Post-interview Agony

June 12, 2012 9:11 AM

Should I call? Should I wait? Post-interview agony.

I had a job interview a week ago for a position I would really like! I was "pre-certified" before the interview by a couple of very senior business acquaintances who gave great recommendations to the company in question. I was screened by an in-house recruiter and that went tremendously well. I then interviewed in person with the person to whom I would report, and also with a "gatekeeper" to a very senior person, with whom I would have to meet next.

My 2 live interviews were ... well, I left feeling very very good.

That was 6 days ago. I sent off my thank-yous and have heard absolutely nothing from anyone. To be fair, the recruiter, whom I assume is the point person, was out last week and just back yesterday. But this is a pretty senior spot -- wouldn't you think it would be prioritized?

I'm having a hard time not getting in touch with the recruiter. Too soon? All indications were that the next round would be set up!

posted by thinkpiece to Work & Money (11 answers total)

If your next interview is to be with "very senior person", wait a while. People in those positions often have difficulty scheduling due to so many appointments and responsibilities (might include travel?). this is especially true if a key person was out for a week and just got back. Of course your anxious, but relax and cool your jets. Give them all a chance to do their jobs.
posted by txmon at 9:17 AM on June 12, 2012 [2 favorites]

Too soon. I've waited a month or more to hear back from job interviews. Also, call once after it's been two weeks, then don't call again. Being proactive is one thing, being annoying is another altogether.
posted by denriguez at 9:18 AM on June 12, 2012 [1 favorite]

Slow down, cowboy. They've all got work to do besides hiring for this position. Six days is WAY too soon to call and pester the recruiter. If anything, calling and asking what's up will only hurt your chances.
posted by Sal and Richard at 9:26 AM on June 12, 2012 [2 favorites]

Heh. You wait. I feel you. It's hard. But these conversations are hard to schedule at a company; and when other people have to be seen, they are hard to schedule. Basically at about the two-week mark, it's acceptable to follow up with the recruiter, to "check in on the timeframe," AKA to see if you're going to the final level.
posted by RJ Reynolds at 9:31 AM on June 12, 2012 [1 favorite]

Wait.

I know, it sucks. But the recruiter was out, it hasn't been long, you just sent a thank-you note, and your next meeting would be with a very senior person who is presumably very busy. I would be impatient too, but you don't want to show that to the company because it certainly won't make you look better in their eyes.
posted by J. Wilson at 10:09 AM on June 12, 2012

Response by poster: Yeah, I'm seeing this as my all-time dopiest Ask. Thanks for indulging me -- I think I wrote here to avoid dialing there.
posted by thinkpiece at 10:39 AM on June 12, 2012

My current job involved a 3 week wait in post-interview purgatory. It was awful. But they offered me the job in the end. It's horrible, and you have my full sympathy for what you're going through, but it's not that unusual.
posted by handee at 10:54 AM on June 12, 2012

Waiting like that is the worst, but yes, continue to play it cool and DISTRACT YOURSELF. Maybe this is a good time to take up an absorbing new hobby? I know that sounds silly, but I taught myself to knit while waiting to hear about a job (that I ended up getting), and it really helped to yank my mind away from the waiting and zap my temptation to dial and ask "WHAT IS GOING ON?". Just putting that out there.
posted by anonnymoose at 11:07 AM on June 12, 2012 [1 favorite]

Whenever I find myself getting anxious about not having heard back from someone, I remember that their dealings with me are one tiny fraction of their lives. Said dealings have to be coordinated with the schedules of a whole other bunch of players with varied calendars. You said the recruiter was out last week and back yesterday. If that was me, I'd still be in full on "holy crap must answer a gazillion e-mails" mode. Just wait it out a little longer. I feel your pain, I've been there and the anxiety and overthinking was overwhelming. The hiring process you describe - and your reaction to it - are totally normal.

Besides, if your contributions here are any indication, some company will be lucky enough to hire you.
posted by futureisunwritten at 12:38 PM on June 12, 2012

Yeah dude, just wait. I conducted a bunch of interviews last week, and we haven't had the time to get back to the candidates because we had other work to do as well. There could be a bunch of reasons why things haven't progressed - for example, perhaps referees were not available to talk.

Give it as least a fortnight, then make a polite call to the recruiter just to check in.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 5:00 PM on June 12, 2012

Response by poster: Back to say, I got an email from the recruiter! The hiring manager with whom I met is out this week on family business. She asked for my patience and said we'd connect early next week. I will keep you posted. Thank you all for talking me down! Love, thinkpiece
posted by thinkpiece at 6:53 PM on June 12, 2012 [1 favorite]