with this one and the rest of your job search!
Regards,
Susan
Hi, I’m in the middle of a job search, and I have some questions.
I’ve sending out resumes, and a company was pretty keen on me. A senior manager emailed me back almost immediately after he saw my resume, and we talked on the phone that day. But ever since then, it’s become extremely difficult to get hold of him. When we talked on the phone, he said he needs to get apporval from his boss to fill a position he thinks I’m a good fit for, so I emailed him about a week later to get an update, but no response. I emailed him again in about a week, but still no response. After a couple more emails, I called him one day, which is about a month after our initial contact. He remembered me and said he was going to talk to his boss later that day and suggested we talk on the phone next day. But he didn’t call, so I called him only to hear he couldn’t reach his boss the other day and he was going to talk to him later that week. So I emailed him about a week later, but still no response. I’ve heard he’s a good manager from people who’ve worked with him, and I want to believe he’s been just busy. Should I just call him again, or would it annoy him and backfire? I’m thinking maybe I should follow up with a phone call about a week after the last email I sent. What do you think? Or do you think they just lost interest in me?
Any tips or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Hi Mike,
This isn’t feeling really promising to me. If you really liked them, I would stay in touch via email once or twice a month, but I’d definitely move on with my job search. In your email, indicated your strong interest but also that you don’t want to be a nuisance.
Unless this is a sales job you are seeking, and they are testing your follow-up process and selling skills, my bet is that they either are not really ready to hire right now, or they aren’t really interested in you at the moment.
Good luck with your job search!
I get the posts from everybody wondering “whats next??” after what they felt were promising interviews and I get sad then I get angry. I rejoice at the success stories but I am still hurt for the people that are waiting for calls but the only time the phone rings is when I bill collector is calling. Ok so I was and plan to be in the position of a hiring manager again. When I was interviewing I was always prompt with my feedback and kept others on the team on task when it came to this. The reality is that this thread should not even have to exsist OR it shouldn’t be still getting this much traffic for this long. HR people and all others in charge of hiring have to be better. Its not right and its not fair to keep people on hold and in limbo. They need to be mindful and I do not accept the excuse that they are so busy. Hire a temp! Go through those resumes, send emails, make a call. Don’t ignore people that only want a simple yes or no. Time out for all the games!
Ronnie, I’m sorry for venting but these posts were just really making me feel sad for the job seekers. I look forward to more of your upbeat and socially relevant career topics in 2012!
Hi,
I’m hoping you can assist me. I had a phone interview last week on January 10 and was informed by the hiring manager that he would like to bring me in a face-to-face interview. He stated I was exactly what he was looking for and will be in touch with me in a week or so to set up the interview because he needs to get permission from his boss to fly into the location that is close to where I’m located. I followed up the next day with an email and have not heard back.
Should I contact him by phone today or should I wait until next week Tuesday? Would it seem too pushy?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Kind regards,
Waiting patiently
I had an interview on the fifth of this month I think it went welll they but they told me to wait two weeks for a call but I didnt get a call yet an its driving me crazy I really want this job please help what should do ? Should I call or just wait?
Strangely, Zellena, sometimes this is a test – how interested are you in the job and how well do you follow directions?
So, since the 2 weeks they wanted you to wait are over, it’s time to make that call – or you might be demonstrating both a lack of interest and an inability to follow directions.
First thing Monday morning is probably not the best time for a call back if you want someone to be able to spend some time with you on the phone, but Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning should be better.
* Tell them who you are and the position for which you have already interviewed. Be prepared with the date, time, and name of the person(s) you spoke with.
* Explain that you were waiting for a good time to call back, and are still very interested in working with for this company and with the people you have spoken with so far.
* Ask what the next steps are and when those next steps will begin.
* Ask how and when you can stay in touch with them about this position – or other positions. Get permission to call on a weekly or monthly basis, and/or get an email address of someone to stay in touch with.
Before you hang up, clarify the name and title of the person you are speaking with, so you will have that for your notes (and for your thank you card/email writing).
If they are vague in their responses, press – gently! – for as much specific information as you can get. Politely thank them for their time and attention.
Then, hope that the next steps happen, but also move on with your other job search activities. Don’t wait for this opportunity to work out – or not to work out. Keep rolling.
Good luck!
Susan
I applied for a job in Oct 2011. I received a call in Nov that this job was to replace a person who resigned. However, the employee withdrew her resignation and the position was no longer available but that their company was growing and said she would like to keep me in mind for future opportunities. I got a call in Dec and set up a phone interview on Dec 15th which lasted about one hour – phase 1. Then with expressed interest on my part I was asked to complete a Career History Form as phase 2 of the interview process. I heard back about 3 days after I submitted the completed form and was asked to be patient. Then I got a call for a face to face interview which took place Dec 28th – phase 3, which also took about one hour. I met with HR and the supervisor of the position I was being interviewed for. However, the supervisor could only spend about 15 minutes in the interview as she was called away on an ugent matter. So I finished up with HR. It took another 3 to 5 days before I heard back and was asked to take the Kolbe Index – phase 4. After completion I got an email asking me again to be patient and that it would take 5 to 7 business days before they could follow-up. HR did follow-up as promised and asked If I could come back for a 2nd interview with the supervisor since we did not have much time to speak on Dec 28th. I was scheduled for Friday, Jan 13th. This ended up not being an interview but more with the supervisor showing me the day to day operations of the job and reviewing how their database program works. I had a few questions afterward, one being are there any additional phases before a hiring decision is made. The answer was no. The supervisor asked me if HR had asked me for references yet. I said no but did have them with me so I gave them to her. She said HR would follow-up with me the week following Jan 13th. To date, my references have not been contacted and HR has not contacted me. What should I say in my followup call?
Well, Ashley… An interesting narrative stretched out over several months, and it appears that yet another hold up has occurred.
I would just check in with HR to see how things are going, patiently and politely. Ask what the next step is, and if they need any more information from you. It may be that the supervisor was misinformed about the process, didn’t effectively pass on your references, or some other crisis – from a cold to a firing – has intervened to interrupt the reference checking or whatever the next step is.
It still feels very promising, but I wouldn’t discontinue any of my other job search activities until I had a written offer in my hands.
Good luck!
Susan
Here’s my question:
I applied for a position as an Executive Administrative Assistant with a large organization in my area. I received a call a couple weeks later for an interview. The interview went great! I was told by the Executive Director that 175 people applied for the position and only 10 were called back. I was called later that week for a second interview. It didn’t go as well as the first, as she hardly asked any questions. She did most of the talking and I thought that was a good sign. The following day, I sent an email to each of the 4 individuals that I interviewed with, simply thanking them for their time and consideration. The HR manager wrote me back, stating that they were going to meet later that day, and make a decision. This was 6 days ago. Has it been long enough for me to call (or email) and request the status of my application? Or should I give it more time?
Hi Carrie,
I’d drop the HR manager a quick note tomorrow to ask about the status of this job. If you don’t get a reply by Monday, I’d give the HR manager a call. Just checking to see what the status is. Not angry. Not frustrated. Just checking…
Good luck!
Susan
Thanks, Susan! I didn’t see your reply until after I’d already called the HR director. I was very polite, and told him that I just wanted to know whether or not they’d made a decision. He was really nice, stated that he’d been out of the office for 3 days sick, and apologized for not contacting me sooner. Now I kind of feel bad for calling, but he did say that he would definitely follow up with me either way, hopefully sometime today! I really need this!… will keep you posted
((Say a Prayer))
This is what happens – as job seekers, our job search is the center of our Universe. And when something doesn’t happen as expected, we always assume the worst when, in fact, usually what has happened has nothing at all to do with us. Like this situation. Hopefully he’s feeling much better!
Do keep us posted! Saying a prayer and crossing my fingers!
Good luck!
Susan
Hi,
I had a first in-person interview (2 hrs) with a small firm I’m extremely interested in, everything went well, and had a second interview (2.5 hrs) the following week on a Wednesday. The director of HR said she’d get back to me on Thursday or Friday in regards to next steps – however, I didn’t end up hearing back from her for 10 days. She didn’t provide an explanation, but stated that she’d like to have a phone call discussing the position at a set time the following day. I accepted, but she never called at the designated time that she gave. I left a voicemail and sent a follow up email after the fact, but have not gotten a response in the last 3 days. What should my next step be? Wait patiently for her to contact me? Follow up via email by the end of the week if I haven’t heard back? Really frustrated & stumped here (but I’d love to have the job!), I haven’t encountered a situation like this before. Thanks!
Hi Sam,
How odd that she set up the appointment but didn’t call or respond. I’d reach out again next week, but I’d assume that the answer was no and go ahead with my job search.
Everything might be fine – possibly an unrelated crisis interrupted things – and she may call you again as though nothing had happened.
This doesn’t “feel” right, but it’s hard to tell what is really going on, and you may never find out. So, keep looking!
Good luck!
Susan
Hi,
I have a little bit of a dilemma with this consulting job that I really want. So before Christmas, the HR manager called me saying that they will call after the Christmas break to schedule an interview. Christmas passed, and then new years… So I called the HR manager back on January 3 and she told me that the recruitment for my city was delegated to another person and she was surprised that she has not called me to schedule an interview. She said to wait a few days and she was sure that she will call. I waited until January 11 with no call, so I called the HR manager back and asked about the status of my application. She was clueless and I asked for the contact info of the other HR person but she said it would be better to contact her instead by phone. She told me to call her back the next day so that she could tell me about the status of my application. I called her the next day and I got her voicemail, I left a voicemail stating who I was and what I was calling about and to call me back (approximately 10-15 second voicemail). She didn’t call me back. I called again on January 24 and got her voicemail again, and again I left a voicemail (practically identical to the one before).
So my question is… is this a lost cause? and how often should I be calling her back if she told me to call back and still has yet to contact me. It is extremely frustrating how they initiated the conversation and then left me hanging.
Any advice?
Hi Roy,
I’d cool it on the calls for at least another week, and move on to focus on other opportunities now. It’s not clear that this is a lost cause, but it could be – at least this time around. It sounds to me that they are a bit disorganized. Or, the HR manager could just be disorganized. Or, she could be trying to put you off “nicely” (if slightly dishonestly).
February 1 is only a week away. I’d wait until then to leave her another polite message reminding her (nicely!) of the history you have with her, and reiterating your interest in working with them. Just reconnecting briefly as in your last 2 voicemails, if you end up with her voicemail. If possible, I’d try calling from a different phone – just in case there is any call screening going on.
Good luck!
Susan
Thanks i’ll give it a try in February
Hi,
I had an interview on 7th November 2011 and the hiring manager told me they were looking to hire people for December 2011 and May 2012. I sent him a thank you email and he didn’t respond. He said we’ll get back to you by the end of month. So I contacted him in December and he said they are still in process and will get back to me as soon as they decide something. But I haven’t heard from him till now. Is it ok to send a follow up email again?
Hi Rency,
It’s been at least 3 weeks, so you should be safe following-up, and I’d start with a phone call rather than email.
Don’t expect him to remember you from your name. Remind him who you are, when you interviewed, and the position you interviewed for. Then, just ask for the current status, and their plans going forward.
I like to get permission to stay in touch, and the best way to do that is to ask them which method of contact they prefer – phone or email? And which phone number or account should you use? Don’t ask for permission – ask for HOW to stay in touch. It can make a big difference in the response you get.
Keep at it. Polite persistence pays off!
Good luck!
Susan
Hi there,
I am so glad I came across this site! I first interviewed with this world wide company via phone in mid November for a regional sales position. I was then invited for a face to face panel interview (President, VP, CFO and HR Manager) in early December. I thought it went pretty well. I was even given a tour of the facility by the president. I was told they were looking to fill the position by the first week of January. A couple of days later I was asked to submit information for a background check (which I did) . A week before Christmas I received a follow-up email from the VP stating she wanted me to speak via phone to a Regional Business Development Manager. I spoke with him for about an hour. I thought the conversation went pretty well. With the holidays approaching I just assumed I would not hear anything anyway until the first of the year. A couple of days into the new year I received a follow up email from the President stating she was wanted to touch bases with me and was still interested in speaking further with me. She apologized for the delay and mentioned things had been pretty hectic with the holidays. In the meantime she asked another Regional Business Development Manager to give me a call. That person called me later that day and we spoke for about 30 minutes. The person mentioned hearing great things about me and they were equally impressed with my background. The person ended the call be stating that they would definitely pass on their seal of approval and looked forward to working with me. I had not heard anything since. I sent a non intrusive follow-up email to the President after not hearing anything else for 2 weeks. I sent this email last week. I mentioned in the email that I was still interested in the position and that if she had any additional questions for me during the decision making process to please feel free to contact me. I have not heard anything. I’m truly stumped on this one. I have an interview with another company early next week and will focus on that but I really wanted this particular job. Should I follow up in another week or so or just let it go and let the chips fall…..
Hi Nancy,
Keep following up, periodically. Next week would be a good time. It sounds like a big job, so it’s a big decision for them to make, and they may be taking their time making it. It is interesting that you didn’t get a response to last week’s message, but it could mean nothing more than that the President didn’t have anything she could share at that time.
Moving on with your job search is exactly what you should be doing, but I’d let them know you are still interested and available – at least for a while. Polit persistence pays often pays great dividends. And, as usual, you never know what’s going on “behind the curtain” at this employer.
Good luck!
Susan
I am so glad I came across this site. Thank you for what you are doing.
I am obsessing about a situation while waiting on the phone to ring… For a while now…
What should I do next? Here is a timeline of events:
Nov7-applied for job, recd Notice of app recd a day later.
Nov 27- second email received back from hr gal stating she was having trouble getting her managers in the same state, but she was excited to have me interested. I had been highly reccomended by her staff.
Jan 6- call to set up interview.
1/10 interview went well. She discussed benefits with me and I asked at end of interview if there was any reason they would be reluctant to hire me. Answe was absolutely not knowing what you have done in the community. Said they would know by weekend or first of next week.
No word- so I called 5 days after interview and was told her brother had passed and she would be out for a week and reschedule the remaining two interviews and would definitely get ahold of me by last week. I did send a sympathy card because we knew her family… It had been 8 biz days and I followed up with a vm asking her to please call me either way and that I hope I wasn’t to the point of pest and still very interested. Still no call back or email from her or administrator. The position is for a resource director for a non profit nursing home at two nearby locations. I am still in my current job but am physically sick everyday from stress and anxiety from this job. Cannot quit until I get another position. I am still applying for other jobs, but none of them resonate with me like this one.
What do I do?
Thanks!!!
Hi Bea,
Wow, tough situation!
I think I would back off for a while. Losing a close family member is very tough, and it sounds like it is taking longer for her to bounce back than she probably expected. I would leave her alone for a couple of weeks. No more voice mail messages and no email messages until at least 2/10 – wait until the week after that if you can.
Keep applying for other positions, and do it with full intention.
This one may work out for you, but it could take an extra month or so longer than it would have without this family death. Or, it could be put on hold for a longer time. It’s hard to tell what is going on.
Good luck!
Susan