In a recent exchange of comments on How to Tell If a Job Interview Went Well, the subject of how soon and how often to call an employer after the interview came up. One of my wonderful readers, CE (who recently got a job herself), was helping comfort someone anxiously waiting to hear whether she got the job.
Speaking specifically to the question of how often to call, CE wrote:
I once got a job because the hiring manager said they would hire me if I quit calling them all the time. They said I was persistent, and they hired me! While I wouldn’t recommend that to anyone, I would recommend that you call the prospective employer back to check on the status. Anyone else agree with this or do you have another opinion?
Glad you asked, CE. I covered this a while back in After an Interview: Can Weekly Follow Up Calls and Emails Help Get You the Job? But since this question comes up so often, I figured it was worth discussing post-interview follow-ups again in a new post.
What You Need to Know about Post-Interview Follow Ups
Here’s a quick summary of salient points I hope will help ease at least some of the waiting pain:
- Thank you notes are a great first follow-up step. While I have hired folks who never sent one, it is a good positive initial follow-up contact and leaves a nice impression. (Although there was one time when it didn’t.)
- Show you have patience and professionalism by waiting at least a week – or better yet two (depending on the type of job) – before you follow-up after the thank you note.
- When you do follow up, make it short and sweet unless you have something new and relevant to add – and keep that short too.
- Some of the very folks you are waiting to hear back from get over a hundred e-mails a day – many requiring immediate action – so if they don’t respond right away (or at all)…it’s NOT about you.
- Some companies take weeks just to interview the first round of candidates – plus there are internal decision-making processes that take lots of time.
- Some companies have policies about not responding at all to follow-up contacts (there are legal implications such as when responses are misconstrued by the candidate), and so these companies wait instead until an offer was made and accepted. Again this is not about YOU.
- After the thank you and additional follow-up, wait at least 2 weeks before checking your status again – unless they tell you to call on a specific date or to just wait until they get back to you.
- If there is even a chance you might get the job, the employer remembers you – really! If there’s no chance…no amount of calling will help, and it may hurt your chances next time there’s an opening. So please resist trying to remind them every few days. There’s a fine line between persistence and stalking!
Hope that helps. Feel free to add your own thoughts about follow-up frequency. And thanks again CE and all my other readers who so kindly pitch in to help those with the post-interview OCD blues.
And last but definitely not least…congratulations on your new job CE! I’m happy to report she’s not the only reader who has recently gotten a job. There is indeed light at the end of the long interview tunnel! 
Posts to read while waiting to get that post-interview call:
How to Tell If a Job Interview Went Well
After the Job Interview: Why Haven’t They Called Me Yet?
Stuck in the Waiting Game After 2nd Interview
12 Ways to Stay Sane After a Job Interview
I Got the Post-Interview Temporary OCD Blues
Thanks! I hope so… I keep saying to myself that I will get one and this is just a temporary situation. Funny, after you find a job you look back and say what didn’t I use the time I had wisely?
Dafna
Great advice! I love your articles. I recently had an interview with a company for a sales position and I believe it went really well. Afterwards, the manager told me that he would call me on Monday, and if I don’t hear from him Monday, then to call him on Tuesday. Is this a good sign? What if he doesn’t call on Monday?
Hi Brandon,
Yes, this could be a good sign. Perhaps the contact could be to set up be another round of interviews, start checking your references, drug testing, or other part of this employer’s hiring process. It might also be a job offer.
If you don’t hear from the employer this week, contact him next week to ask about the status of the job and the next steps in the process.
Meanwhile, keep looking for a job. Don’t wast time in case this opportunity doesn’t turn out for you.
Good luck with your job search!
Susan
Hi Susan-
I have an interview coming up this coming Monday for a job that that sounds very interesting to me. It’s at an industry I am in, but the job was not my mail responsibility, it does require skills like self motivated, organized, customer service orientated etc’ but is cant offer too much, I got this thought someone in met for few minutes and connected through LinkedIn and he passed my cover letter and resume to someone who works int eh company. That person passed it to the hiring manager and she co tacked me tonight…,
It’s so great to have LinkedIn,
So my question is that I have to really think deep on me experience and find ways to incorporate it to the job requirements. I just don’t want to come across self conscious.
Thoughts?
Hi Dafna!
Congratulations on the new interview!
Prepare for the interview by thinking about things you have done in past – in your jobs, where you volunteered (if you volunteered), in school, and in your community – where you demonstrated those skills (self-motivated, organizer, etc.). Write those stories down and practice talking about them. Don’t memorize anything, but do become comfortable talking about them so you can speak about them without feeling self-conscious.
Good luck in the interview!
Susan
Thanks Susan! First off, I apologize for my horrible spelling errors in my previous post. I was typing on my IPhone and the auto correct feature as well as typing on a phone are both not the best,,, so apologies..
I can do the job easily, I might be even over qualified but I don’t have the specific experience as it wasn’t my main responsibility at my previous jobs. I have started thinking during my college times, some gigs I did and during my other job experience something I can use as a skill. I got another call for a different job but again, same industry different responsibility but it’s a lower job level that I did prior but I want to get y foot in the door as the school has amazing benefits and it’s close to my house.
Dafna
Hi Dafna,
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you that one of these works out for you very soon!
Cheers!
Susan
I have applied as a programmer in a company that has running been years near my place but now they are trying to undergo a new management and enhance their firm to give better service.
Making it short, I have submitted my resume last February 20 and they have contacted me last April 25 for an interview. Less I am aware, I was the only one that has not undergo examination but qualified for an interview.
My friend, whose parent works inside the company, said that I have qualified for the position but the company has not yet contacted me for the position. I don’t want to assume that I have passed but I want to know exactly from the employer if I am really qualified or what.
If you where in my position what would you do?
Thank you very much!
Hi Andrew,
Since your last contact was April 25, it is appropriate for you to reach out to the HR person or the recruiter to see what the status of your application is.
When you call, don’t expect them to remember you. Then, tell them your name, the title of the job you interviewed for, and the date of your interview and who interviewed you. Then, ask for the current status of the job and the timing and the next steps in the process.
Good luck with your job search!
Susan
Have done what you said. I already sent a message to the one who send me a text message. Hope that I receive a good news. *Cross-Fingers*
Thank you for the advice!
Fingers crossed, Andrew!
Good luck – and keep looking!
I went for an interview a few weeks ago (for a position they would be creating specifically for me thus I know I am the only one interviewing) and they had me write some sample material for them- I sent it in to them over a week ago and still have not received any form of reply… should I call them or keep waiting?
Called them nine days after I sent it and they were glad I called. I got a second interview. They liked that I am on top of things! Good luck everyone!
Great timing and news, Beth! It sounds like things are coming along well.
If you haven’t done this already, the next time you speak with them, ask them what the next steps are and when you can expect to hear from them again.
Creating a new job can be a long, complex process for any organization, so give them time.
Hope this works out for you!
Good luck with your job search!
Susan
Dear Mrs Susan,
I had applied for a job on 12th of May and I got a call on 14th of May, something like a quick interview where i was informed on the main responsibilities of the job and some other related issues, while i was asked to provide also some aspects of my profile. One of the most important questions was my date of availability since the job needs to be filled asap, ideally on 1st of June. However i said i will be available on 1st of July and the recruiter told that even this date is not ideal for him, he will consider my application. He informed that he will review on some other applications and call the shortlisted ones next week, that is this week.
The fact is that i like a lot the job so i a thinking of calling him and informing him that i can start earlier than i initially said. Do you think i should do it? Or should i wait for his decision and then in case of negative answer inform him on my new availability?
Thanks!
Hi Michail,
If you are sure you could leave earlier than July 1, you could contact the recruiter and let him know that before he gives you any negative information. Mid-June would be better than July 1, and it might make the difference in getting a job offer.
Good luck with your job search!
Susan
I have an question: What if you went on an interview for a job and a few months later the job is open ounce again, can I call the interviewer back to ask if I can be re interviewed ounce again? Or should I just wait and see if the Interviewer will call me?
Hi Robyn,
Don’t wait for them to contact you. If you are interested in the job, contact them again to ask if they are interested in having you interview for the job again. If they say they are not interested, ask why.
Be sure to remind them of your name, the date of your interview and who interviewed you.
Either something happened to sidetrack the first attempt at filling this job, or this is another opening. Either way, employers seldom look back at old resumes or applications on the assumption that the people they interviewed have gotten jobs somewhere else or are not interested. So, if you are interested, let them know.
Good luck with your job search!
Susan
Hi Susan, I have another question.
As far as I know, Examination is done before interview right? Last Tuesday, I was asked to took the exam after the interview. Isn’t it awkward?
Hi Andrew,
Unfortunately, I am not familiar with the process you are describing or the “Examination.” So, I’m not sure what is going on and how to advise you.
I would think that asking you to take the Examination after the interview is probably a sign of interest. If they weren’t interested in you, I don’t think they would have asked you to take the exam unless it is some sort of government or industry requirement.
Good luck with your job search!
Susan
Hi Susan-
Today I had an interview for a job I’m slightly over qualified but willing to take to get my foot in the door. They kept asking me where’d do you see yourself, what is your goal? I felt bad because it sounded like they weren’t sure whether I would stay there for a long time. I told them them for the next of hole of years i want something steady which is true and ultimately become an expert and if there is a chance t receive greater responsibilities I will be a happy to learn about it. I felt that I really did my best, show enthusiasm, gave examples of how I dealt with different situations etc. each had about 30 min to talk to me but I did lt feel like they were too over joyous with me although I felt I gave it at all. I met with the hiring manager at the end who seemed more enthusiastic. She is the one I reached out to to follow p if she received my cover letter and resume,
When I came home I sent the tank you emails and didn’t get a reply which was a little bummer. In al the job that I had when ingot a reply it showed a good sign but in this case I got none which isn’t a good sign. Although there were interviews that I got a reply but didn’t get the job….
This university is so competitive to get into and I feline I’m waiting my time applying there because everyone wants to work there so I feel like there is no point even going for interviews.
So I’m a little frustrated. By applying there. I worked there in 2001-2003 and I wish I ever left.
What are your thoughts? I also emailed the lady who set up the interview Schiller. I guess I was extremely desperate…
So frustrating…
Hi Dafna,
Is it possible someone you worked with in 2001-2003 is still there? Possibly your former boss is still there? Maybe one of them could help you network in – maybe put in a good word for your or hand your resume to the hiring manager in a department where you want to work. Having someone already working for an employer is the quickest way to a new job.
Don’t give up!
Good luck with your job search!
Susan
Thanks Susan. Yes, I am in touch with them but it’s a huge company. It’s a university so there are thousands of employees. Today I emailed a hiring manager of a job that was posted with an identical position I have held last. It’s pretty much the same job. But it’s very competitive so I emailed the hiring manager as a follow up and attached my cover letter and resume. I basically said that I wanted to follow up and that my previous position was identical to the job posted. It’s still not ideal, as it’s temporary part time which could be renewed but still I need a full time job. Do you think it was wise to email that person? I think it shows that I am proactive and interested. There is another co director at that place so I thought of emailing him too. Do you think it should be wise or do I come across as desperate?
Thanks for your ongoing support!
Dafna
Hi Dafna,
The email was probably a good idea, but attaching the cover letter might not have been. People are often cautious about opening up an attached word processing document because it may contain malware, like a computer virus. And, to actually read your cover letter required the person to take the extra step of clicking on the file name and opening the file, assuming they weren’t afraid of the malware threat.
In the future, make the body of your message be your cover letter – a “cover message” – that will hopefully sell your candidacy and entice the person to open your resume. So, then, there is only one attachment – your resume.
For years, I have been recommending that people copy the body of their resume into the email message, too, below the “cover letter” part of the message. They can still attach the resume as a file, but having it in the body of the message is more convenient for the recipient.
Good luck with your job search!
Susan
Thanks Susan. I haven’t heard from the recruiter today as well. Perhaps she wasn’t thrilled that I “bypassed” her and emailed my documents to the hiring manager. It is very odd that I didn’t hear anything. At least she could have sent a thanks but no thanks email saying I am not being considered. I do remember that when I called the voice message stated she doesn’t work on Fridays. So I can’t continue obsessing over this and beating myself on the head because I just don’t know. I don’t want to come across as desperate because I called and emailed yesterday to make sure I didn’t mix up the time or to see what’s going on but I don’t think I should contact her again.
What are your thoughts a out this? Could it be that I’m not being considered for the position even if she told me she would call for a phone interview? It felt like she disappeared and didn’t even reply t my email saying I’m sorry about this…
Thanks.
Dafna
So I had an interview about two weeks ago; the interview went rather well and the interviewer stated that they had to have at least 10 new employees before they could start the training process. I feel as if I have the job though the interviewer did not say those exact words. Anyways it’ll be two weeks on Wednesday so my question is should I call and speak to the person I had my interview with or wait for her to call me.
Thanks in advance for the advice.
Hi Jessica,
Since two weeks have passed, I think it’s appropriate for you to contact the interviewer and see what is going on. Remind her of your name, the job you interviewed for, and the date of the interview. Then, ask for the current status of the job – how far along are they on their way to 10 new employees?
Also, ask her if you can expect a job offer for this position, and, if she says yes, when she expects that a formal offer (in writing) will be made to you and what the salary will be in the offer.
If the offer is weeks away and/or the salary is too low, I would certainly continue looking for a new job.
Good luck with your job search!
Susan
I was interviewed last Thursday on this company which I really, really want to work with and said that i need to wait for their call but they didn`t say until when. I`m really, really anxious now. Do you think I should call them, just to ask my status or wait for them to call?
Hi Anna (Joy?)
You need to wait at least a week before you call them to see what is going on.
When you call:
First, tell them your name, the job your applied for, when you were interviewed, and who interviewed you.
Second, ask them for the status of the job, and what the next setps are in the process of filling this job, assuming it is still open.
THEN, KEEP LOOKING for another job. Even if this is your dream job! Just in case this one doesn’t work out, you won’t have lost a lot of time waiting for that no (if it comes). When/if you receive a written offer with the salary you expect and agreed to, then you can stop looking. But don’t stop until you reach that point.
Good luck with your job search!
Susan
Hi Anna,
Wait at least a week until you call back, and two weeks is usually better. If they have interviewed a lot of people, they will be getting a lot of phone calls, and you don’t want to be annoying.
When you call, if you speak with someone, tell them your name, the job you interviewed for, and the date and name of the person who interviewed you. Then, ask where they are in their process, what the next steps are, and when you will hear from them next.
Good luck with your job search!
Susan
Dear Susan,
Thank you so much for your hints and tips about “post interview”. I recently had a phone interview for a position and was told by the the Chair of the interview panel that I should hear back from HR in the next 2-3 weeks at the end of my interview. However, it is now 4 weeks and I am dying to get a response back. Do you think it is appropriate for me to call back after waiting an extra week, to follow up on the status of the recruitment? or should I wait for the company to respond back?
Kind regards,
Raka
Hi Raka,
I think you have waited an appropriate amount of time. Contact them again to see what is going on and what the next steps are in their process.
Good luck with your job search!
Susan
Hello,
I interviewed for a job at a major university and was the first person interviewed (I was told this) after nearly two months of waiting to even hear back from them. I sent a brief thank you note via email and two weeks later followed up on the status of the position. I was told they were dealing with HR. It’s now been two weeks since that additional follow up email and was curious if I should check in again or simply forget about it.
Thanks,
Sean
Hi Sean,
It sounds like they are either re-thinking this opening or having some other issue, I would definitely reach out one more time. Then, continue with your job search, as usual. If you hear that they want to interview you again, great. If not, you haven’t wasted much effort on them.
Good luck with your job search!
Susan
Hi Susan-
I have applied for a job about two days ago, a position that I did word by word but at a different discipline, but same duties, same qualification etc’. I did some research and tried to ask people to put a good word for me. I was able to get someone send my application to a student enrolled at that program I am trying to get the job in. Moreover, I was able to get the info of the hiring manager, whose a chair, and a professor and explained to him that I have the qualifications, skills and the same degree. I applied for it two days ago. Yesterday i got an email from the recruiter asking to have a phone interview today at 2. That same day I emailed the professor as well. This morning, I was surprised to get an email reply from the chair saying he’s looking forward to review my application and he cc’d the recruiter which was a great move.
She never called today which I found so rude and unprofessional. Now, I know that it’s commencement week at the school. I called her 20 min after our scheduled time and left her a voice mail and after nearly two hours I emailed her as I wanted to make sure I wasn’t imagining or anything like that saying that I look forward talking about the job and my background and that I believe that we were supposed to talk at 2:00 PM.
So far, I have heard none. I am so furious and frustrated, maybe something happened, maybe it was commencement, but I didn’t get any email from her. I am already worried that she might have changed her mind as I told her yesterday that I worked once with a recruiter at the school and maybe she thought it wasn’t a good match.. I have no idea. Maybe she had an emergency…. This was so nerve racking as I studied so hard and was anxious all day.
So…. what are your thoughts? Do you think that if she thought I wasn’t good enough then she would have told me so? I just don’t know what to think or do. The fact that her boss wrote me and cc’d her showing interests kinda forces her to call me. Could it be that she changed her mind even if she scheduled to talk over the job?
I am really upset and so drained
Thanks for your input.
Dafna
Hi Dafna,
Try to “chill” a bit on this! Speaking from personal experience, I have burned bridges unnecessarily when I was upset. Wish I hadn’t done that, even though it felt satisfying at the time.
Yes, it was very rude to miss the scheduled call and not to be in touch with you about it, but since you have spoken with the chaired professor and have heard from him, it sounds like this is going ahead, even without the missed phone interview.
Graciously allow them the excuse of crazy-buzy during commencement week, or a scheduling mix-up of some sort (perhaps she was home sick?), and follow up this week if you haven’t connected with her by now.
Good luck with your job search!
Susan
Thanks Susan. I know I have to do this. Today is also my bday so our family will celebrate today
I just feel bad that I might have showed too many signs of being desperate and maybe she decided to not consider me. Would that be an option? Do recruiters do that sometime? Maybe she was upset that I contacted the hiring manager. I guess I don’t know.
I hope to hear anything….
Thanks again.
Dafna
Happy Birthday, Dafna!
It’s hard to tell what’s going on – which is the problem. She may be upset that you contacted the hiring manager, although she shouldn’t be surprised. I think you do need to try to “chill” a bit more. I have a feeling – which could be wrong – that you may be contacting them too often right now.
Try to focus on another employer, too, and back off from this one a bit.
Hang in there – you will have a great new job before that next birthday!
Good luck with your job search!
Susan
Thanks Susan. I just got an email from her apologizing and explaining she had an emergency and if we could reschedule this Wed…….
At least I know I wasn’t imagining things
I will keep you posted. Thanks for your on-going support!
Dafna
Excellent news, Dafna! Do be careful about “stepping on toes” when you go around a recruiter to the hiring manager. Some of them do strongly object.
Cheers!
Susan
Thank you for the great article.
I am an attorney looking for a new position. Three weeks ago, I had an interview at what would be an ideal firm. Expecting to meet with just the office manager, I met with each of the six partners in the firm, individually in what turned out to be a 2 1/2 hour interview. The attorney heading up the project said I should be hearing back soon but didn’t give a definite time. A few days after the interview I sent a thank you note to each partner. A week after the interview I followed up with the attorney heading up the search to ask about the status of the hiring decision. She responded they were still interviewing and it could be several weeks. That was two weeks ago.
My question is, how long should I wait to follow up again? I know that the partners meet once a month. Would it be a good idea to once again check in on the position before the partners meeting so I am fresh on their mind?
Hi Chris,
Calling before the monthly partners’ meeting is a great idea. As you know, there are many unemployed and under-employed attorneys in the job market, so the interviews could be taking quite a while if they are in “shopping mode” to fill this position. Having partners involved in the interview seems unavoidable but will cause a revenue loss in an organization which bills by the hour. They might be spreading out that revenue hit, but I would think that getting someone hired so they could stop interviewing would be an important consideration.
So, touching base before the partners’ meeting and mid-term between meetings sounds like a great plan.
Good luck with your job search!
Susan
Thank you for this article, it helped me quite a bit. I recently had an interview last week and am going to call them today since they have not gotten back to me yet. However, I’m quite young and have no previous experience in working and wonder how badly that would hurt me while searching for my first job. I think I did well on my first interview, the manger had said they had other interviews to do and would get back to me if anything came up for me. Is that a good sign?
Hi Marita,
Glad to hear that the article helped you! Sounds like you did well your first time out.
Be sure to send a thank you note or email to each person who interviewed you, and get back in touch with them in a week or two to see how things are progressing. Sometimes there is another round of interviews, and sometimes not.
Don’t stop your job search, waiting for an offer from this employer. It could take several weeks before they finally make an offer to the successful job search, and you could lose a lot of time waiting, and then not get the offer.
Great start! Keep at it!
Good luck with your job search!
Susan
Hi Susan,
I have a question: I have some gaps on my resume since I am a mother and left some jobs after two years because I wanted to be home with them. One job I left as I relocated. I am worries that these gaps may cause me to not be considered although I have legitimate reason for leaving.
What are your thoughts about it? I want to be honest but I don’t want to jeopardize my chances of not getting a job because of that.
My phone interview by the way didn’t go that well because she has asked me about my short term employment that I didn’t list and I didn’t think it was relevant to any positions I have done prior. She asked me if she could contact them and I said i would rather not, simply because I was caught off guard and I didn’t speak with my manager at that place. I was able to get in touch with him and so I wrote her back today apologizing and telling her there is no reason why she can’t contact him. She also asked me about the gaps so I think I am roasted or there is still a chance.
Also, if this job was nearly 6 months where I didn’t accomplish anything and it has nothing to do with my previous jobs or the jobs I am applying to. Do I need to even include it? I haven’t yet but i explained that I did some work but it wasn’t what I wanted to do.
Thanks for your help-
Dafna
I recently had a job interview with a newspaper this week. I think I did well in the interview; they laughed at my jokes and we had a good talk about journalism (especially me being a young college grad, I’m sure this was a good sign). A few hours after the interview, I sent an email to both of the editors telling them thank you and that I was excited to perhaps be a part of the editorial team.
However, they had said that they would be sending me a prompt to give them a writing sample, but it’s been a few days and I haven’t heard anything yet. When should I email the editors to ask if it’s still needed to write this sample — especially since it seems, according to your advice, I sent the thank you note way too early.
Hi Susan-
I really need your advice here that has been haunting me all weekend. I left my old job in 2012 as I was hired for a totally different job which seemed interesting, higher salary etc;. But after few months I realized that It wasn’t a good fit and both my boss and myself knew it wasn’t working. Although it didn’t end up that great, I managed to contact him and he was gracious enough to say that he will back me up.
Here is my dilemma: I am not sure why I am not getting hired because of this issue. My explanation for the job from 2012 till now is that I had the opportunity to do something completely irrelevant to the job I am applying and I realized after a very short time that it wasn’t what I wanted to do and I left. I didn’t list it on the resume because it isn’t relevant but I knew I would get that question of leaving my old job.
Now, my resume shows a little of job hopper situations: 2 years here and there, 1 year I relocated but I explain that I had kids which was true and one time I relocated. So my questions is: Since the 5 months of work was irrelevant to the jobs I am applying, do you think I should just say that I left my old job for personal reasons and that’s it? I would then have to talk to my reference at my last job and ask them if they could say in case they are being asked that that was the reason for my departure.
I just don’t know if this is the reason (being potentially a job hopper) I am not getting hire as short term doesn’t look good on the resume and chances of them finding out what I didn’t list are slimmer than not getting hired because of this. It doesn’t show me in a good light.
What are you thoughts? This has been on my mind for days and I need to find what would work best for this.
Thanks,
Dafna