Have a question about finding, landing or succeeding at internships or entry-level jobs? E-mail them to entrylevelexaminer@gmail.com to be included in an upcoming “Ask Heather.”
Q: I turned in my application two weeks ago and haven’t heard anything. Does that mean they aren’t interested in me?
A: First, let’s take a step back. I always recommend including the following sentence in the final paragraph of your cover letter: “If I do not hear from you beforehand, I will follow-up in one week.” Then, of course, the key is to actually do it! Some suggestions can be found in this article.
Also, I always tell students the hiring process takes time. Just because a position is posted online doesn’t mean the organization is ready to hire immediately. I’ve had this happen to me several times before—where I turned in my application and didn’t receive an interview request until I’d already started at my new job. My younger brother, a December 2008 graduate, didn’t believe me that it could possibly take that long until he applied to a position in January and received a phone interview request a full three months later. During the hiring process, patience truly is a virtue.
So, just because they haven’t gotten back to you yet doesn’t mean you’re not still in the running. I think it’s important you don’t get caught up in a “but it’s the perfect job for me” mentality. How can you truly know that until you’ve been through the hiring process and asked a few questions of your own? Just like some candidates look great on paper and don’t end up working out, the same goes for organizations. Keep that in mind.
Q: I just had an interview and wanted to know the best way to follow-up. How long should I wait?
A: One of the keys here, just like during the application process, is to state your intention to follow-up during the interview by asking, “What are the next steps in the hiring process, and when and how should I follow-up?” This way, you know if there will be yet another interview and/or when the organization expects to make its decision. Of course, other than sending a thank you note within 24 hours via e-mail and a shorter, handwritten note via snail mail, you should not contact the organization again until the date they gave you.
As far as the best way to follow-up, I don’t recommend calling—it is unexpected and disrupts the hiring manager’s day—nor do I recommend merely “checking on the status of the position.” Make each and every point of contact with the organization meaningful. Some suggestions are included in this article.
Q: How do you know if your following up is too overbearing?
A: I know it’s hard, but do not follow-up more often than every seven to 10 days. Believe it or not, hiring managers are insanely busy people, and the position you applied for is likely not the only position they are trying to fill at that very moment.
I believe in the courtesy of getting back to each and every candidate, even if it’s just a form letter telling you what great qualifications you have but they decided to go with another applicant. But, this won’t always happen.
I once applied for a job, went through three rounds of interviews and they called all my references. I thought for sure I was getting the offer—until I saw the job listed again in the Washington Post. I sent a polite e-mail thanking the hiring manager for the opportunity to interview with them, noting I had seen the job ad and deduced they hadn’t found the right candidate yet. She e-mailed me back almost immediately saying she was “just about to call me.” Devastated at the time, I realized afterward she had done me a favor, despite what I still believe to be rude behavior. The job wasn’t a good fit, and I would have been unhappy. That’s an important lesson going back to my comment about being too concentrated on landing one job in particular and being too disappointed when it doesn’t work out.
The point is this: You eventually need to reach a point where you no longer follow-up and just wait and see what happens. Again, I know that’s hard to hear, but you need to keep your sanity in check, too. Continue networking and applying to other places and you will land something eventually. (A second point: Too much follow-up could make you appear desperate and cost you the job anyway.)
Q: How do I follow-up with an organization once they’ve made me an offer? Is there a protocol for accepting and rejecting? Do I call or send an e-mail?
A: There definitely is a protocol for both, explained in this article. Rejecting an offer in the wrong way might burn a bridge. As far as the second part of the question, I recommend calling to verbally confirm and following up with an e-mail so your decision is recorded in writing—no matter if you decide to take the job or not. They’ve extended an opportunity to you, so the courtesy thing to do is discuss your decision with them.
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