Marketing Director
You finally landed that coveted job interview. Maybe you aced it; perhaps you flopped. Either way, you send a thank you note and check your inbox compulsively for a week, waiting not-so-patiently for some sort of response. But you hear nothing.
Sadly, you’re not alone. It’s frustratingly common not to receive a call or an email notifying you on the status of your application, more so when applying through an employer directly. As a renowned recruitment consultancy, as far as we’re concerned even if the answer is no our candidate deserves to to hear that, so that they are in a position to move on and pursue more suitable opportunities.
Here are some reasons why you may not have heard back after your job interview, and if you find yourself in this situation, what to do going forward:
Take the initiative
Don’t just twiddle your thumbs, start by following up with a call or send an email and ask your contact to let you know either way. And if you get a warm reception during the interview itself ask when you can expect feedback and when would be appropriate to follow up
Set goals
Set yourself a goal that if you haven’t heard back by a certain date or number of attempts you will move on. Realistically your gut will tell you what this number is and when enough is enough, it’s time to let go. And do so.
Always be gracious
As hard as it is always be pleasant in your e-mail or phone correspondence, even if you’re annoyed with the employer. Maybe they’re still in the process of interviewing candidates and haven’t yet made a decision. Or perhaps they are waiting for the offer of employment to be signed off. Either way your level of professionalism will be remembered, and the way you handle setbacks will set you apart from other hopefuls.
Utilise social media
If you discover a connection through LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook within the organisation, try to solicit an endorsement from the person or at a minimum, try to find out the status of the hire and where they are in the process.
Keep the employer up-to-date
When you follow up try and give something in return. Keep the employer informed of your status, if anything else has become available and what your timelines are. It may help speed up the process or give them something else to think about.
Following this, if you still do not hear anything back, then it is time to walk away. Try not to take this personally or prevent you from seeking out other opportunities, and let this tell you something about the company culture. Most importantly though, use this experience as a valuable lesson and insist on working with a reputable recruiter who has your best interests at heart.
If you’re looking for a new role, search our latest jobs or contact us at Intelligent People today. We’d love to hear from you and help you find your next position.
