How Soon Should I Follow Up After Nailing a Job Interview?

So you’ve gone through the  job interview process, and you’re feeling good about your chances. Maybe the hiring manager had some promising words after your interview; or, perhaps your skills and experience fit the job description perfectly.

Whatever the case may be, the only thing left to do is to wait for a response telling you if you have the job or not. Unfortunately, even if you nail your job interview and are one of the strongest candidates in the running, this doesn’t mean you should expect to hear back from the hiring manager immediately.

Therein lies the challenge: do you follow up on your end or wait for them to contact you first? If you do follow up, how long should you wait?

Sending a “Thank You” Email

Within 48 hours of your interview, you should send an email to the hiring manager, letting them know how thankful you are for the opportunity and what a pleasure it was to speak with them.

This email should be short and sweet — to avoid coming across desperate or bothersome — however, you should feel free to highlight your qualifications and reiterate the reasons why you would be the best fit for the position.

The Hiring Deadline Has Passed — Now What?

Not every job you interview for will provide a hiring deadline, but if they do it’s important keep this date in mind. If it’s been a few days since the deadline to make a hiring decision has passed, then you have two options:

1. Accept defeat and move on. The likelihood that the company hasn’t moved forward with another candidate is relatively low at this point.
2. Call the hiring manager and get a definitive answer.

It’s important to note that it is not uncommon for companies to extend their hiring deadline. This can happen for a number of reasons. Maybe they want to interview additional candidates or rethink the qualification requirement for the role itself. Whatever the case may be, in these instances, the hiring manager will need more time to make a final decision.

The good news is, you could still very well be in the running for the position. If not, at least you’ll know definitively as opposed to waiting in limbo.

Sending One More Email After Another Week

If the hiring manager didn’t provide a clear answer when you called, or let you know they need more time, then you should wait another week. At that time, without a status update on the position, we recommend sending one final email.

This is when you reiterate how grateful you are to be considered for the position and thank the hiring manager (once again) for their time. Unfortunately, you should be prepared to not receive a reply. While the role could still be up for grabs, it’s likely that the company has decided to hire someone else or — for some reason — has had second thoughts about the position itself and is no longer seeking a candidate to fill it.

Sudden budget cuts and a hiring manager falling ill or taking a vacation are just a few reasons for an extended delay in the recruiting process. If you want to continue to be patient and wait for a response, then feel free. Otherwise, you should continue your job search.

On the bright side, the next role you come across could be a better opportunity. Maybe it offers benefits — 401k, health insurance, remote work, etc. — the original position you interviewed for did not or comes with a higher salary.

You could also have the luxury of choosing between two jobs if the original company finally responds with an offer.

We Offer Free Services For Job Seekers in Texas

As the premier boutique staffing agency in Dallas/Ft. Worth, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston, Texas, we work directly with some of the best companies in the state.

As a result, we can help job seekers land their dream position — whether you’re seeking a role in accounting and finance, investment and strategy, admin and operations, or something in between.

Our services for job seekers in Texas are absolutely free, and include:

• Resume consultation/optimization
• Career consultation
• Direct hire placement
• Compensation and market analysis
• Interview coaching and best practices

What’s more? Your job search is kept confidential and we’ll never send your resume to a company without your permission. Our experts are ready to sit down with you and discuss your career goals in order to come up with an effective strategy to land your next job. Get started by contacting Green Lion Search Group today!

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