Bottom line, when you don’t hear back after a job interview, it is because the potential employer is not ready to take the next step with you. The reasons for this are unlimited, so it’s not useful to spend time MSUing (making stuff up) about why. Instead, use these five after-the-interview tips:

1. Assess Your Performance

First, when you leave the interview, make note of how long you were there.

After that, it’s a good idea to wait up to 24 hours to let the experience settle.

Then, review your interview performance and take your learnings. If you don’t feel good about how you answered the interview questions, don’t fall into the trap of criticizing the company. It doesn’t help you to focus on negative thoughts.

2. Keep Your Job Search Rolling

Stay focused on your job search by tracking this performance metric. Continue to find and pursue new job openings. That’s the best action you can take to increase your chance of getting a job offer.

3. Follow Up Every Two Weeks

Send a thank-you note to each person who interviewed you. It can go via email or be a handwritten note. Be sure to use their business cards so you spell their names correctly and get their contact information right (avoid this disaster).

Then, reach out to your primary contact person(s) every two weeks. If you call more often, they’ll feel stalked. Make contact less often and they’ll assume you’ve lost interest.

Call the hiring manager, if you have met him/her, and the recruiter/HR rep on the search. Ask where they’re at in the hiring process. Graciously restate your interest in the position.

Both Human Resources and the hiring manager have tasks to complete in getting to an offer. It’s good for them to visit the status of their search every two weeks. Your calls will make that happen and might get a stalled process moving again.

If you don’t connect on the phone, leave voice mails and send an email addressed to both people.

4. Connect with Administrative Assistants

If you connect with administrative assistants rather than your targets, don’t be upset. Except for making the decision, good AAs can do everything needed to get you hired.

Because of this, an AA might be your best contact. I have seen them take ownership for completing a search more than once (getting interviews scheduled, completing paperwork, etc.). They don’t like telling you there’s no news, so they often take the initiative to keep the process moving forward.

5. Don’t Forget Your Recruiter

If an external recruiter introduced you, be sure to check in with that person and copy him/her on emails.

Accept What You Can & Can’t Control

Follow these after the interview tips. Then, say the Serenity Prayer, and keep on finding and creating more great career options for yourself. You can’t control the behavior of the people inside the company, but you can control your own.

Image: pathdoc

Updated July 2020

© 2010 – 2020, Donna Svei. All rights reserved.