Interview Follow-Up
A common complaints following an interview is when the company is slow to keep you in the loop. Be patient and read these follow-up tips
One of the biggest complaints from those involved in interview processes can be when the company is slow to keep you in the loop or even worse you don’t hear back at all. In this case no news may actually be “no news” rather than bad news. Hiring processes can take unexpected turns and are frequently reliant on the input of senior (busy) people.
So be patient and follow these interview follow-up tips to help you get some closure:
1. Ask about the process and timeline during the interview
This is to get clarity and manage expectations. If you are involved in other processes tell the recruiter or hiring manager. It may not help to speed things up, but they may factor that information into their thinking. Don’t play games. Although other offers may help leverage a decision, it is not cool to lie and the untruth may come out later.
2. Send a thank you email
Immediately after the interview I suggest sending a thank you email confirming the given timeline and repeating your commitment to the role/organization. Maybe highlight a specific point from your interview discussion.
3. It’s not done until the ink is dry
Carry on with your job search until you have a signed contract in your hand and even better, your foot is over the front door. We live in uncertain times and we are hearing stories of offers being rescinded right until the very last moment.
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4. You get another offer
Tell the company immediately. Only you can make a decision if a “right now” job is better than the right job. If they fail to react in time or at all, maybe it wasn’t as right as you thought it was.
5. Don’t take rejection personally
You may get rejected, but don’t take it personally. Think about the lessons learned and what you can take with you for the next process. Thank the contact person for the rejection. Yep, sounds crazy but ask them at the same time for feedback. You may or may not get it as very often companies fear litigation. At the same time ask if they know of any other companies hiring and for a network connection introduction.
Job search is a continuing process. One door closes and another opens. If you set up a system for monitoring interview follow-up you can see if there is a pattern to why you might be missing your goals. If there is some repetition in the feedback, it may be the time to look for professional help.
Job hunting can seem stressful and complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. 3Plus can help you create a plan for your online job search.