How often is too often to bug a company MD about a job?

January 28, 2013 12:53 PM

MD said he would talk to me about a graduate position opening up this year. Haven't heard anything yet and I do not want to let this one slip through my fingers. How communicative should I be, and by what means?

Before Christmas I heard about a graduate job coming up in my field, in the town I'm doing my degree in. Not only is it exactly the work I want to do, it's also in a town I've come to like a lot, staying here would be awesome. So I contacted them, the MD called me back (it's a small outfit) and asked me to send him my CV and that we could talk about it sometime over a coffee.

So I sent it, then things got busy and Christmas came and went. I left a message with the secretary a couple of weeks ago saying I was back in town and would the MD like to meet up for that coffee. Obviously since I'm asking this I haven't heard anything back.

Should I:
a) Call again
b) Email
c) Shut up and wait patiently
d) insert your alternative here, with kittens

posted by fearnothing to Work & Money (8 answers total)

Best answer: Send him a short, polite email. Chances are he's busy and may have forgotten to respond to the earlier phone message. Email is less intrusive as you won't be interrupting him and he can respond when it's convenient.
posted by emd3737 at 12:57 PM on January 28, 2013 [1 favorite]

You have his email? As in, you've ever received an email from that address, so you know you're not getting stuck in his spam filter? Email him. "I was wondering whether you were available for that cup of coffee we talked about before the holidays." Don't ever mention to him that you left a message with his secretary.

If he doesn't answer your email, then that's your answer.
posted by Etrigan at 12:58 PM on January 28, 2013 [1 favorite]

I think you can tactfully followup without fear of being blacklisted.

The secret is to get the person during a time of day when they don't have meetings normally and when they don't have a gatekeeper (secretary). Usually this time is from 7:30 to 8:30 and from 4:00 on.

You need to phone them up. Don't leave a message until the third day of trying. Phone on a Monday at the start of the week. Phone 3 times if it's the morning, fifteen minutes apart.

By Wednesday morning leave a message, saying you are going to phone back, and that you are going to send an email.

Ideally you'll get the secretary onside at some point.
posted by KokuRyu at 1:28 PM on January 28, 2013

Best answer: I don't work in your field, but I was in a similar situation recently. I submitted my resume and got a positive response fairly quickly that asked for a writing sample (somewhat relevant to my work, very relevant to this particular job). I sent along a very short writing sample that should have taken less than 20 minutes to read and analyze thoroughly.

I didn't hear anything for about a week and a half, which is a long time for someone actively hiring in my line of work. I started to assume my writing sample wasn't good enough, or maybe they ended up not needing anyone.

A friend suggested that I send a short and polite follow-up email, and even though I didn't think it would accomplish anything...

I now have an interview for the job.

So in the space of a couple of weeks, I have become one of the leading world cheerleaders for SEND A POLITE FOLLOW-UP EMAIL!
posted by Sara C. at 2:25 PM on January 28, 2013

Yes, to polite follow up email or snail mail. You can follow up in a week with a polite telephone call. Mention you enjoyed the interview.
posted by fifilaru at 4:46 PM on January 28, 2013

Response by poster: I haven't received any email from him, I received a short phone call from him in which he gave me the email address. Sent a short email as per advice :)
posted by fearnothing at 4:41 AM on January 29, 2013

Response by poster: Short email was a winner! Wish me luck folks, coffee meeting is on its way. Given that it's not an interview, if anyone has suggestions for how I should dress that would be appreciated.
posted by fearnothing at 2:24 PM on January 29, 2013 [2 favorites]

Dress like you would normally dress for the job, maybe one (short) step better -- i.e., if they normally just wear collared shirts, wear a tie.
posted by Etrigan at 2:55 PM on January 29, 2013