The Arizona Republic
From July 14, 2002 Print Edition
After the 1st Interview
Follow up, but don’t be a pest
By D.J. Burrough
Special for The Republic
July 14, 2002
Few times in our life move more slowly than the period after a first interview.
The minutes tick slowly by as you wait for that phone call telling you that you’ve got a second interview or, better yet, a new job.
Days pass, maybe a week, and still nothing.
You want to call the hiring manager or the person who interviewed you, but you don’t want to blow your prospects by coming off as some pesky nudge.
In spite of the risks, following up is a good idea, career experts say. It’s a chance to reiterate your abilities and interest in the job, giving you an edge over more complacent competitors.
“Many people believe that once you go into an interview that if they want you they will call you, but that’s not a good way to think of it,” said Kathi Vanyo, the managing consultant in the Phoenix office of Drake Beam Morin, a career management firm.
But you can go too far in your follow-up. Endless calls and e-mails can make you look pushy, dooming any chances you may have had in getting the new job, career experts say.
“You don’t want to be calling them three times a day or even every day,” she said.
Your post-interview tasks should include a short thank-you note and, after a short time, a phone call to the person who is making the hiring decision. If you don’t hear back after the first message, then make a few more well spaced attempts and then let it rest, career experts say.
Your post-interview follow-up should begin in the interview itself, and Kitty McGrath, director of the MBA and Graduate Business Career Management Center at Arizona State University.
“During the first interview you should always ask, ‘When should I expect to hear from you next?’” she said.
Don’t rely on the interviewer to call you. Make the offer at the end of the interview to call that person at the time they said the decision would be made, McGrath said.
Within 24 hours after the first interview, you should have a hand-written thank-you note or e-mail on its way to the interviewer, Vanyo said.
A well-written note gives you another chance to stand out from other applicants, she said.
“You want to hit on those things you discussed and reiterate on how you can solve those problems,” she said.
The note should thank the interviewer for taking the time to talk with you, should talk about how your skills fit perfectly with the company’s needs and your enthusiasm for the position.
Before you initiate the next contact, you should give the interviewer a fair amount of time, especially during the tougher economic times when any job opening attracts hundreds of applicants. Call or e-mail when the interviewer suggested or at one week or even two weeks, career experts say.
Before you make the call, consider what you are going to say to the interviewer or, more likely, what message you will leave. Don’t just blurt out, “I was wondering if you’ve made a decision yet about the position? I need to know; my Visa bill is due.” It’s better to ask, “Where are you in the hiring process?” or, “I’m very interested in the position. Is there anything else I can do to help you make your choice?”
“You want to be energetic,” Vanyo said. “Thank them again for the time you spent.”
Keep you voice message short, just 15 seconds or so, leave a contact number and the best time to reach you, she said.
If you haven’t heard back after leaving a message, make a second call about 24 hours later, Vanyo suggested, and another about a day later. Try calling at a different time to avoid leaving another message.
“If you don’t get them, call again,” she said.
Leave a message similar to your first, and say that you had left a message on an earlier call. Try an e-mail, too, and mention that you called. Don’t show your frustration at not getting a response, she said.
If you haven’t heard anything from the company after three phone call and e-mails, then don’t put any more time into trying to make contact, career experts say.