Should I force an answer about a job interview?

March 30, 2009 7:06 AM

Job search etiquette? So it has been three weeks since an interview, where the interviewer said it would take three or four weeks to make a decision. Is it wise/appropriate to send an email or make a call inquiring on the process? Does that look or sound desperate or keenly interested?

The fact is I really want to remind the interviewer how gungho I am about the job. But I don't want to overstep any boundaries, real or imagined, set up by HR or the interviewer himself.

posted by Gungho to work & money (14 comments total)

It's entirely normal to keep in (reasonable) touch with a potential employer. I'd stick with email, as it's the least demanding form of contact, but a quick note asking how things are going and confirming your interest is fine.

Don't be sending an email a day or anything, and don't press for a decision, particularly if you know they won't be making one for a while, but keeping your name in the front of their mind by polite reminders of your existence goes a long way.
posted by valkyryn at 7:11 AM on March 30

I"m a recruiter, at least some of the time. I also find that the folks who don't just stay in touch, but add a little value to their contacts, really get noticed. For instance, if something came up in the interview that you later find an article about, send the recruiter and hiring manager a link to that article. Make it worth their time to read the email you send, but keep it brief, friendly, and professional.
posted by pomegranate at 7:19 AM on March 30 [6 favorites]

A la pomegranate's suggestion:

"Dear Ms. Hirer,

I really enjoyed speaking with you at my interview on the 9th. I was particularly interested in our discussion about [issue we talked about, which I have since gained more insight into] and thought you might enjoy this article on the subject.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Regards,
Gungho"

Or, more simply:

"Dear Ms. Hirer,

I really enjoyed speaking with you at my interview on the 9th. Thanks again for taking the time to see me, and for the excellent conversation.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Regards,
Gungho"

posted by ocherdraco at 7:33 AM on March 30

I've always made a follow-up call after a job interview, unless the interviewer specifically said "Don't call" or "Don't call before MM/DD/YYYY." It's what everyone's always told me to do — from career counselors on down to my mom — and I always figured it was standard operating procedure.
posted by nebulawindphone at 7:47 AM on March 30

Let me clarify that I did send the initial followup/ thank you letter.
posted by Gungho at 8:20 AM on March 30

I'd send a note, but my experience is that most companies are pretty rude (especially startups), and will just leave you hanging without telling you one way or the other. A reminder that you exist may jar them to etiquette, tho. Have they asked for and/or contacted your references at all?
posted by rhizome at 8:46 AM on March 30

I work for a small company, and have been in a hiring situation with several small companies before (sub 20 employees) and it is worth noting that in that situation, it can get a little annoying if people keep constantly asking for updates as workload can vary constantly almost by the hour in those situations. Sometimes the new employee thing can drop off the importance radar for more than a day or two. So, if that is the case then maybe cut them a little slack, and especially if you do send an update, I'd wait until the start of the fifth week and keep it short and respectful, as noted. Gushing, over-enthusiastic, chase up emails make me intensely irritated, but a simple line requesting notification if there has been any progress will just make me think "crap, I really need to finish looking through those notes from the interview and nail the Managing Director's feet to the floor for 10 minutes to try get the time to talk to him about it".

my experience is that most companies are pretty rude (especially startups)

I think a more healthy and accurate way of considering this would be 'hellishly busy trying to create a company from nothing and keep it running'. Only large to very large companies have the time and money to mind all their p's and q's , frankly.
posted by Brockles at 9:46 AM on March 30

Only large to very large companies have the time and money to mind all their p's and q's , frankly.

This is absolutely not true. Yes, the fairy tale is that they're too awesome and busy, but it's not hard for an admin assistant to send a generic, "we've decided to hire another candidate," email to unchosen candidates. Whether 10 or 200 applicants are involved, a form letter is good and takes only two seconds. It shows respect for the workforce and appreciation for the interest, though I have taken solace in the sense that a company who makes the job-hunt harder for people who are not hired in this way is likely underling-hostile and selfish in other respects to those they do hire.
posted by rhizome at 9:56 AM on March 30

Apparently, after 22 years in the work force, I have not managed even once to apply at a company that rhizome wouldn't qualify as rude. Don't expect a "thanks but no thanks" contact from a potential employer unless you need something else in life to feel disappointed about.

There's nothing inappropriate about making contact with an employer to indicate you're still interested. It's impossible to know what their circumstance is, and it's not uncommon for an organization to have some sort of hold-up in hiring. They might have a key decision-maker out of town and have been unable to schedule follow-up interviews with some applicants or perhaps the position they're hiring for is to service a contract that's delayed.

In cases like that it's actually to your benefit to put your name back up in the forefront of their minds - they might have had other applicants who couldn't wait and took another offered job. The same rules about not being a pest or unpleasantly needy apply that you should be following in any human contact.
posted by phearlez at 1:31 PM on March 30

it's not hard for an admin assistant to send a generic, "we've decided to hire another candidate," email to unchosen candidates.

Admin assistant? In a start up or small company? Who are you kidding?

I have taken solace in the sense that a company who makes the job-hunt harder for people who are not hired in this way is likely underling-hostile and selfish in other respects to those they do hire.

I'm finding it hard to consider that sentence a serious statement. I think you are living in a fairy tale world, and are taking umbrage (and also perhaps solace, in the case of rejection) from meaningless lack of resources in companies that are already stretched to the maximum. For the OP, it means precisely NOTHING about the company or how they treat potential or future employees if no such reply is made in either a timely manner (in the case of a successful application) or by receiving no answer at all (in the case of rejection).

By all means ask, nicely and concisely, but do not in any way extrapolate the kind of conclusions that rhizome is suggesting from any reply or lack thereof.
posted by Brockles at 2:20 PM on March 30

Don't expect a "thanks but no thanks" contact from a potential employer unless you need something else in life to feel disappointed about.

I'm afraid I can't agree with that at all - if someone takes the time to come in for an interview, the least I can do is send them a brief email thanking them for their time and letting them know that unfortunately they weren't successful in this instance.
posted by different at 5:50 PM on March 30

Send a note next week...the 4th week.

If they don't answer within a few days, you probably don't want to work there (for a number of reasons).
posted by artdrectr at 8:09 PM on March 30

Admin assistant? In a start up or small company? Who are you kidding?

Try not to derail. The OP says the company has an HR department.
posted by rhizome at 9:04 AM on April 1

followup: After three months of silence, and two months after my last contact with them I received a thanks but no thanks email...
posted by Gungho at 1:48 PM on May 27