The Best (And Worst) Ways To Break Through The Silence After A Job Interview

Hello? Is this thing still on?

You’ve been sailing through the process since you got that first email from the headhunter. Their client – your potential new employer – loved your resume. Your interviews knocked everyone right off their heels. Your references raved about you. And the hiring manager is the boss of your dreams. It’s gone so smoothly. You can see the finish line now… In fact, you’ve been staring at that finish line for a while now. Days have turned into weeks. And the silence has been more than deafening. It’s been crazy making.

The waiting game is an agonizing one. And the longer it goes on, it’s only natural that questions and self-doubt can begin to creep into your psyche. What’s going on? Where’d everybody go? Have I just been dumped? How rude are they? Before you let these paranoid thoughts leak into anything you say (out loud or in writing) to the recruiter or hiring manager, let me share a few helpful thoughts with you.

First, come on back to reality, now. If your recruiter shared strong, positive feedback with you after each round of interaction with the employer (and if you’ve followed up each interview with a well-crafted thank you email), you’re a contender. If you’ve been told you’re a finalist, then you’re a finalist. A few days – or even several weeks – of silence do not mean that you’ve suddenly fallen off of anyone’s radar. It means that they’ve heard and seen everything they need from you in order to make their decision. And now they’re making it. Unfortunately for you, the decision-making phase can be lengthy, cumbersome, and silent to the outside world. And the bigger the organization, the longer it can take.

Should you reach out? Yes. But be sure you follow these few, simple rules before you start typing (or dialing).

1. Don’t dial that phone

You need answers. And you won’t have many opportunities to ask for them. It’s tempting to pick up the phone and make a conversation happen. But that’s highly unlikely. Remember, the recruiter and hiring manager are busy working on the rest of their job. You are not the center of their universe. Even if you luck out and they actually pick up their phone, they won’t have your information at their fingertips. So you may end up with a less than reassuring response. Rolling to voicemail has its own challenges, too. It’s hard to buff the edges of anxiety, impatience, and irritation out of our own voices. This is not the time to come off as needy, whiny or demanding. So don’t risk it.

2. Send an email

This is another opportunity for you shine – not whine. And with email, you have a trail of correspondence that makes it easier for you and the recruiter stay on top of updates. Just write a brief, straightforward note that rings with optimism. Identify the specific job title for which you’re interviewing. Refer to your last communication, including the date and a brief summary of what you were told. Restate your interest in the position, your respect for the employer organization, and your belief that you’re a great fit. Then ask for an update. After you’ve written a good, solid draft, hang onto it. Sleep on it. Review it again the next day and be sure to remove even the slightest hints of a passive aggressive tone. Remember, you want to reinforce the message that working with you is easy, uplifting and successful. You should be able to do all of that in just a few short sentences. “Good morning, Dave, I’m checking in on the Financial Analyst 3 position with ABC Company. When we spoke on January 3, you mentioned that I was one of two finalists for the position and that Janet Smith, the hiring manager, would be making a final decision shortly. I’m very interested in joining ABC as their Financial Analyst and would be very happy to provide any additional information you or Janet might need. If you have any updates for me on this position, I would appreciate it.”

3. Stick to the 3 P’s: Professional, Poised and Positive

Let me put this another way: you’d be surprised at how many candidates trip over their own feet in the home stretch. While it’s wise to try to control the message by using email instead of the phone, you should still expect to receive calls from the recruiter. And those calls may come in when you’re not feeling your professional best. What do you? You pick up the phone with a smile in your voice and you take in whatever news you get with courtesy and dignity. If you’re still in the running, great! “Thank you for letting me know. Is there any additional information I can provide to help make the decision easier?” If you’re getting a rejection, don’t burn any bridges with an angry outburst. Your recruiter is not your mom or your best friend or your drinking buddy. Keep your tone, word choices, and expectations well within the boundaries of a professional relationship. “Thank you for letting me know. Of course, I’m disappointed but I learned a lot about ABC Company that only reinforced my desire to join the organization. I hope you’ll keep me in mind when future opportunities arise.” If the vision and values of the organization match yours and if the people you’ve met have treated you professionally and courteously, don’t blow it now. Your offer is probably on its way. If not for this job, then for one that’s an even better fit.

I hope that these tips for post-interview follow-up have been helpful. If you're reading this post, chances are you're ready to craft your own follow-up email right now. Don't hesitate to check in with your recruiter as well, for additional follow up tips.

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