Interview Follow-up

24 Comments

1. AnonymousMay 28,2024 at 5:26PM UTC

   Sorry friend, but this ship has sailed. The appropriate amount of time for follow up would have been immediately after the interview with a TKU note to express your tremendous interest in the role and how your education and skill set would immediately address pain points for them...and then at two week intervals after that until you get an answer up or down.

   My experience tells me: the farther out from the interview, the less chance that you're getting called back. If the answers immediately following the interview were vague, they were trying to avoid an uncomfortable conversation that you weren't advancing to the next round.

2. AnonymousMay 28,2024 at 8:09PM UTC

   I would have followed up within a week or two.

3. AnonymousMay 29,2024 at 11:00AM UTC

   Yes. You deserve an answer. Just keep your search active.

4. Cassie SpencerMay 29,2024 at 12:46PM UTC

   The general rule of thumb is to follow up after two weeks. Like others have said, I would send a follow up this week - truly today would be best.

5. GirlBossanova934974May 29,2024 at 1:12PM UTC

   I would write them today. Please keep in mind last week and this week are holiday weeks. Lots of folks on vacation, going on vacation, taking time off etc.. So they may get back with you this week.

6. christine soderlundMay 29,2024 at 2:36PM UTC

   There are generally two scenarios at play here: 1. the company put the job on hold and neglected to follow up with all candidates; 2. they are going in another direction and haven't followed up with all the candidates in play.

   Going forward, send a specialized thank you note same day (or early next day if interview was late in the day) and move on if no one responds.

   How a company treats all candidates in the interview process (selected or not) speaks volumes about the culture and companies that realize that the hiring decision is 50/50 (the company doesn't have all the power and the candidate doesn't have all the power) are the ones you want to target.

7. Tina AsherMay 29,2024 at 2:37PM UTC

   Reach out to them! It shows your interest. I hope you get the role, but if not, next time do not leave the interview without a firm "gentlemen's handshake" on the next steps. Here's an example: You: When will you be making a decision?

   Employer: We have a few more candidates, maybe in the next couple of weeks.

   You: Great, I'll check back with you two weeks from today, will that be okay?

   Then don't forget to check back. You may hear something sooner, but this way you get out of thinking—they don't want me, they must have chosen someone else, and all the other nonsense chatter that comes into our heads. It also empowers you to take the next step. They may not return your call or message, but at least you've shown follow-through. Remember, sometimes unexpected things come up that prolong the decision. Vacations, illness from the hiring manager, an unexpected job freeze, etc. I hope this helps and good luck!

8. Krystin MorganMay 29,2024 at 7:54PM UTC

   Now is totally fine to follow up!

9. Elvita Walters JDMay 30,2024 at 12:27PM UTC

   It's been more than enough time to follow up. I think 3 weeks is appropriate and you are past that time

10. Danielle Bleser-FrenchMay 30,2024 at 1:20PM UTC

    I'm so sorry you are going through this, as a month is far too long for the recruiter to keep you in the dark. They definitely should have followed up with you by now, even if the answer was that they are still deciding.

    I personally have zero issue with a candidate following up with me with any questions or to ask the status of their application--as long as it isn't excessive. For example, I have contact with my candidates every Friday. At the end of a phone screen, I tell them I have a weekly standing meeting with the hiring manager on Fridays, and will email them by EOD that day. Some candidates are eager and forget that it is Friday and will reach out to me on Thursday--no issue at all I just reassure them. I once had a candidate follow up with me the following day and every day after until that Friday. That was annoying and excessive, especially as I told him multiple times the exact date I would get back to him.

    I think sometimes candidates are too scared to reach out. Don't be that person who emails every day, but an email asking about your status is completely fair especially if they were vague on timeline, or have kept you in the dark for an entire month.

11. AnonymousMay 31,2024 at 12:24PM UTC

    You sound like an excellent recruiter!

    To the poster, sometimes it does take a while. I'm not sure what level of a role you are applying to but in my experience, the higher the level, the longer it may take. Also, if they told you it would take a while I think a month is not necessarily a bad sign. Perhaps they do want a candidate pool and this role is harder to get a strong pool. Perhaps someone in the chain of command is supremely busy, had some sort of travel (personal or business), etc. that made it more difficult to move forward. Definitely follow up and express interest. I wouldn't put my eggs all in this basket - keep looking - but if you are interested in this role and this company follow up as well. What's the worst that can happen - they ghost you or they tell you they went in a different direction, etc. At least you will know. Maybe, just maybe, it will trigger them to act. Give it a shot. A month does not equal a candidate that is a pest. I'd follow up in a couple of weeks if you don't hear back from this follow up and then if no response, move on.

12. ElizabethMay 30,2024 at 1:34PM UTC

    You can follow up now but they probably already decided to move forward with someone else. I'm sorry. A month is too long. It's never a good sign.

13. James HerendeenMay 30,2024 at 1:36PM UTC

    Forget it and move on.

14. Michele SinclairMay 30,2024 at 1:48PM UTC

    Now

15. AnonymousMay 30,2024 at 2:00PM UTC

    One month is excessive already

16. AnonymousMay 30,2024 at 2:03PM UTC

    Sorry, this one is done. If it's been a month, they've moved on. You can politely email to confirm continued interest-- it won't hurt-- just don't expect a reply or at least not good news.

    An appropriate follow-up time is a week to ten days-- or based on whatever they tell you. If they miss connecting on a day they told you, give them about 2 business days to ping them. Stuff happens.

    Hope I'm wrong and they've just gotten hung up in the process!

17. AnonymousMay 30,2024 at 2:22PM UTC

    Unfortunately stuff like this happens a lot, I've been in the job hunting process for the last couple of months and I have had to follow-up many times because I don't hear anything by the time I was told I would. It's not a good sign that a month has already passed. They most likely have decided to pursue someone else and are maybe waiting for them to accept the role before going back and letting other candidates know. Or they may have decided to not get back to people. As much as it seems common sense to get back to someone it always doesn't happen.

    Good luck with your job search! It's tough out there so be patient. But next time if you don't hear back after a week I would follow-up.

18. AnonymousMay 30,2024 at 2:47PM UTC

    This year 2024 the hiring processes are unique.

    1-election year, hiring going on but carefully, not robust ,until co see who the next president is

    2-co are taking longer than ever to conclude an intw process, 2 months on average

    3-co are involving more people than ever in the process, 8-9 interview is a norm now

    4-AI, co are waiting to see how they can incorporate it, what roles that might affect/eliminate, and are taking their time with this

    FOLLOWUP - for co we are interested in, rule of thumb is every 7-10 days send a quick brief email, outlining your sincere/great interest in the role/co. Continue until they make an offer or say the role is filled. Don't give up! Keeping your name top of mind is important in these dragged out long intw processes!

    Good Luck (a career transition coach with 25+ years experience working with over 80% of the F500)

19. AnonymousMay 31,2024 at 12:29PM UTC

    This. My last job interview, after not hearing from them for 3 weeks, I sent a follow-up letter reiterating my interest and reminding them of my qualifications. I received an offer letter within the week.

20. Susan Grant-SuttieMay 30,2024 at 3:06PM UTC

    I have always sent a thank you note after the interview, but if they haven't followed up after a month, I agree with what others have said - move on.

21. AnonymousMay 30,2024 at 3:38PM UTC

    a week

22. Joanne RosenMay 30,2024 at 4:40PM UTC

    Did you send a Thank You email right after the interview? That was the first "touch" you needed.

    Was the second interview with someone who would make the decision? Or was it a recruiter? If it was the company, then you may have dodged a bullet. If they can't give a timeline and then no one responds for a month, they aren't a well organized company.

    Definitely follow up now but be prepared for more vague answers.

23. Mathieu DutourMay 31,2024 at 5:47AM UTC

    In my experience, if they are interested they are contacting you. If not they say so or they are ghosting you.

    I tried at some point to contact people when I was not receiving returns, and it never helped. You cannot talk people into being interested in you.

    So, the only approach that makes sense is the following: Do your best at the interview and forget it happened after the event. Then prepare for the next application to send or the next interview.

    To worry about something you have no control on will gets you stressed or worse. It is better to acknowledge the reality and go forward.

24. Laurel BerenguerMay 31,2024 at 12:28PM UTC

    Having just gone through the process on the other side, it can take a while. We started interviewing right after the holidays and didn't make an offer until March. I would suggest at least one more light touch such as an email showing you're still interested and you understand they are busy but wanted to check in. What can it hurt?