Looking for a new job, need advice...

[Dudley]

I had a phone interview last Wednesday for a position really close to my home and it's exactly the type of thing I want (I'd be on a team w/really smart networking people). The interviewer said things went really well and he's interested in bringing me in for an in-person interview. Thing is, I haven't heard back.

So I sent this e-mail to the HR contact:

Hi Sweet HR Lady,

I had my interview with Mike last Wednesday and I thought it went really well. He mentioned that he was going to request that I come in for an in-person interview, but I haven't heard back yet. This isn't usually like me to follow up in an interview process and I apologize if this seems a bit forward, but I'm really interested in the position and think I'd be a great fit. Can you please let me know where I stand in the process?

Thanks,
Dudley

Is this OK or did I just commit candidate suicide?

[Solfy]

It depends. It either makes you stink of desperation, or it shows them that you're a real self-starter who's not afraid to take initiative and develop an action plan.

[Dudley]

Originally Posted by Solfy

It depends. It either makes you stink of desperation, or it shows them that you're a real self-starter who's not afraid to take initiative and develop an action plan.

What does it depend on?

[Solfy]

On the mood of the Sweet HR Lady. Either she's happy because she's just had a nice long holiday weekend, or she's pissed about being back at work. You're at her mercy.

[Dudley]

Well, crap. I probably should've wrote the above here before I sent it. I only want them to think the latter. The wording is too wimpy!

[Veb]

I think you're good (assuming you didn't really call the HR person "sweet lady"). It was a straight forward follow-up and request for where the process stands. You have reason to expect something else to happen, based on what Mike said in the interview. You don't come across as pushy or desperate and in fact I think you'd lose some credibility if you didn't follow up.

[WednesdayAddams]

Originally Posted by Dudley

What does it depend on?

How well the guy liked you and how you came across in the interview.

[Lord Blackmore]

I might have left out:

This isn't usually like me to follow up in an interview process and I apologize if this seems a bit forward, but I'm really interested in the position and think I'd be a great fit.

But I think it's fine as it is. It doesn't seem desperate or aggressive to me.

[Uthrecht]

I don't think it'll necessarily deep-six your chances. At best, it'll create a nudge up the chain and you'll hear back from either HR or the other fellow, who very well might talk about vacation around the weekend and such.

I would agree with tacoloco that I think if you send a request for information in future, you might want to leave off the "This isn't usually like me" part. In this case, it doesn't particularly matter whether you do that normally or not; you're doing it now. No need to present multiple faces. Just let them know that you like the position and the people, and you'd like to hear more. Which is all barn doors and horses, but figured I'd weigh in anyway.

[Dudley]

OK, fair points. Thanks guys! Fingers-crossed!

[Lo-Slung Denim]

I did something similar today, following up on an interview from two weeks ago. Of course, I'm British, so I was very stuffy and overly polite.

Dear bla bla

I am writing to confirm my interest in the above post; I enjoyed meeting you all at the interview and look forward to hearing from you in due course. If there is anything else I need to provide please do let me know.

Kind regards

Bla bla

I got the advice on what to say from my dad, who is 32 years older than me and therefore 32 years stuffier. Yay

[ASAKMOTSD]

Speaking as one who has been "lost" in a recruiting process before, I think you should ALWAYS follow up with the contact that is responsible for coordinating everything because they get left in the dark as well. In this case, it sounds like the HR Lady is your coordination contact. I would have sent a note within minutes of hanging up the phone with Mike, saying "I just had a great conversation with Mike and he tells me the next step is to come in for a meeting. Can you let me know when that is scheduled?"

[Roo]

Good luck, Dudley! I hope you hear positive news soon.

[Dudley]

Thanks Roo!

[DogMom]

Yes, ALWAYS follow up.
And, advice from my Speech / Drama coach that applies: never tell them "I don't usually do this". It doesn't matter what you usually do, it only matters what you're doing now.

[Tipsy Imperial Concubine]

Always send a thank you/follow up after an interview. Shows interest, confidence, social skills, etc. I think you're fine. As others mentioned it could have been worded a bit differently, but I don't think it's a dealbreaker by any means. I would put it in the plus column.

Got my fingers crossed for you!

[threnody]

I think it's fine. I always email prospective employers to let them know I can do the job and I'm keen after an interview.

[Jaglavak]

Deer HR dude:

Yore cat is very purdy. He has purdy fur. I bet that would make a good hat. Or mebbe a shammy. Gee, I sure hope I get that job.
Best,

Dudley

[nonny too]

I think follow up emails are fine, especially the kind that recap the interview and affirm your interest in the position.

That said, if you were interviewed Wednesday and it was a long weekend, there have only been a few working days since your phone interview.

In many companies it isn't reasonable to expect them to have got through all the phone interviews and be scheduling in person interviews on that kind of time frame.

They should have given you a time line for when you can expect to hear from them, but when they don't I'd probably wait a little longer in future before any kind of "what's happening" contact - mostly because it might be perceived as enthusiastic if you do it once, but "pushy" and unable to work within their culture if you do it a second time (if they're slow getting back to you following an in-person interview).

I'd also be careful about comments to HR like "Mike said...". What Mike said to you and what he wrote up could be two entirely different things. Good interviewers are extremely skilled at making you feel at ease and confident and minutes after the interview filing a written report which puts you out of contention (especially if they aren't the ones who have to tell you that your won't be progressing further).

It's unlikely that you've done any irreparable damage, but do keep in mind that anything which marks you as "high maintenance" during the recruitment process can work against you getting the job no matter how well qualified you are.

[blank]

I think you did the right thing- It shows that you are committed to getting the job. Good luck mate.

[Dudley]

Cool beans. She replied that she was out of the office Thursday and Friday due to the holiday weekend and is just getting back into the swing of things today. She then asked the dreaded "please tell me your salary requirements."

I wrote:

Dear girl! I believe I do require a Rolls Royce at my disposal along with a plethora of evening ladies and several barrels of undisturbed cocaine. My demands aren't impossible, to be sure, but they are not negotiable. Good day, madame.

Jeez, I hope I didn't go too far! Fingers crossed!

[Nebelhund]

You didn't ask for enough. See if you can tack on extra vacation days and 30 minutes paid "me time" a day.

[bufftabby]

Originally Posted by Nebelhund

You didn't ask for enough. See if you can tack on extra vacation days and 30 minutes paid "me time" a day.

Say there...know of anywhere 'round these parts with a sweet benefits package like that? Inquiring minds, and all...

[Nebelhund]

I'm an IT guy in a smallish, private, profitable company. Our IT group is like a bunch of HS kids...with a credit card. Good pay and good benefits, plus a lot of fun. ;-)

My wife thinks all I do is watch youtube videos and play pranks on each other. There is some truth to it, but that is not all we do of course.


Our entry level guy, lvl 1 help desk, would come to work early to beat traffic, and sleep in his car in the parking lot. The women in the accounting office assumed he was homeless and had a clothes drive for him. Now he just takes naps during lunch hour, its still called his "me time".

[bufftabby]

If you ever get an applicant who claims to have an advanced degree in cracking wise, well, put in a good word for me, would ya?

[Scruff]

Originally Posted by Dudley

Cool beans. She replied that she was out of the office Thursday and Friday due to the holiday weekend and is just getting back into the swing of things today. She then asked the dreaded "please tell me your salary requirements."

I usually answer that one (on the first pass) with "Well, there is no upper limit."

[Dudley]

Originally Posted by Scruff

I usually answer that one (on the first pass) with "Well, there is no upper limit."

Heh, I've been cute with HR people before when I didn't really care if I got the job or not. This time honestly I really want this gig and I'm being as straightforward and nice as possible. No jokes.

Something else happened since yesterday that's strangely liberating... I got a personal cell phone last night (an Android for those curious) and I swapped my personal phone number off my work phone onto the new phone. I'm going to keep it pretty quiet at work (I'll answer the work calls on the Android), but it's just a part of planning the exit. One less hook the company has in me.