Ever waited around for weeks after a job interview wondering if the job had been filled? Don’t worry, I have too. It’s more common than you think. But the true dilemma is knowing what to do. Do you call them, email them, or keep waiting? What’s the protocol for following up after an interview?
Fortunately, I was able to use some tips that 
helped me follow up after my job interview and they got the ball rolling again. Unfortunately, there’s not an easy, proven strategy to this dilemma. But there are some ways to follow up without seeming pushy or unprofessional:
1. Write a thank you email. There is an art to this if you’re actually seeking to follow up on the hiring process. Instead of simply thanking your interviewer for their time, ask if there’s anything else they need from you or if they have any additional questions. Offering more information opens the door for two-way communication again.
Note: To be honest, a real thank you note is much nicer. But if you’re trying to gauge the timeline of the hiring process, a follow up email is quicker and will also be easier to respond to.
2. If you were told you’d hear back by a certain day, it’s okay to send a brief inquiry. It’s likely that hiring for the open position was pushed back or perhaps your interviewer had other things on his or her plate that week. It’s happen to me before — and it turned out my interviewer had been slammed at work. He needed me to come in for a second round of interviews, but scheduling it hadn’t been a priority. Did my inquiry remind the interviewer he still needed to hire someone? Who knows, but it got the ball rolling again.
3. Don’t push it. The worst thing you can do is be pushy when following up after a job interview. If you’ve already sent a thank you note and a follow up email, don’t send a third inquiry. Use your best judgement on following up. An inquiry may not be necessary at all.
4. Skip the wait and ask what the next steps are in the hiring process before leaving the job interview! The best advice I can give is to avoid the waiting game if at all possible. This is a question job seekers consistently forget to ask during an interview — and it’s okay to ask about the hiring timeline. Hiring should be a transparent process, so before you get stuck without communication for a month, ask at the interview. Your interviewer will likely be able to share their hiring timeline.
How long have you waited to hear back after a job interview?
