One of the hardest things about job search is the time you spend waiting AFTER a job interview. Sure, the interview itself can be nerve-wracking. Still, at least you’re in there fighting for yourself during the interview. But once it’s over, you’re in the hands of fate — and the all-powerful hiring team.
As I well remember, each day of waiting can feel like a year. So what do you do while waiting to hear back? Here are a few suggestions to help get you through with at least some of your sanity still intact!
While waiting after a job interview
1. Keep looking for jobs! No matter how great this one job is, it helps to keep the energy aimed at finding work you really want. Sometimes an even better job comes along during this time.
2. At the most basic level, try daily breathing exercises. A good one suggested by Dr. Andrew Weil is to breathe in to a count of 4, hold for a count of 7, and breathe out for a count of 8. I do it, and it helps.
3. Take up a new hobby — something you’ve always wanted to try. Yoga. Meditation. Tai chi. Tae kwon do. Knitting. Painting. Photography. Guitar. Acting. Whatever piques your interest or moves your spirit.
4. Rent LOTS of movies and re-direct your obsessive behavior in that direction. Not sure a therapist would suggest that, but I’m just trying to get you through the interview process. (To keep costs down, you can always join NetFlix for a month or two and then stop.)
5. Go to the library or local bookstore (online too), and find a bunch of books you’ve been meaning to read. Learn something new that may be relevant to the job you want. This is the time.
6. Volunteer somewhere. Turn your energy into something that helps others. Also good for your resume. Or, if needed, your next interview.
But wait … there’s more!
7. Enlist the help of your friends and loved ones. Make sure you get them to do things with you that keep your mind occupied.
8. Also try putting your extra energy into doing things for people you care about. Hard to stay too obsessed about the interview when you’re doing something wonderful for a loved one.
9. Write about your thoughts and feelings. And let your thoughts fly. Maybe you can write a short story about a character going through what you’re going through. Maybe even give the protagonist super-powers to break through barriers and make things happen. 
Or you can even turn your story into a great country or blues song! “I’m waiting too long. They done me wrong.”
10. Exercise. Even if it’s only walking 10-20 minutes a day. Movement is good for helping break you out of obsessive thoughts. Maybe even use that time to think about positive things. Something you like to do or someone you love or a place you would like to visit. (No … not the office where you interviewed. Sheesh.)
11. Singing while exercising or even on its own helps you redirect your thoughts. For me … it’s show tunes or good ole rock ‘n roll.
12. If all else fails, I use bad TV to get lost in. Oh sure … it’s not the optimal prescription for mental health. But we’re just talking about making it through the interview process. Sanity above all!
Good luck. Please let us know what happens. And how you manage to get yourself through the awful time waiting after a job interview.
~ Ronnie Ann
[Post updated in 2020]
More articles to help
After the Job Interview: Why Haven’t They Called Me Yet?
Stuck in the Waiting Game After 2nd Interview
I Got the Post Interview Temporary OCD Blues
15 Things I Look for When I Interview People
About the author…
Ronnie Ann, founder of Work To the Wise and Work Coach Cafe, bases her real-world advice on her many years as an organizational consultant where she helped interview and hire people, added to a certificate from NYU in Career Planning & Development, as well as her many adventures as a serial job seeker.
thank you
I had a job interview 2 days ago it went so well the technical interviewer told he I can do the job and if I come on board and I need any assistance he would help me .I meet with three people ( My boss) if I am hired ,and two other people. ( My boss) got back to the recruiter right away telling him how he thinks I am a great fit but he has to sit and confirm with his team the interview went well but am so stress how long should it take for him to consult with his team? ugggh!! they are in the same office and they all seem to like me am losing my mind!!!! this job would be a great fit for me. the recruiter got back to me saying they are extremely busy they would contact me…. What is your best advice?
Hi Susan, thank you for your motivations. I do prepare for this interviews and I must say they go well but job offers are hard to come. An update on that position, they called me again for a meeting tomorrow, they say I will be meeting with 2-3 people. This is not ending, when they called me last week I thought they were giving me an offer instead another interview after two interviews, psychometric test, reference checks that include criminal checks, credit, qualifications and personal meetings with my references. I’ve never had such drama in my life when looking for a job. I now believe when they say God is in control. Wish me good luck for tomorrow hope this time an offer will follow after this meeting. They call it a meeting and not an interview.
I have just come out of an interview for my dream job a couple of days ago. I think the interview went pretty good, but I keep playing back to the interview on how I could have answered better. Of course this is all speculation and it could have not gone as well as I thought.
I applied for a public service job and they said to not to contact them. They would let me know either way in 2-3 weeks. I am finding it very hard, and this job is what I have been thinking about consistently and I am very tired…. I feel unproductive and don’t feel like doing anything until I hear back from them. I don’t know if I can wait it out for 2-3 more weeks of this.
Hi Jeff,
I know it is hard to wait to hear what happened, but, since they told you not to contact them, don’t.
Send each of the people who interviewed you a separate (and unique) thank you note for the interview, if you haven’t done that already, and then continue to look for other opportunities.
Don’t wait for this one to come through for you before looking for another job! It may happen – or it may NOT – and, typically, it can take several weeks, even months, for jobs to be filled.
Keep hunting for a new job. Worst case is you will have more than one job offer to consider!
Good luck with your job search!
Susan