Not getting a follow up call, as promised, happens more
than you think. Candidates are sure that they are a shoe-in
for the position, and expecting an offer, and then nothing.
This is not only frustrating for the candidate, but
reflects poorly on the company.
Expecting a call that doesn't come
Cheryl feels confident that she aced the interview, and has
followed up with a dynamite thank you letter. She was told
a decision would be made before the end of the week, and is
almost sure she will be getting an offer. That was Tuesday,
and by Friday she is having doubts. There has been no call
from the company.
Does this mean she isn't going to get an offer? Should she
call and ask, "What's up?" Should she just hang by her
nails over the weekend?
What to do?
Cheryl decides to consults her cousin, Gloria, who is an HR
manager at another company. Gloria tells her that she
should call the interviewer and find out where she stands.
She advises her to wait until Tuesday to call. (Mondays are
always bad)
The follow up phone call
On Tuesday morning, Cheryl is equipped with a script so she
will be focused and confident when she makes her call. She
gets a voice mail and leaves her message.
"Miss French, This is Cheryl Jones, we met last Tuesday
when I interviewed for the position of Customer Service
Rep. I'd like to inquire about the status of the position
and whether I am still under consideration for the job. I
would appreciate it if you would get back to me today. My
number is 333-999-8888. Thank you for your time."
Be persistent - not a pest
If you don't get a return call as promised, call them and
leave a message. Be prepared, professional, and courteous.
Try to reach the person at least one to three times,
explaining that you want the information before you
consider other positions because this company would be your
first choice. If you don't get an answer, consider it a
"No" answer. There is a fine line between being persistent
and being a pest.
You may get lucky and get a "live" person when you call to
find out your status. If you do have such luck, you can use
this opportunity to ask for feedback on your interviewing
effectiveness. Sometimes, not often, a person will spend
some time and give you advice. If this happens, be grateful
and learn from the experience.
Most employers are aware that candidates are anxious about
the status of their acceptance, and will let them know in a
timely manner. But, there are employers who do keep
candidates waiting and wondering what happened, even though
they said they would call by a certain date. Take this into
consideration as information about the company's practices
and whether you would want to work for this company.
In the meantime, rather than sitting and waiting for that
phone call that may never come, continue to work on your
job search. It is never wise to "put all your eggs in one
basket."
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Carole Martin, America's #1 Interview Expert and Coach, can
give you interviewing tips like no one else can. Practice
for your interview FREE at http://www.interviewcoach.com
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