#66 - How to Handle Silence from Recruiters After an Interview.

"When the Recruiter Doesn't Respond After the Interview, Should I Reach Out or Wait?"

It's frustrating, I know.

In an ideal world, everyone would receive feedback and understand why they were not selected, but reality is different. So, here's a simple hack for you.

At the End of the Interview, Ask:

"When can I expect to hear back about this stage of the process?"

Ask naturally, without pressure, but make sure to ask.

- Scenario 1: The Recruiter Gives You a Deadline

Suppose the recruiter says "7 business days," for example. Great! You have a deadline.

If the eighth day arrives and you haven't heard back, reach out via the channel you've been using (email, WhatsApp, phone call, etc.).

Sample Message (Feel free to adapt):

"Hi [Recruiter's Name],

This is [Your Name]. We had a conversation on [Date] at [Time] for the [Position] at [Company].

As mentioned in the interview, the expected feedback date was yesterday. Since I haven't heard back and understand you might be busy, I wanted to save you some time by sending this message to check on my evaluation in this initial stage.

I remain interested in the position, and if you need any more details or information about my profile, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Have a great day!"

- Scenario 2: The Recruiter Doesn't Give a Feedback Deadline

If the recruiter doesn't provide a specific timeframe, ask anyway:

"I understand there's no defined deadline yet, but based on your experience with similar processes, when would be a good day and time for a follow-up? This will help me organize my schedule."

Then, on the agreed-upon day, send a message.

Remember: Agreements Make Things Clear!

• If the recruiter doesn't respond, wait another week before sending a second email or message.

• Meanwhile, be proactive and continue applying for other positions. If there's no response after two weeks, it's likely you won't receive feedback.

It's disappointing, but life goes on. Sometimes a "no" means a better "yes" is coming.

My Experience: Both Sides of the Table:

• As a candidate, I’ve applied for jobs, faced silence, and felt frustrated, wondering what I did wrong. Being jobless, especially after an unexpected layoff, is tough. I've learned to analyze each interview (I even created a spreadsheet) and look for improvement points for the next one.

• As a Headhunter - some candidates might not know - life is hectic, however, I agree that candidates deserve feedback. From my perspective, candidates are our partners. We want to help them find the best position while also assisting companies in finding the right professional, thus meeting our goals.

The Recruitment Process is Reciprocal

• Remember, while the company evaluates your profile, you also evaluate the company and the offered conditions.
• Don't be afraid to ask questions; the recruiter is not a "monster". But also, don’t bombard them with messages daily.

I hope this helps those starting their professional journey.

See you Next Edition!

Best regards, and take care!

Najla Tirabassi