Waiting and Anxiety | Fairygodboss

Mystery Woman

Tell us more for better jobs, advice
and connections

Don’t miss out on new opportunities.

Update your profile

YOUR TOPICS

Your feed isn’t personalized yet. Follow topics like career advice, lifestyle or health.

YOUR GROUPS

Discover and join groups with like-minded women who share your interests, profession, and lifestyle.

COMPANIES YOU FOLLOW

Get alerted when there are new employee reviews.

YOUR JOB ALERTS

Get notified when new jobs are posted.

Your post is published!

Anonymous

11/10/20 at 6:20PM UTC

Career

Waiting and Anxiety

Hi All, I am waiting to hear back from 3 interviews. I was told yesterday that I "should be" getting an offer from the recruiter, but I also want to hear from the other companies because I am very interested in them. I don't want to pester them, but I'm getting anxious. One I just interviewed with on Friday and the other said they were making a decision early this week. Any advice from those who have been successful in navigating this?

13 Comments

Käte Davis

I help working moms leave office drama behind.

11/10/20 at 4:05PM UTC

Anxiety happens when you want to control the outcome of something outside of your control, right? Here, it's having answers on a timeline that you want, or feel you need, in order to make a decision. Have you already sent follow-up thank yous? If not, that's a great place to start, to remind them why you're a great candidate and they need you on their team. Otherwise, I'd wait a couple more days (it's been my experience on both the candidate and manager side that the process can take longer than wanted for everyone) and then politely follow up, indicating that they'd mentioned a specific timeline (by "early this week") and you were curious, as you had a couple other offers pending. Good luck! I have my fingers crossed!

1 Reply

YesBodyCoachLisa Charles

11/10/20 at 5:40PM UTC

Quick tip - when you feeling anxious - Stop and breathe through the nose - slow and focused. To take your mind off your concerns to give your brain a moment of peace, continue that breathing while doing a wall sit. I guarantee it will bring calm and magic to your muscles.

Kari Solomon

Resume Writing | LinkedIn | Job Search Coaching

11/10/20 at 4:26PM UTC

As Kate Davis said, definitely send a Thank You if you haven't already done so. Also, should you be contacted, don't be afraid to ask what their timeline is for making a decision. It's expected that a candidate will ask for time to think about it when made an offer, so if you here from the company you're least interested in first, you can always buy a little time by telling them you'd like to take a day or two to think about it. But definitely get back to them when you say you're going to.

Lesa Edwards

785

THE career expert for high achievers

11/10/20 at 4:37PM UTC

Jessica, Congratulations on the offer coming your way! Here's how I would coach you: once you have that offer in hand, reach out to the other companies you are still interested in and in the loop with to let them know. Don't give them specifics as to the company, compensation, etc., but give them enough information to know you're being truthful. I suggest something like this: "Mary, I wanted to let you know I've received an offer from another company in the IT space. Before I accept that offer, I wanted to check on the status of my candidacy with COMPANY, as I am still very interested in the position. I will accept or reject their offer on DATE. I look forward to hearing from you!" This is their opportunity to either turn you loose or kick into high gear to get an offer to you.

2 Replies

Nancy C

191

Talent Partner | Collaborator | DEI Champion

11/10/20 at 5:21PM UTC

Agree with Lesa 100%! Once you have an offer, you can let the other companies know, and hopefully they'll be able to expedite you through any remaining steps in the process. Additionally, you can tell the company that gives you an offer that you're in a couple other interview processes that you'd like to see through. If a company really wants you and values you, they will give you the time you need to make the best decision for you. I think it's reasonable to ask for a week to make a decision when you're considering other options as well, though this may vary by recruiter & industry.

User edited comment on 11/10/20 at 5:21PM UTC

Cynthia

11/10/20 at 6:49PM UTC

I agree with this response! I think it is the most straight forward and honest. I will have to say though that proceed with caution. The first time I used it, I had an offer in hand from my least preferred role and was still interviewing with my most preferred role. When I told my preferred role about the other offer, they cut me loose immediately and it really stung to no longer have that option. The second time this happened, the more preferred role had me keep the other firm waiting for almost 6 weeks before ultimately not giving me an offer. Luckily in my industry there is a common 1-month notice period at my level, but it was still very difficult to keep pushing out the decision. Good luck!!

Liz Bronson

Authentically helping from a human perspective.

11/10/20 at 4:55PM UTC

Hi Jessica, Is there one job that you haven't heard from that is your first choice? Ask yourself if you had all 3 on the table and the offers were equal, which would you take? If the 1st choice is the one you have, awesome- take it! If not, you can tell the other company that they are your first choice, but you have an offer that you need to respond to by whatever date it is. Give them the opportunity, but also ask yourself which job meets your needs/wants the best. Good luck!

1 Reply

Jessica Callahan Steele

Talent Acq Specialist.

11/10/20 at 7:16PM UTC

The one that I should hear back from today is a 6 month contract which makes me nervous. It could lead to a permanent role. The others I don't know anything about their salary. One is a small business where I feel like I will get to put my stamp on things, the other is a local hospital that would be a lateral move but working for the community. The 6 month contract role meets my social just needs and is for a Fortune 500 company.

1 Reply

Liz Bronson

Authentically helping from a human perspective.

11/10/20 at 10:35PM UTC

Sounds like you have interesting options. Do a soul search (and talk with people who know you to get their input) around your needs and wants for your next role and see which will be the best fit for you. It's hard when opportunities are different, but also so exciting.

Anonymous

11/10/20 at 5:17PM UTC

Good luck for your future...

Lauren Kaufmann

Clinical Supervisor in WNC

11/10/20 at 6:15PM UTC

As someone who is currently hiring, I do like the follow up emails from candidates, even though I often have made my decision prior to the thank you/follow up email. I also was very recently in a position where I was hiring, wanted to hire all 3 candidates for the 1 position, but one of them had a family emergency so their interview was pushed back. One candidate reached out to check in on the process, and even though I didn't hire them, I really like that the reached out because I could explain why it was taking longer than I originally said, and it made it easier to say later "not this time, but I really want to keep in touch for future opportunities." and to actually mean it vs. a platitude because that communication and trust had already been established.

Anonymous

11/11/20 at 8:43PM UTC

Thank you all for your help. I just heard from Company 1 and I didn't get the job. Company 2 was supposed to get back to me early this week and Company 3 was supposed to update me yesterday afternoon. Recruiting is my business and the only time I don't get back to a client is if I'm dead. I ALWAYS get back to people. So I do not feel good at all. I appreciate your support.

Anonymous

11/21/20 at 3:57AM UTC

I wanted to update you all. I never heard back from one of the companies, but I did get an offer from the second and I accepted yesterday!! I’m thrilled and so relieved. Thank you all for being there!

User edited comment on 11/21/20 at 3:57AM UTC