Following Up The Job Employment Interview Process
Author: Kirk W. Nobbe
After interviewing for a job offer you may well be sitting pretty waiting for that precious phone call – yes or no being the answer. Can you speed up the process without causing trouble? After all you do want that job and its income yet do not want to reduce your chances of employment by being seen as over aggressive or a trouble maker to begin with.
In times of high employment rates, with corresponding low unemployment rates, following up your direct mail campaign letters, or post interview outcome is generally not necessary. Generally no more than two or three days after your interview you will be besieged by more phone calls than if you asked for quotes for a new car from a number of auto dealerships. In times of high employment rates, when workers are almost impossible to come by you will receive job offers and / or requests for interviews for as soon as humanely possible.
In a not so demanding job environment your follow up phone call should put you in direct touch with the person who can give your answers- in the case of the interview – did you or did you not get the job. In cases , where you are earlier in the process – that is you have sent out letters , the process is the same – only your end goal is to get that job employment interview.
If events are perfect the person at the other end of the phone call will recognize your name immediately, would you give immediate action as well as positive assurance. You would well hear such phrases as “ We would like to offer you the position”, or in the case of setting up a job employment interview of “Yes , we have received your letter and are more than interested in you joining our organization. When can you come in for an interview?” Better yet would be “We would like to arrange this quickly (or promptly)”.
However in the real world of 2008, along with modern high tech business communication tools and procedures you may well receive the following. Either you receive the person’s voice mail (Press 1, press 2, leave a message after the tone, x will get back to you quickly) or the person’s assistant may answer the phone, ask what it is that you want, and explain that the firm had received the letter, events are in process, or that your material has been placed on file. Worse yet you may well receive the relevant party on the phone but either the authority figure at the gate is too busy to talk to you know, may not remember your case, or may remember your situation but expresses no interest at the moment.
What to do in these situations? After all you want the job but do not want to push too hard when you run into resistance, or indeed apathy. Of course rejection and slowness in the job prospect and employment game is only to be expected. How and to what degree do you follow up?
First of all if you receive voice mail follow the prompts and procedures and leave the information as requested in the phone message. It is best to leave your name, phone number and a brief message indicate that you will be following up and calling again. You can follow up this voice mail, and show your level of professionalism and thoroughness by following up by email as well as fax or letter.
If an assistant answers the phone, recognize that this person may not be a small cog in the wheel but rather a “gatekeeper”. This person and their role are significant.
Appreciate this and you may well get through the door and hurdle of the process. Explain yourself and answer questions in a clear up front manner. Appreciate the role and responsibility of the gate keeper. Her boss may be more than busy. Most people including the gate keepers take their jobs more than seriously and perceive that they are doing an indispensable job. You may ask the gatekeeper for their help in getting you the information or arranging an interview.
Lastly if you are lucky enough to have the actual person answer then introduce yourself as quickly as possible, explain why you are calling and ask if the person has a moment to spare. Ask if follow has proceeded. Then wait for your answer.