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! [Read more…]

In many cases. the answer is a resounding “Yes!”  If they reposted the job listing, there’s a very good chance the position is no longer available. But there are exceptions to the rule, which I’ll discuss later.

Unfortunately, the letter I got from a reader asking me that very question probably isn’t one of those happy relisted job exceptions. Here’s how she tells story:

Jackie’s “they reposted the job” story

Hello Ronnie Ann!

I’m actually crying right at this very moment only because I can’t seem to understand why people who do job interviews can be so calloused. [Read more…]

A reader asked “How do I know if my job interview went well?” Great question. But is there really a way to tell a good interview from a bad one? Although you often have some feeling about how you did, truth is you don’t really know how you did on the interview — or the impression you left — until you hear back from the employer.

Maybe (fingers crossed) you’ll get a good-news call soon for a second interview. Perhaps even an offer. But maybe just a prolonged silence as they figure out next steps.

While silence might not always be bad news, it is very very annoying. And leaves you asking yourself all kinds of questions. And rethinking everything you said and did during the interview.

Another annoying part of interviewing

Even if the job interview went well, you still might not get the call-back or the actual job. Final decisions are all about fit — and of course depend on the other candidates. Sometimes there’s more than one good candidate. And so, even if they loved you, you still might not get the job.

I’ve interviewed plenty of people that I liked a lot. Sometimes I even bent over backwards during the interview to help them relax enough to show us their true potential. But, in the end, I also knew enough about the particular job and personality of the place to know when they — even some wonderful candidates — just weren’t the right fit for us.

Clues to help you know if your job interview went well

[Read more…]

Can weekly follow-up calls and emails after an interview help get you the job? Is it the best way to get noticed? Short answer: Noooooooooooo!

People wonder what to do after the job interview. Of course, that’s normal. You want to take action and help yourself. But you also don’t want to hurt yourself.

On that point, I just read a comment from one of my readers:

“I still haven’t heard back from them after my job interview and they stopped answering my weekly follow up calls and emails so I just assume they don’t want me. I think that’s rude not to respond to me, but oh well. I will continue applying for more things!”

Of course, my heart goes out to her. But I almost jumped out of my skin when I read how often she was following up with both phone calls AND emails after the job interview. I get that she was just eager to know “Did I get the job?”

But there’s good reason not to do what she was doing. What you do after an interview can count as much as before or during. And she was not helping her case by seeming so impatient and needy.

While I well understand the agony of waiting to hear back after the interview — and do love her positive attitude about moving on to look for the right job — I worry some of you, including this reader, may actually hurt yourself badly with an overly zealous approach.

Bugging a potential employer week after week, no matter how wonderful a hire you might be, is not going to get you the job. In fact, too many phone calls or emails can totally turn off the very people in the company you want to impress.

Avoid weekly follow-up calls and emails after an interview

[Read more…]

Hi Ronnie Ann. Absolutely love your blog! You have a lot of great information and advice on your site. If I may, I have a question for you that I am sure you get all of the time. After a good interview, I still get no response from the company. And I’m at a total loss as to what else I should do at this point.

Last Tuesday I had an interview that I thought went really well. After about an hour and a half someone had to knock on the hiring manager’s door to stop the interview for her next appointment. I really like the hiring manager. And she seemed to like me.

Toward the end, she said she was down to 5 candidates that she wanted to have interviewed by the end of last week. Then she said she has been doing this a long time. And I am definitely on top of her list.

Some mixed signals, but lots of good ones

The only concern she had was that I might be overqualified for the position. But she wasn’t sure. Maybe that could be to her advantage since I would be able to help her execute some strategic programs she wants to implement.

She said she wanted to have me come back this week for 30 – 45 minutes to get a feel for the position. Kind of a “day in the life of” this management position. Also, she said that the next step after that would to bring the top 2 candidates back for an interview with her team.

So I followed up with an email thank you letter the next day, reiterating my enthusiasm for the position. And why I think it would be challenging given the region and the change in industry.

But I never heard back from her. Still no response at all to my emails. [Read more…]

For most people, the hiring process (and pretty much every aspect of interviewing for a job) triggers what I like to call the post interview temporary OCD blues. Although you want the decision process to move quickly, the time after your interview can feel endless. And brain-twistingly maddening!

I’m sure many of you can recognize the truth in this all too familiar-feeling scene:

“They haven’t called yet.”

I know.

“They still haven’t called  yet.”

It’s only been five minutes since you last told me that.

“But I interviewed THREE whole hours ago. Why aren’t they calling me?” [Read more…]

You know the drill. You get the interview. And you ace the interview. In fact, it was the best job interview you ever had. While you don’t know exactly what happens after a job interview, you think you did well.

So you head home dreaming about the job you’re pretty sure you just landed. And then … you wait. And you wait. You wait some more. Until you just want to scream! Maybe you do scream. And rant a little. And even think of all the things you’d like to do to that stupid company you once thought was so perfect for you!

Take a few deep breaths

But before you decide the company purposefully designed some sick waiting game to torture you in, take a few deep breaths. And let me take you behind closed doors.

It’s time you learn more about the mysterious steps of the interview hiring process. What goes on inside the secret rooms. And why you aren’t getting any feedback from the company, even though you send e-mails and call them endlessly (please don’t) hoping for even the tiniest clue.

Hard as it is to believe, sometimes there are good reasons — really — why a company’s hiring process takes so long. And why all too often you have to wait forever (or so it seems) before you hear back from an employer. A lot happens after a job interview — including unexpected twists and turns.

So what does go on behind the scenes after an interview?

[Read more…]

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 an 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: [Read more…]

Dear Ronnie Ann. I am from Taiwan and found your website by google. My background is engineering. And I focus my job hunting on those positions in the high-tech industry. Currently I am stuck in the waiting game after my 2nd interview. My situation is like this.

I went to the 2nd interview of a large high-tech company on April 17. And I wrote thank you note and follow-up letters after the interview to all the interviewers. But I did not hear anything from them over the past month. Therefore, I called HR last Monday for their decision.

She responded my job application is getting approval. But she does not know which candidate would be selected (It sounds weird). She assumed the approval process would be done by the end of last week and would give me call.

Until now, I still have not received her call. Is there still hope to get this job? I am very desperate for this job, cuz it is what I really want. Could you give me some opinions?

Thank many for your help.

VL
Taipei, Taiwan

***

Lots of internal processes after second interview

Dear VL,

So glad you found my blog. Welcome. I love having guests from other parts of the world. I’ll try my best to help you. [Read more…]

Messed up my job interview. Please help!

Dear Ronnie Ann. Boy oh boy. I think I really messed up my job interview for a job I really wanted yesterday. And now wondering what I could do to try and salvage my chances of getting that job.

This would have been a full time position with benefits and good pay. And I got the interview through a friend, which in my experience is the best way to go.

Now here’s what went wrong:

I forgot my resume on the way there. And so I got off the subway 30 minutes before my interview. So I figured I had time to find a Kinkos to print one off. Well … I finally found a Kinko’s 5 minutes before my interview. Phew!

But with about 2 minutes before my interview, I discovered to my horror that 21st St all of a sudden turned into Gramercy Park. The place I was interviewing for is located on 21st St. So I was confused.

Rather than wander around being lost, I called and confirmed that yes, I was going in the right direction. I finally arrived, but six minutes late.

Some impressions formed, the real interview begins.

[Read more…]

“Doubting interview answers. What now?”

Hi Ronnie Ann. While searching for advice on post interviewing tips, I came across your website. I read through all the posts from recent job interviewees. And I find that I’m sharing similar experiences with most of them. Especially doubting my answers. I’m so glad I found your site as it now acts as a “support group” for me.

I’m currently going through what most interviewees are going through … the excruciating, long period of waiting on a “call back” or “hear back” from a company I interviewed with. About 3 weeks ago, I interviewed with a mid size regional bank (approx. 86 branches throughout the state) for a position in their marketing department.

It started with a phone interview

First I went through the phone interviewing process, the first round of interviews set up by HR. And made it to the second round to see the Senior VP of corporate marketing. Then  I prepared long and hard for this second interview. Because this position (event marketing) is what I have been dreaming to work for. And the company’s philosophy and values make it an outstanding environment for any employees seeking job opportunities in this field.

Well, my dilemma is … I’m doubting my answers to the Senior VP’s interview questions. After the interview, I realized that I could have answered the questions more appropriately this way. And that way. And why I shouldn’t have responded to certain questions this way, etc. etc.

Unfortunately, I felt like I haven’t showed my full potential of proving that I am the right candidate for this job. The interview lasted approx. 40 mins. The first 30 mins or so was structured by asking questions like what I had done at my previous company, what I was involved in, etc. Also what I see myself doing in 3-5 years…

Then I asked him what the day to day duties are for the job. And he explained in full detail about the job duties. He showed me what the previous person had done (i.e. projects she had worked on before she left the company.. And he even went into great detail on the structure of his group. (what everyone’s position is, and their duties…)

He explained that most people have worked there for at least 5 years. And the person who left this position had to leave because her husband is relocating to another city. Then he moved on to ask more personal questions like my hobbies … what I like to do on my spare time … what my interest is in … and how I keep myself busy in the meantime.

I’ve been out of a job since this Jan. That was the last 10 mins of the interview. But I couldn’t “feel” if he was impressed with me or not, because I couldn’t see any signs of whether he likes me or not.

⇒  How to Tell If a Job Interview Went Well

⇒  10 Impressions You Leave After an Interview

 

As the interview came to an end

The interview came to an end when he said he’d make a decision within 2 weeks. He said by then he would narrow down to 1 to 2 final candidates to see the President of the company and the marketing group. So the group can choose the candidate for the position.

Then he handed me his business card. And he let me know if there are any questions in the meantime, to contact him. I asked whether it was ok to follow up with him a week after the interview. And he said that’s ok. Or someone would contact me.

Then we proceeded to walk me out of his office. We passed by other offices. And he introduced me to all the people in his group. I shook hands with all of them, and greeted them warmly. Then he accompanied me to the door. And we said good bye.

One week later: doubting answers and waiting

So that was last Tuesday. And today is Wednesday. One week and a day had passed. I am pulling my hair out…  I hate waiting.

So should I write an email to him asking where it is in his decision-making process? Or should I write to the original recruiter (the HR whom I was first contacted, and who conducted the phone interview, and the first in-person interview with me)? Or … should I wait till next Tuesday before doing any follow ups (next Tues is exactly two weeks that the VP indicated on the time frame)..?

I have to mention that I did email him right after the interview (4 hrs after the interview) thanking him for taking time out of his busy schedule to meet with me. And emphasized on some strengths and thoughts I didn’t or forgot to mention during the interview.

I appreciate any candid advice from you. And I really I apologize for the lengthy email… If you have any questions, please feel free to ask by emailing back. I might have some thoughts I left out from above.

Thank you so much!!! As you can probably tell, I’m anxious to hear back from you soon.

~ CK

***

Doubting interview answers is natural

Dear CK,

First of all, from what you tell me, sounds like you had a strong interview. And made all the right moves. Congratulations on that. Just know that doubting interview answers is very common. And very human. So much rides on what happens during the interview. But doubting doesn’t mean it didn’t go well!

Also, I like that you gave him a next step — in this case asking him if it was ok to follow up with him. And he said yes (or someone would contact you.) All good signs.

But one week is not very long in interview days. It’s a lot like dog years. 🙂 A lot goes on behind the scenes after an interview. And even when we expect to have a decision by a certain date, things happen. And so it’s not all that unusual to take longer than expected.

⇒ What Really Happens After a Job Interview

So it’s fine to go ahead and email him — especially since he told you it was ok. But maybe if you can stand it, give it a few more days to show you respect their process. You already sent a thank you. Believe me … we don’t forget good candidates!

And when you do write the note (if you haven’t already heard from them), you can say something like:

“As promised, I’m following up on our interview. I just want to let you know that I’m still very interested and hope to be one of the finalists for this exciting position.”

Use your own words of course. But you get the idea. Keep it short and polite. And maybe add one thing you learned from the interview that you especially appreciate. At the very least, he knows you’re someone who goes after what they want — pleasantly and respectfully.

FYI … Right out of grad school, I interviewed with an SVP of a major bank. And he called me “pleasantly aggressive”. I’ve never forgotten that. I got the offer — and accepted it.

How interviewers approach those answers you doubt

As for worrying about how you answered the questions … Were my answers right? Could I have been better? Should I go back and beg him to let me answer again??? 🙂

Please let all that go now. He wouldn’t have talked to you as long as he did — and introduced you around — if he weren’t at least pretty interested. I’m sure you did fine.

The secret from the interviewer’s side is it’s not exactly what you’re saying. We just want to get to know you. And see how you think and connect with people. Especially for a marketing events person in banking, your personality, follow through, and attention to detail are most likely more important than your exact answers.

As for you saying you’re “doubting my answers” … while you remember every word that passed between you, they are extremely busy. And he may have forgotten many of those those words. It’s often more of a feeling — kind of like dating.

After you send the follow-up, try your best to relax. Believe in yourself. Know that you did your best. And wait until they get back to you. (Unless it’s been two more weeks. Then you might want to contact the HR person to get a status update.)

These things really do take more time than we wish. What seems so long to you is just a blink of an eye to them. And I know that from having been a hiring manager for many years.

Good luck, CK! I truly hope you’re one of the finalists. Please let us know how it goes.

~ Ronnie Ann

[Post updated in 2021]

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 and her own adventures as a serial job seeker.

More posts to help

How To Mentally Prepare for a Job Interview

Please Help Me With My Phone Interview!

How to Tell If a Job Interview Went Well

What Is a Behavioral Interview?

 

18 Practical Tips to Help You Ace Your Job Interview

15 Things I Look for When I Interview People

After the Job Interview: Why Haven’t They Called Me Yet?

Stuck in the Waiting Game After 2nd Interview

 

What Is Being Overqualified for a Job?

Job Interview Nerves? Tips for Before, During & After

12 Ways to Stay Sane After a Job Interview

Why Does It Take So Long After Your Interview?