Workplace Challenges
Burning questionsQ: I had a great interview, and expected to hear back from the person who interviewed me within a couple of days (that's what they said in the interview). It has been a week now. Should I phone them? SHANNON JACKSON |
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 [ 2004-04-14 ] |
A: Absolutely. It is great that you got clarification in the interview of the next steps and timeline. It is acceptable to contact the interviewer the day after they said they'd be in touch with you to inquire about the status of the position.
It's important to make sure you are professional and not accusatory in your approach. A call that says, "I really enjoyed our meeting last week, and wanted to call to inquire about the status of the position, and offer any further information that may support my candidacy" reiterates your interest, while not blaming the interviewer for not keeping their follow-up commitment.
Looking for a nice follow-up touch that sets you apart from the competition? Send the interviewer a "thank you" greeting card after your meeting. In the card, thank the interviewer for their time, and make note of something particularly intriguing about the role.
I have conducted well over 2,000 interviews in the last six years, and have received about a dozen cards. Each of these cards were pinned to my bulletin board, and I can name the candidates who sent them, several months later.
(Shannon Jackson is the national recruitment manager for Manpower Services Inc. www.manpower.ca)
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