Should I contact my initial interviewer, or just wait?
April 26, 2013 10:21 AM Subscribe
I could really use some help regarding my follow-up to an interview... I'll keep the details short and to the point.
1. I had a fellowship interview last week; it went really well (went over 3x interviewer's original allotted time).
2. I sent a thank you e-mail with a follow-up question (simple question about the program structure I didn't think to ask during the interview)
3. Interviewer responded, saying that they were referring me to a higher-up who would "reach out" and call to interview me further (and whom I should direct the question to, as interviewer #1 did not know the answer); apparently the goal was to talk to me by today.
4. I have received no reach-out (no phone call, e-mail, etc.), and the final determinations (at least according to the info I got) are being made by Monday.
I thought about e-mailing interviewer #2 directly, but I do not have their contact info nor can find it online. I then thought about e-mailing interviewer #1 for the #2's contact info, but am concerned that might be pushy. Ideas for my next steps? I'm really interested in this position.
Thanks!
1. I had a fellowship interview last week; it went really well (went over 3x interviewer's original allotted time).
2. I sent a thank you e-mail with a follow-up question (simple question about the program structure I didn't think to ask during the interview)
3. Interviewer responded, saying that they were referring me to a higher-up who would "reach out" and call to interview me further (and whom I should direct the question to, as interviewer #1 did not know the answer); apparently the goal was to talk to me by today.
4. I have received no reach-out (no phone call, e-mail, etc.), and the final determinations (at least according to the info I got) are being made by Monday.
I thought about e-mailing interviewer #2 directly, but I do not have their contact info nor can find it online. I then thought about e-mailing interviewer #1 for the #2's contact info, but am concerned that might be pushy. Ideas for my next steps? I'm really interested in this position.
Thanks!
It's "ok" to ask but I don't think it'll get you anywhere. Does your follow up question materially affect your interest in the program (i.e. if they answer one way you want the job, and otherwise you'll take some other job?)
If interviewer #1 didn't have the information, and wasn't able to get it to you despite promising that they would ask their higher up, there is a very good chance the information does not exist or is not public yet.
Emailing interviewer 2 or asking for the contact info for this purpose would be extremely pushy. Unless you have another offer on the table and you want to let them know for the purpose of accelerating their decision on you, you won't be doing yourself a favor by pressing this now. A good time to ask about it again would be when they get back to you wanting to move you forward in the process.
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:46 AM on April 26, 2013
If interviewer #1 didn't have the information, and wasn't able to get it to you despite promising that they would ask their higher up, there is a very good chance the information does not exist or is not public yet.
Emailing interviewer 2 or asking for the contact info for this purpose would be extremely pushy. Unless you have another offer on the table and you want to let them know for the purpose of accelerating their decision on you, you won't be doing yourself a favor by pressing this now. A good time to ask about it again would be when they get back to you wanting to move you forward in the process.
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:46 AM on April 26, 2013
Whatever you do, please don't consider following bensherman's email. It is pushy and suggests that your "expectation" is more important than their schedule and consideration. Further, today isn't even finished in the United States!
These two statements make me think you're premature in your concern:
apparently the goal was to talk to me by today
the final determinations (at least according to the info I got) are being made by Monday.
Beyond the fact that both of these statements are not unequivocal, employment decisions tend to always take longer than necessary, and definitely longer than the initial schedule. This is particularly true in the non-profit/academic realms that the term "fellowship" can imply. At many organizations, there are a lot of hurdles to hiring a new employee, and your interviewers very well could be underestimating those hurdles.
Conclusion: Ideas for my next steps?
Wait until, at the earliest, 6 May (a week after the "final determinations") before emailing anything.
posted by saeculorum at 11:13 AM on April 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
These two statements make me think you're premature in your concern:
apparently the goal was to talk to me by today
the final determinations (at least according to the info I got) are being made by Monday.
Beyond the fact that both of these statements are not unequivocal, employment decisions tend to always take longer than necessary, and definitely longer than the initial schedule. This is particularly true in the non-profit/academic realms that the term "fellowship" can imply. At many organizations, there are a lot of hurdles to hiring a new employee, and your interviewers very well could be underestimating those hurdles.
Conclusion: Ideas for my next steps?
Wait until, at the earliest, 6 May (a week after the "final determinations") before emailing anything.
posted by saeculorum at 11:13 AM on April 26, 2013 [1 favorite]
Don't go to interviewer #2. Go back to interviewer #1 with bensherman's script.
I had this exact thing happen to me. I had a great phone interview, I was told they would schedule something by Wednesday. I waited and waited.
Yesterday I went back the HR recuiter and said, "I haven't heard anything, what's the status."
Apparently the hiring mgr is out of town until next week.
Things happen.
It doesn't make you less crazy though. You should see my nails.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:46 AM on April 26, 2013
I had this exact thing happen to me. I had a great phone interview, I was told they would schedule something by Wednesday. I waited and waited.
Yesterday I went back the HR recuiter and said, "I haven't heard anything, what's the status."
Apparently the hiring mgr is out of town until next week.
Things happen.
It doesn't make you less crazy though. You should see my nails.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:46 AM on April 26, 2013
Response by poster: I ended up contacting interviewer #1, given that he had said interviewer #2 was aiming to speak with me by today.
My goal wasn't so much for answering the question, but rather concern that I would be completely out of the running if #2 didn't interview me (apparently, #2 has interviewed all the other candidates).
Also, the interviewers are a kind of go-betweens (interviewing people they then recommend to someone else who makes the final decision); as it was explained to me, Monday was their deadline from the decision-maker, hence my concern.
I did tweak bensherman's idea to be a little "softer," but now I'm concerned looking over some of these responses. Given what I mentioned above, should I remain worried?
...My nails are probably worse than Ruthless Bunny's at this point....
posted by Sakura3210 at 12:23 PM on April 26, 2013
My goal wasn't so much for answering the question, but rather concern that I would be completely out of the running if #2 didn't interview me (apparently, #2 has interviewed all the other candidates).
Also, the interviewers are a kind of go-betweens (interviewing people they then recommend to someone else who makes the final decision); as it was explained to me, Monday was their deadline from the decision-maker, hence my concern.
I did tweak bensherman's idea to be a little "softer," but now I'm concerned looking over some of these responses. Given what I mentioned above, should I remain worried?
...My nails are probably worse than Ruthless Bunny's at this point....
posted by Sakura3210 at 12:23 PM on April 26, 2013
Given what I mentioned above, should I remain worried?
I don't really think it'll matter too much one way or another. Your question pops up on Ask Metafilter constantly. I'm not sure why. It's not as if the people you're interviewing with will forget that they are hiring someone. The decision will happen one way or another, and emailing them won't change that. Similarly, if they want to hire you, a single email shouldn't change that opinion, and if they don't want to hire you, you're not going to make them change their mind. In other words, the email just adds to the number of emails the interviewers have to deal with every day - it's not that big of a deal by itself, but it's not going to change anything for you.
Another way to think about this is: if the organization you're interviewing with is so disorganized a potential key hire was "lost in the noise" or so judgmental that they reject a hire for a single email, would you really want to work there in the first place?
posted by saeculorum at 12:42 PM on April 26, 2013
I don't really think it'll matter too much one way or another. Your question pops up on Ask Metafilter constantly. I'm not sure why. It's not as if the people you're interviewing with will forget that they are hiring someone. The decision will happen one way or another, and emailing them won't change that. Similarly, if they want to hire you, a single email shouldn't change that opinion, and if they don't want to hire you, you're not going to make them change their mind. In other words, the email just adds to the number of emails the interviewers have to deal with every day - it's not that big of a deal by itself, but it's not going to change anything for you.
Another way to think about this is: if the organization you're interviewing with is so disorganized a potential key hire was "lost in the noise" or so judgmental that they reject a hire for a single email, would you really want to work there in the first place?
posted by saeculorum at 12:42 PM on April 26, 2013
Interviewers are not professional interviewers - they have other duties at whatever company you are interviewing at. Interviewing is not their main purpose, and they probably hate doing it. They also need help, which is why they are interviewing. If I promise someone something and don't deliver, I *hope* I am reminded of it in case it really was forgotten.
I wouldn't worry about seeming "pushy" unless you are being obtuse or asking for something in a hurry only for your own benefit.
posted by bensherman at 2:52 PM on April 26, 2013
I wouldn't worry about seeming "pushy" unless you are being obtuse or asking for something in a hurry only for your own benefit.
posted by bensherman at 2:52 PM on April 26, 2013
Response by poster: Success! Got the dream job, thanks for the advice everyone :)
posted by Sakura3210 at 5:39 PM on May 20, 2013
posted by Sakura3210 at 5:39 PM on May 20, 2013
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Dear Interviewer #1,
I expected to hear back from #2 by today, but I haven't yet. Can we schedule something?
Very Truly Yours,
Sakura
posted by bensherman at 10:26 AM on April 26, 2013 [3 favorites]