WFH Interview

Anonymous

March 6,2023 at 6:49PM UTC

Welcome to Fairygodboss!

We’re the largest online career community helping women achieve their career goals. Gain access to articles, jobs, events, and a supportive network of women and allies. Membership is free, always.

WFH Interview

So, I interviewed with a major healthcare company on Feb. 23 virtually and have been checking in the portal on my submission status. Well, I also applied for another position that I felt I was qualified for. So, the next day I got a rejection email no longer under consideration for the second job that I applied to, but the virtual interview status went from interview in review to we identified a potential opportunity for you. Here it is March and I have not heard anything from a recruiter except when I sent a thank you email after interview and the response I got was " thank you for reaching out, and decisions will be made in the upcoming weeks. Should I do another follow up email or just wait it out since it has only been about a week almost two weeks.

Why women love us:

Daily articles on career topics
Jobs at companies dedicated to hiring more women
Advice and support from an authentic community
Events that help you level up in your career
Free membership, always

26 comments

Share your insight

Join an authentic community that helps women support each other at work. Share your professional experience or ask for advice — you can even post anonymously.

26 Comments

Join the conversation

AprilMarch 6,2023 at 7:07PM UTC
Hello
You could follow with a question about the status of the “potential opportunity “ and ask if you can provide more details or answer more questions for the decision makers. After that inquiry, you will know more , even if it’s a ghost response.
Amanda HintonMarch 6,2023 at 7:24PM UTC
That was something I was going to do but did not know if that was appropriate or not. I just want to still show them my interest.
AnonymousMarch 6,2023 at 7:49PM UTC
Recruiters on LI say it's very much appropriate to check in weekly for about two weeks post-interview. Then maybe in three weeks. If still nothing, keep moving on.
AnonymousMarch 6,2023 at 11:18PM UTC
As a recruiter, I always welcome our candidates reaching back to me for a status update. I've been impressed by the variety of touch-backs that I've received... everything from formal to a friendly/semi-casual nature. My view is that at the very least, keeping communications going shows that you are proactively doing everything you can to win a role you really desire. There is a slim chance that you may even gain some extra intel.
Anne R.March 6,2023 at 11:29PM UTC
I would follow up via email or phone. Did the recruiter inform you if there are any other leaders you need to speak with or provide a timeline of the interview process?
Amanda HintonMarch 7,2023 at 7:07PM UTC
No just the interviewer herself. But I did send a follow up email regarding submission status and again stated my skills and interests. The last email from recruiter was on February 20 after I sent a thank you email. He stated in the upcoming weeks decisions will be made so it’s only been not quite 2 full weeks since my interview.
Nancy RansomMarch 9,2023 at 1:31PM UTC
Don't give up if you do not hear anything after one month follow up with an email. That's how I got in the door.
AnonymousMarch 9,2023 at 1:21PM UTC
In my experience, the hold up is usually the hiring manager. A follow-up email asking the recruiter if there is anything else you can provide and letting them know you are still interested is usually welcome. The recruiter should then share with the hiring manager and hopefully get you some answers. Good luck!
Amy GeffenMarch 9,2023 at 1:30PM UTC
Absolutely follow up with an email to the recruiter. IF you don't hear back after an interview within one week, it is ok to send another email either to the recruiter or to the person who interviewed you.
GirlBossanova934974March 9,2023 at 1:39PM UTC
Having now worked in the WFH environment for the last 18 months, I can definitely say that decisions regarding hiring and just about everything else are dragged out for much longer periods of time than the former non WFH environment. In addition at least from my perspective, we are seeing much larger rates of absenteeism in March and February which are dragging out decisions even longer. So I would say here that someone probably the hiring manager is holding up the show here.
ChristineMarch 9,2023 at 1:39PM UTC
Hospitals are notorious for taking forever to make up their mind on a candidate. It's not a bad idea to reach out with a follow up email at 2 weeks or so. It won't hurt anything and it will show that you are interested.
Good luck!
Alison PituchMarch 9,2023 at 1:45PM UTC
I would recommend you follow up to show your interest at least every other week. When hiring it can take 2-4 weeks to completely interview all candidates. Organizations have to complete a process to give equal opportunity. While I know it can be frustrating to wait I encourage you to stay positive!
AnonymousMarch 9,2023 at 2:17PM UTC
Realistically you should reach out. The second application may trigger them to think you are no longer interested. Especially if their portal uses AI for any of these decisions.
Jocelyn LyonsMarch 9,2023 at 2:31PM UTC
I would follow up, but simply in a way that expresses interest - not in a pushy way that demands answers. I would offer to share any additional information needed or simply let them know you are thankful for their time.
Chelsea KennardMarch 9,2023 at 2:38PM UTC
This is becoming all too common with recruiters and I do wish there was some more courtesy around even following up and giving an update to candidates. I've had similar situations all too often in this job search.
Amy FoleyMarch 9,2023 at 3:15PM UTC
I agree with Chelsea. We need more courtesy with follow up, rejection is difficult but limbo is exhausting.
Amy CollinsMarch 9,2023 at 2:41PM UTC
"polite persistence"! Good luck ?
AyianMarch 9,2023 at 3:37PM UTC
I assume a rejection before every interview. I put all my cards on the table, follow up within 2 days with a thank you, and send an email the first and second week after. If it's lukewarm and I am not in love with the organization, I move on. If I love that organization and they give me an ambiguous response regarding their timeframe, I check in once every 2 or 3 weeks and otherwise let them do whatever it is they're busy doing.
Julie Jordan-WadeMarch 9,2023 at 3:38PM UTC
Keep those communications consistent...keeping your name in front of the recruiter in an enthusiatic, professional manner is impactful and memorable. You never know when they get word on their side about upcoming openings. Stay on their radar and you may land an even better fit job than the one you interviewed for! I know from sitting on the hiring side, anytime we don't need to "start from scratch" in finding a great fit candidate, it makes the hiring team's job much easier!
AnonymousMarch 9,2023 at 3:50PM UTC
I don't think there's anything wrong with emailing the HR/Recruiter back in another 7-10 days; on the other hand, you don't want to look pesky. I work in healthcare and i can tell you that these organizations do this All.The.Time....You'll get crazy emails that you're in/out, in consideration, not inconsideration..and sometimes, the email will come before OR AFTER the interview itself! it's crazy. Their systems are generating messages without personal follow up! So....be patient. this is the nature of working for a "large healthcare organization"....Been there/done that. And, I've seen it get worse (in this way) in the last 5 years. It's a mess, for sure.
AnonymousMarch 9,2023 at 3:55PM UTC
Unpopular opinion but your interview was only 2 weeks ago.
Follow up are great but I know my company's process takes a lot longer than 2 weeks.
RichMarch 9,2023 at 4:42PM UTC
Most job seekers have this question. Allow me to suggest several things to remember in the future.
1) They are never as anxious as you are. Give them time. Someone might be out, or they might have a slow process, or require higher level approvals.
2) In the future, your last question to them should be, "When should I follow-up with you to find out how things are going?" This will take a lot of stress off of you, because you'll have a timeframe and they will have accepted that you can reach out to them.
3) You should still be very actively looking for a job. Your goal is to have two job offers at once, so that you have negotiating leverage. It can't be faked, because if they call your bluff, you'll have to walk away from a valid job offer. It's not like they will hire you if you admit it was fake.
4) We teach you can stop your job search when you are sitting in their office, filling out your IRS forms W-4 and I-9 - not before. We stress this point because we've had people walk in on their first day, only to find out things changed and they aren't getting hired. The company lost a contract, or go bought out, or has new leadership, or a hiring freeze, or layoffs.
Don't stop your search. Obviously you're doing some things right, or you wouldn't have gotten this far!
AnonymousMarch 10,2023 at 1:03AM UTC
Its probably a robot that you are talking to, most ATS (applicant tracking systems) that are sending those out use the name of the recruiter who internally owns the requisition and with AI generally if you get something that suggests another job with a link asking you to reply that is what it is. I would do nothing unless you get a specific action item in the mail you get. It's not the best response I know but its truth.
AnonymousMarch 11,2023 at 11:55PM UTC
I would honestly send them an email reminding who I was and the points of the interview, the job you found was a match. When I use to interview and juggling candidates, these extra contacts placed the candidate at the top for me.
AnonymousMarch 12,2023 at 11:23PM UTC
I have emailed just last week and in the portal under submission it still shows “ we found a potential opportunity for you” as of February 23 that was a few days after my interview. It stated “interview under review” previously. So it’s been only two weeks since last interview. I have not got a response back from the second follow up email yet. They may still be interviewing since it’s a big healthcare company. Was just told to keep checking the portal and my personal email for updates so waiting patiently.
AnonymousMarch 20,2023 at 6:07PM UTC
Just an update on my previous post. So, I called a recruiter and asked about my status on the portal and at the time she put me on hold for a few minutes and came back and stated that my application was not considered for the customer service position. I did thank her for the information and was polite about it. But yes, after the phone call I was disappointed because was really looking forward to this opportunity to work from home. But a couple of days later, I received another email that stated "I interviewed with a hiring manager for the customer service position. Your interview went well, and we would like to consider you for a position within the department." The training classes are delayed but and waiting for more to be scheduled with a possibility in June. As soon as details for training are available, we will reach out to you and move forward with the offers for the position." At first, I was like this is spam email, but it did have the contact person's name at the bottom of the email. So, I called the recruiter HR line and spoke to the same person who I spoke to previously and she did confirm the email on her end and was able to see it. So apparently, the recruiter stated the position opened back up again. I have to say that I am excited and just waiting to hear more details. I just had to share my update on the forum with everyone.