Comments on: Should you follow up after an interview? http://www.almostgotit.com/2007/07/30/should-you-follow-up-after-an-interview/ With every failure my reputation grows Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:09:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 By: Ronnie Ann http://www.almostgotit.com/2007/07/30/should-you-follow-up-after-an-interview/#comment-507 Ronnie Ann Tue, 31 Jul 2007 22:11:11 +0000 http://www.almostgotit.com/2007/07/30/should-you-follow-up-after-an-interview/#comment-507 Love reading your posts. And you know how I love to share stories, so... Last year I interviewed in APRIL for a job at a major university in another city. I thought the interview went great (and I sent everyone a short sweet thank you), but by the end of June I hadn't heard anything. So...assuming I had nothing to lose anyway...I contacted the man who would have been my boss and told him that, while I was sorry not to have heard from him and must assume that meant I was not their top choice, I really enjoyed everyone I interviewed with and hoped they would consider me for something if it opened up in the future. I got a quick note back from the man apologizing and saying they hadn't decided anything yet because of some unexpected new projects. Again, I answered politely and encouragingly. And then I heard more nothing. Oh well. At least I tried. No harm no foul. I figured whatever is is and if I'm not the right fit then all the better for me not to get the job. Then, in mid-September, I got a call to arrange for a flight to the campus to meet the whole team and spend some time there. Turns out I was the top candidate all along. (Got this scoop from someone I know who works there.) So...ya never know. As my friend Richard says "No news is no news." In my opinion, it pays to treat it as a live possibility until the whole story is finished. The universe senses our vibes. And anyway...there's always time to curse people later. (-; Good luck finding the job that deserves to get you! --------- <em> Of course, I'm clinging to these supportive comments like crazy this afternoon. Thank you! Unfortunately, in this case I was <b>not</b> the top candidate. After my very polite email last week received no reply ("I'm back from vacation, happy to provide anything else I wasn't able or didn't think to bring to my VERY LAST-MINUTE, LEAVING FOR AIRPORT IN ONE HOUR interview...") I sent another yesterday which also met radio silence ("terribly, terribly sorry to bother you, but I'm still interested and have you filled the position or any idea of a time frame at this point? Hate to even bring it up, but I've got something else on the table...") So finally I called today. They have offered the job to someone else, but were reluctant to let me know as it's not gone through all the paperwork pipelines etc. (which, had I not called, might well have left me in the dark for several MORE weeks/months. Which, I should add, is NOT the way universities handle interviews and job offers with FACULTY members...) It might have turned out otherwise, though, and it's good to have your reminder that <b>things are live until definitively dead. </b> (shall we claim co-authorship of that one, do you think?) (& dare I ask what happened after your Sept. interview?) </em> Love reading your posts. And you know how I love to share stories, so…

Last year I interviewed in APRIL for a job at a major university in another city. I thought the interview went great (and I sent everyone a short sweet thank you), but by the end of June I hadn’t heard anything. So…assuming I had nothing to lose anyway…I contacted the man who would have been my boss and told him that, while I was sorry not to have heard from him and must assume that meant I was not their top choice, I really enjoyed everyone I interviewed with and hoped they would consider me for something if it opened up in the future. I got a quick note back from the man apologizing and saying they hadn’t decided anything yet because of some unexpected new projects. Again, I answered politely and encouragingly. And then I heard more nothing. Oh well. At least I tried. No harm no foul. I figured whatever is is and if I’m not the right fit then all the better for me not to get the job. Then, in mid-September, I got a call to arrange for a flight to the campus to meet the whole team and spend some time there. Turns out I was the top candidate all along. (Got this scoop from someone I know who works there.) So…ya never know. As my friend Richard says “No news is no news.” In my opinion, it pays to treat it as a live possibility until the whole story is finished. The universe senses our vibes. And anyway…there’s always time to curse people later. (-;

Good luck finding the job that deserves to get you!

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Of course, I’m clinging to these supportive comments like crazy this afternoon. Thank you! Unfortunately, in this case I was not the top candidate. After my very polite email last week received no reply (”I’m back from vacation, happy to provide anything else I wasn’t able or didn’t think to bring to my VERY LAST-MINUTE, LEAVING FOR AIRPORT IN ONE HOUR interview…”) I sent another yesterday which also met radio silence (”terribly, terribly sorry to bother you, but I’m still interested and have you filled the position or any idea of a time frame at this point? Hate to even bring it up, but I’ve got something else on the table…”) So finally I called today. They have offered the job to someone else, but were reluctant to let me know as it’s not gone through all the paperwork pipelines etc. (which, had I not called, might well have left me in the dark for several MORE weeks/months. Which, I should add, is NOT the way universities handle interviews and job offers with FACULTY members…)

It might have turned out otherwise, though, and it’s good to have your reminder that things are live until definitively dead. (shall we claim co-authorship of that one, do you think?)

(& dare I ask what happened after your Sept. interview?)

]]> By: Ask a Manager http://www.almostgotit.com/2007/07/30/should-you-follow-up-after-an-interview/#comment-529 Ask a Manager Mon, 06 Aug 2007 03:59:30 +0000 http://www.almostgotit.com/2007/07/30/should-you-follow-up-after-an-interview/#comment-529 Hmmm, I actually think a quick, polite follow-up can be a good thing. When I'm hiring for a position, candidates who follow up after an interview reinforce their interest in the position -- and in a close contest between two candidates, obvious interest in and enthusiasm for the position counts for a lot. ---------- <em> Thanks for commenting! And I did decide, after all, to send a follow-up email. And, when it wasn't answered, I went even further and made a phone call. I should add that this was *not* the standard, obligatory, follow-up-immediately-after-an-interview, in which one thanks the interviewers for their time and interest and re-emphasized one's interest. This one was three weeks later, when there had been no word. Which was indeed, as I strongly suspected, because they had already offered the job to someone else. But if they hadn't made *any* offers after three weeks, my contention is that they might well resent being bothered (if they are really that busy) or being reminded that they'd left all of hanging for much longer than best-practice requires... and guilt manifests, often, as irritation -- with me, the candidate, as its source. And what if there is a negotiation with another candidate underway, one which hasn't yet resolved to the point that the company feels it can inform the other candidates? Hmmm indeed... does it help to push them into saying "no" before they're strictly ready to do so? Or can there still be any other benefit to the rejected candidate to make contact at this point? This was my other concern. </em> Hmmm, I actually think a quick, polite follow-up can be a good thing. When I’m hiring for a position, candidates who follow up after an interview reinforce their interest in the position — and in a close contest between two candidates, obvious interest in and enthusiasm for the position counts for a lot.

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Thanks for commenting!

And I did decide, after all, to send a follow-up email. And, when it wasn’t answered, I went even further and made a phone call. I should add that this was *not* the standard, obligatory, follow-up-immediately-after-an-interview, in which one thanks the interviewers for their time and interest and re-emphasized one’s interest. This one was three weeks later, when there had been no word. Which was indeed, as I strongly suspected, because they had already offered the job to someone else.

But if they hadn’t made *any* offers after three weeks, my contention is that they might well resent being bothered (if they are really that busy) or being reminded that they’d left all of hanging for much longer than best-practice requires… and guilt manifests, often, as irritation — with me, the candidate, as its source.

And what if there is a negotiation with another candidate underway, one which hasn’t yet resolved to the point that the company feels it can inform the other candidates? Hmmm indeed… does it help to push them into saying “no” before they’re strictly ready to do so? Or can there still be any other benefit to the rejected candidate to make contact at this point? This was my other concern.

]]> By: Ask a Manager http://www.almostgotit.com/2007/07/30/should-you-follow-up-after-an-interview/#comment-530 Ask a Manager Mon, 06 Aug 2007 04:44:33 +0000 http://www.almostgotit.com/2007/07/30/should-you-follow-up-after-an-interview/#comment-530 I think you might be being too cautious about it. If I haven't rejected a candidate and they're still in the running -- even if I'm *more* interested in another candidate -- I don't resent being bothered by a short, friendly reiteration of their interest and it's definitely not going to push me into saying "no" if I wouldn't otherwise be saying that. Hiring managers know it's nerve-wracking to be on the candidate's side of thing (we've been there ourselves, after all), and I can promise you that many, many candidates do this sort of follow-up, so it doesn't come across as inappropriate; enough people do it that it's a not unexpected part of the process. Of course, that assumes the candidate is being relatively low-key in the follow-up. For me, I prefer it when it's done by email rather than phone (less of an interruption and I can respond when it's convenience for me). Something like this is perfect: "I realize these processes can take time, but I just wanted to check in and reiterate my interest. Please let me know if there's any additional information I can provide you with as you're making your decision." ----------- <em> Thank you kindly! :) </em> I think you might be being too cautious about it. If I haven’t rejected a candidate and they’re still in the running — even if I’m *more* interested in another candidate — I don’t resent being bothered by a short, friendly reiteration of their interest and it’s definitely not going to push me into saying “no” if I wouldn’t otherwise be saying that. Hiring managers know it’s nerve-wracking to be on the candidate’s side of thing (we’ve been there ourselves, after all), and I can promise you that many, many candidates do this sort of follow-up, so it doesn’t come across as inappropriate; enough people do it that it’s a not unexpected part of the process.

Of course, that assumes the candidate is being relatively low-key in the follow-up. For me, I prefer it when it’s done by email rather than phone (less of an interruption and I can respond when it’s convenience for me). Something like this is perfect: “I realize these processes can take time, but I just wanted to check in and reiterate my interest. Please let me know if there’s any additional information I can provide you with as you’re making your decision.”

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Thank you kindly! :)

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