The Waiting Game after an interview.Don’t let enthusiastic persistence cross the thin line into desperate annoyance.
It’s Friday, and the phone isn’t ringing. The Interviewer told you you’d hear by today. A week has gone by now with no word. What now? Wait until Monday? But you don’t think you can because the suspense is torturous.
You were sure the interview went well at the time, but now, as you wait nervously by the phone a week later, the anxieties start kicking in as you are left wondering. Why haven’t they called? Did they not like you? Will you look desperate if you call them? Do they remember you even exist?
I think everyone at one time or another has experienced the waiting game after a job interview. Should you call them, to “check in,” or would that be an annoyance? Perhaps a follow-up call might seem pushy. Or is it just a good way for you to show your enthusiasm?
You don’t have to wait around for the potential employer to make the first move. You want to show them you’re interested and want the job, right? So an aggressive follow-up, if handled correctly, can give you a leg up on other candidates.
If handled correctly that is. For example, calling to ask what your status is right after the interview makes an overeager impression. So how long should you wait to follow up?
The very first thing you should have done at the end of the interview is ask specifically how to follow up – and listen to the answer. If your interviewer cited a time frame in which you could expect to hear back, hold off until that passes. But no matter what, wait at least a week.
If you haven’t heard anything after a week, CALL THEM. No one wants to be a nuisance, but a little perseverance never hurt anyone either. You shouldn’t be afraid to follow up if the interviewer fails to contact you within the promised time.
A polite phone call to check on the status of the decision making process once again reinforces your interest in the position and indicates that you are a person who is attentive to deadlines. The call will also serve to remind the company about the incredible interviewee they don’t want to let go.
Make sure you sound cheerful on the phone, even if you feel slighted by not receiving any contact yet. It’s important not to take this perceived negligence personally and not to let your frustration come across in conversations or correspondence.
When you contact the HR manager, sometimes it’s a good idea not to just pester him about your status. Provide some new information, preferably something that addresses any concerns he may have. Another approach could be sending a plan detailing what you hope to accomplish in your first 90 days on the job.
After the initial follow-up, coming back again and again with reasons you should be hired just makes you look creepy. If you want to remind them you’re out there, a quick e-mail affirming your interest – something straightforward and heartfelt – is best.
You can also ask in a polite fashion in about how long they’ll be making their decision. If that date passes and you still haven’t heard anything, call again. It’s not being pushy, it’s being persistant. Pushiness is bad, but persistence is good.
There’s a fine line between being proactive and being a pest. You have to know when to follow up and when to back off. There is no doubt that employers like to see enthusiasm, and your persistence will communicate interest in the opportunity. But don’t check in more than once every 10 days, or your enthusiastic persistence could cross that thin line into desperate annoyance.
Debbie O’Halloran
