How to follow up with a late recruiter? (2 jobs, 1 company)
July 14, 2016 5:44 PM Subscribe
I applied to two jobs at the same company, and spoke to a recruiter about one of them (but I'm more interested in the other job). She said a hiring manager would call me back within a week, but it has been more than a week. How/when should I follow up?
I'm on the job hunt and I'm interested in Company_X. About 4 months ago, I didn't see any job openings that fit on their online portal, so I submitted my resume cold for consideration.
A month later, I was introduced to someone senior at Company_X through a random connection, and he was kind enough to have an informational interview with me. He told me about Job_1 which just got announced, and while I don't have the decade of experience required, he said they might entertain bringing in someone at a lower level. This job focuses on one of my areas of expertise, would challenge me to grow, and is something I could get excited about every day.
When I went online to submit an application, I found that I was already under consideration for this job. I suspect either my resume got picked up, or he saw some potential and connected the dots. Either way, I'm very grateful!
Another month passed and I hadn't heard back anything, and I saw an opening for Job_2 at Company_X that looked like a pretty good fit, so I went ahead and submitted an application. While I am way more excited about Job_1, this one seems a little closer to reality. I fit the requirements, my experience would translate well (although not as directly as Job_1), the department is known to take most new hires, and it's still a step up for me career-wise. I wrote my contact at Company_X and let him know I applied to Job_2, and he was kind enough to answer a few more of my questions.
Company_X called me two weeks later! The recruiter and I had a brief conversation about Job_2 and my background, and I expressed my interest. I was sure to name drop my contact there and mentioned we had talked a bit, too.
The recruiter said a hiring manager would call me back either at the end of last week or early this week, but it's Thursday now and I haven't heard anything back.
* How long should I wait to follow up with the recruiter?
* Did I wreck my chances for Job_1 by expressing interest in Job_2?
* How can I convey that I want Job_1, but I'm interested in both jobs (without coming across as desperate)?
* Is it a bad idea to apply to two jobs at the same company? (they have about 2500 employees, if that matters)
I'm on the job hunt and I'm interested in Company_X. About 4 months ago, I didn't see any job openings that fit on their online portal, so I submitted my resume cold for consideration.
A month later, I was introduced to someone senior at Company_X through a random connection, and he was kind enough to have an informational interview with me. He told me about Job_1 which just got announced, and while I don't have the decade of experience required, he said they might entertain bringing in someone at a lower level. This job focuses on one of my areas of expertise, would challenge me to grow, and is something I could get excited about every day.
When I went online to submit an application, I found that I was already under consideration for this job. I suspect either my resume got picked up, or he saw some potential and connected the dots. Either way, I'm very grateful!
Another month passed and I hadn't heard back anything, and I saw an opening for Job_2 at Company_X that looked like a pretty good fit, so I went ahead and submitted an application. While I am way more excited about Job_1, this one seems a little closer to reality. I fit the requirements, my experience would translate well (although not as directly as Job_1), the department is known to take most new hires, and it's still a step up for me career-wise. I wrote my contact at Company_X and let him know I applied to Job_2, and he was kind enough to answer a few more of my questions.
Company_X called me two weeks later! The recruiter and I had a brief conversation about Job_2 and my background, and I expressed my interest. I was sure to name drop my contact there and mentioned we had talked a bit, too.
The recruiter said a hiring manager would call me back either at the end of last week or early this week, but it's Thursday now and I haven't heard anything back.
* How long should I wait to follow up with the recruiter?
* Did I wreck my chances for Job_1 by expressing interest in Job_2?
* How can I convey that I want Job_1, but I'm interested in both jobs (without coming across as desperate)?
* Is it a bad idea to apply to two jobs at the same company? (they have about 2500 employees, if that matters)
I would mention your interest in Job_1 casually to the recruiter when you get a chance -- "Oh by the way, I'm very excited about Job_2, but Job_1 also looked interesting, so if that might be a fit, I'd be interested in that role as well." That said, it's pretty likely that the hiring manager for Job_1 isn't interested, based on everything you've said. Its pretty common IME for senior folks to lead underqualified candidates to apply for openings...the senior folks aren't familiar with the job qualifications, and they just want to be nice, and *they* aren't the one who has to do the rejecting. And you don't want the hiring manger for Job_2 to feel like they're your second choice. I am a hiring manager for a role that can sometimes, in some organizations (but not in ours), lead to Sexier Role, and there is nothing that makes me reject a candidate faster than any whiff of the idea that they *really* want to do Sexier Role but couldn't get it and are settling for a role on my team instead.
And yeah, following up early next week makes sense.
posted by phoenixy at 5:31 PM on July 15, 2016
And yeah, following up early next week makes sense.
posted by phoenixy at 5:31 PM on July 15, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
* How long should I wait to follow up with the recruiter?
Give it at least until a week after the latest they said they'd contact you, so Tuesday or Wednesday next week.
* Did I wreck my chances for Job_1 by expressing interest in Job_2?
No, this is no big deal.
* How can I convey that I want Job_1, but I'm interested in both jobs (without coming across as desperate)?
Just... in those words, basically? "Job 1 looks a bit more interesting but I'd love the opportunity to discuss either opportunity"
* Is it a bad idea to apply to two jobs at the same company? (they have about 2500 employees, if that matters)
No, this is no big deal. In fact at a company at that size it's very likely that when they get your resume they're considering you for any appropriate open rec.
posted by brainmouse at 6:27 PM on July 14, 2016 [6 favorites]