Don't Sweat The Interview Process

You’ve just finished interviewing for a job with a panel of interviewers including the hiring manager. Whew! Hopefully you go home and send off a great thank you note and celebrate how great you did. Then…

Nothing. 

Silence. 

All you can think about is what happened? 

Tip #13 – Don’t try to control the timing or interview process

The interview process is different for every job and every company. Some companies do one interview and make a hire. Some companies have multiple panels of interviews or bring you back to the company numerous times to meet with a lot of people. The process for each company is just that, the process. Be happy you are in it! Now you have to engage in it successfully.

Timely Response – When a recruiter reaches out via phone or email, the recruiter will gauge your interest by how fast you respond. If you are working full time, you need to check your voicemail and personal email during the day. Recruiters will want to set up time for the initial “screening call” to determine if you have basic skills for the role, sound articulate, and would be a good culture fit for the company. Or, perhaps you already screened with the recruiter after being found on LinkedIn and the recruiter asks you for your resume or for available times to talk to the hiring manager. Responding within 24 hours shows motivation and interest in the role.

Ghosting – There is nothing worse than interviewing for a job with either the recruiter or a hiring manager and never hearing another word. Sometimes ghosting even happens when you’ve interviewed with a panel of people including the hiring manager. While it would be nice to have closure, unfortunately, if a company is not interested (and doesn’t care about the candidate experience), you may not hear another word. What did you do wrong? The reason for the silence could be your initial screen didn’t go as well as you thought, the panel interviews didn’t go as well as you believed or it could have nothing to do with you. Sometimes headcount gets reallocated to another role or the job has changed or the hiring manager went on vacation or the recruiter went on vacation. So, do you just let it go?

Checking in – Checking in is painless and you may receive a response. But don’t have expectations. Any company which is still interested in a candidate will keeping the candidate warm, meaning, the recruiter is reaching out to the candidate regularly with updates via phone or email or just to check in and let the candidate know that the company is still very interested. So, if you are checking in with the expectation that you are probably not the #1 candidate or because you know you aren’t at the top and the check in would bring closure, then by all means check in. Also, you may be the runner up and the #1 candidate may not work out. The job is not filled until the candidate arrives on site for his/her first day of work. 

#2 – Not getting an offer and coming in "Number 2" can feel like failure. But, it’s not. It’s actually amazing to be #2 because you made it that far in the process. It’s not always about what you could have done better in the interview process. Sometimes someone else has the exact relevant skills for the role and you are using more transferable skills. Or sometimes the candidate chosen has worked in the same industry and you are changing industries. The one thing you want to understand when you didn’t get the role is could there be future opportunities at the company. 

Ask for feedback - Usually asking for feedback from the recruiter can help bring closure, but not all recruiters will provide it. Some recruiters may use the generic, “It just wasn’t a right fit.” There’s a good chance you may never be a right fit for that company. But sometimes you get a little nugget of information such as, “You didn’t present enough data points to show how you use data.” That’s feedback you can then use in the next interview at the next company. Finally, you may learn the company simply hired someone who has the perfect skills for that particular role, but you are a great fit. Then it’s a matter of time before the right role may come along for you at that particular company.

Keeping in Touch - Every time you talk with a recruiter and/or people on the interview panel, you need to send a thank you email. Even after being rejected. Back in the day when we used to send thank you notes via snail mail and then there was an awkward period of time over the past ten years when people didn’t know whether to send a snail mail thank you or the email. Email is just fine. It’s fast and not nearly as “informal” as it used to feel just a few years ago. Thank you notes an interview after should first thank the person for their time. Mention one to three things discussed at the meeting and why you are perfect fit for the role. Also, after interviewing with a panel of interviewers, if the recruiter is not around, you should call the recruiter to debrief about the interviews. If you were rejected, one final email to the recruiter thanking the recruiter and company for their time ends the relationship in a healthy way.

When to give up – When a company is not getting back to you and/or you were told you’re not moving forward to the next round with no explanation, there’s a good chance you will never work for that company. Companies have “cultures” and being a culture fit is just as important as a skills and competency fit. You can’t change who you are and some cultures will be perfect for you and some won’t be. Only the interview panel knows whether you would fit in the culture and there is not much you can do to change that. Always be yourself. It wouldn’t be good for you to “fake” a way into a company and then you are miserable as well.

When you get the offer! – You have three options, accept immediately or say you want to review it with a spouse or say you want to think about it. Taking a minute to contemplate the offer will not result in the offer being rescinded. Making a job move is a big deal. Take a minute and think about it. Are there any outstanding questions about the compensation package and benefits? Do you understand how much paid time off you will have in the role? Do you know how long the commute is and does that matter? Just because you made it to the finish line doesn’t mean you are done. Think about how every aspect of your life will change with this new job. And then decide if you want to change jobs.

He/She said yes! YOU GOT A NEW JOB! Whoo hoo for you!

It’s not over – Now you have to provide a start date. Some people go right from one job to the next. If you are financially able to take a few days off, do it. Clearing your head of your old role will set you up for success for the new role.  

The interview process may be over but now the real ride begins.

Next week: Reference Checks