Have you ever had an amazing interview at an amazing company? From the moment you entered the building, it was unbelievable, the interior looked cute, the employees were enthusiastically buried in work and the coffee points were filled with friendly chatter. To sweeten the deal, the interview was going absolutely great.
It was going great right up to the moment you heard those dreadful words “I'll get back to you”. Like a dagger right into your heart, it created a certain sense of disappointment and disbelief, and after that moment you lost all hope for work in that company.
Such speculation is wrong; there is no need to fall victim to these kinds of extremes. This phrase is used all the time, and people get the jobs they were applying for even after hearing this “horrible” phrase. The thing is that the “getting back” cliché can have a lot of different meanings apart from the polite euphemism for “No, we don’t want to employ you.” Here are a few possibilities:
- The company is still interviewing other candidates and has to consider all of them thoroughly before making a decision;
- The HR manager has to review your references and licensure/certification before giving you a clear answer;
- The recruiter may have to talk over the possibility of your employment with the employers before any action towards your employment can be done.
These are just some possible options, all of which don’t deny the chance of your employment. If you yourself were on the receiving end of the aforementioned phrase, then this is not a time to become depressive and/or indulge in panic. Instead of just being eaten up with the anxiety of waiting to hear back after an interview, you can take a proactive role in your own hiring process.
Don’t let yourself be in the dark after the job interview
You might be wondering how can one influence the hiring process after one has been to an interview and the decision is left to the employer, but there actually are a few ways applicants can improve their chances. And you can too!
Right after the interview and the phrase you can casually ask your recruiter “Would you be so kind to tell when I should expect to hear from you?” Trying to get an approximate date will alleviate your sufferings a bit and will put you in a good light because you are not putting any pressure on your interviewer.
If you miss the moment to ask your recruiter about the time ramifications, then you should contact them by email but mention that you forgot this right after the interview.
Here’s how to respond to a recruiter after the fact
Besides the inquiry, you can write a follow-up letter. What is a follow-up letter? It is a vital form of communications, for example, after a good business meeting, a great business contact, or more importantly for us after a job interview.
This way you can show your continuing interest in the employment possibility. There are a few paramount things you should include in your letter. Firstly, you should express gratitude for the interview and their consideration by saying something along the lines of “Thanks for reaching out to me…” Also, you should remind who you are, tell the reader why you are writing the letter and add the detail you forgot to mention in the initial interview.
Do not annoy the human resource manager
Surely you have to show your dedication and keep yourself in their sights but do not go overboard with this task! It is crucial. Of course, you should show your interest by asking for a status update through a letter, or trying to connect with the possible employers through a professional online networking sites, like LinkedIn but there is a fine line between being proactive and being a nuisance.
When trying to reach and/or replying to a recruiter it is essential not to be pushy and obnoxious. Definitely do not be passive aggressive in your speech and don’t go out of your way to reach the employer. For example, trying to find personal social media pages of recruiters/HRs is a bad move. As is spamming them with hundreds of emails.
This effort requires a sensible approach, if you have not received any kind of a reply or acknowledgment, then you should face the truth and continue your job hunt. There is no sense in belaboring the same point over and over.
“We will get back to you” is not the end of the world
In the end, you have to stay patient on your journey to employment. Sadly, this is an unpleasant experience and you can make it easier for yourself only by so much. The recruiting process hinges on many factors that are definitely not under your control. So the utmost important thing is to persevere in striving to obtain a job. According to various surveys, 73% of job seekers report feeling stressed, so I propose substituting your anxiety with the constant process of job hunt itself.
