Following up on interview

leah123_2

Had an interview last Friday for a Finance job and the interview I felt went well and I felt I fitted the job really well and that the company gave a really good insight into it and what they expected from the successful candidate and I had most of the things they were looking for.

The interviewer said they would be in touch by the middle of the week and that they were interviewing all day Friday. I also sent a thank-you email after interview to both HR and the interviewer but as of today I haven't heard back?

Would it be wise to either phone or email and ask if I was successful or is this a bit intrusive?.

Sammyantha

In this situation I've always sent off a friendly email thanking them again for their time in interviewing me and explaining how enjoyable the experience was. I'd summarise in a short paragraph the points I made at interview about why I'd be the best person for the job, and elaborate on any points I feel i missed which could have gone in my favour. Then finish by saying how much I look forward to their response.

Always, always, always follow up. Not following up shows you can't close a deal/ too timid/ not bothered.

Good luck

dickydonkin

Sammyantha;39006198]
Always, always, always follow up. Not following up shows you can't close a deal/ too timid/ not bothered.

They have told the OP they would contact him therefore by 'following up' may be perceived as not being able to understand a simple message and may be deemed as being pushy.

Asking for feedback however, should always be carried out if the candidate has been unsuccessful - whether you get any is a different matter!

Sammyantha

dpassmore wrote: »

They have told the OP they would contact him therefore by 'following up' may be perceived as not being able to understand a simple message and may be deemed as being pushy.

Asking for feedback however, should always be carried out if the candidate has been unsuccessful - whether you get any is a different matter!

Never in my experience. However it's always wise to act based on the feeling you got from the company/ interviewer and what the role is actually for. Not following up means you are doing nothing to fight your corner should the decision already have been made. An email or call reiterating the positive points from the interview/ of your cv/ points not already made that could help, could well sway the decision and turn it in your favour.

leah123_2

After the interview I reiterated why I would be suitable for the job etc in my follw-up email but have heard nothing back from the company not even an email to acknowledge they received my thank - you email so don't think thats a good sign.

MrRedundant

I have to say I find the follow up thing a stupid HR/motivational thing that in reality has little bearing in most modern companies or recruitment processes. Its becoming increasingly common for decisions to be made on a set matrix.

Yes occasionally it may work but generally speaking I think yes seek feedback but following up is not likely to work in the vast majority of cases unless the companies has a pretty informal recruitment process and is struggling to appoint.

dickydonkin

Not following up means you are doing nothing to fight your corner should the decision already have been made.

Well if the decision has been made - it has been made - so what is the point of 'fighting ones corner' when the fight has already been lost? I suspect that when an appointment has been filled following an interview, any phone call from unsuccessful candidates is not going to change a thing.

You have the chance at interview (or a second if you are lucky) to sell yourself and any subsequent appointment will be based on that - not by a telephone call some days later.

blackaqua

After being in a similar situation, I think its only fair if you know or not.

They may be taking a while to decide or more likely (unfortunately) waiting for another applicant to respond to an offer before letting people know (if they reject you may be 2nd etc)

If you ring the hr contact and say that you have other offers to consider(?), however as this is your first choice you would appreciate if they have any better idea of when they will know.

Sammyantha

dpassmore wrote: »

Well if the decision has been made - it has been made - so what is the point of 'fighting ones corner' when the fight has already been lost? I suspect that when an appointment has been filled following an interview, any phone call from unsuccessful candidates is not going to change a thing.

You have the chance at interview (or a second if you are lucky) to sell yourself and any subsequent appointment will be based on that - not by a telephone call some days later.

that's where you're very, VERY wrong! You can't win them all, that's for sure. But what you can do, is remain optimistic, and be persistent. I would never have worked for the top 100 co I had my eye on for years if I hadn't done exactly this. The telephone interviewer had already made up their mind not to put me forward ;p

Now working in recruitment, I see exactly what works and does not. Following up can be the best thing you ever do. And b doing so, you won't have lost a thing!

I agree in this case it doesn't sound promising as you already sent an email to which they didn't reply. Personally though, I'd send another email, reiterating your initial points, explaining that you understand by now the position has already been filled, but thanking them again for their time, and requesting that they keep your information on file for future reference as their company strikes you as an ideal fit for your skill set and ambitions.

If you don't get this one though, please don't be disheartened. Just use it as a learning curve and up your game for the next interview

dickydonkin

Sammyantha wrote: »

that's where you're very, VERY wrong!

I agree in this case it doesn't sound promising as you already sent an email to which they didn't reply.

Well make your mind up then! This battle is apparently lost (your prognosis) - so fighting ones corner is a seemingly futile exercise in this case. So I'm not that 'very VERY wrong' am I?

No doubt in you vast experience in recruitment and working for top 100 companies, you possibly could have seen examples where this tactic may have worked - I am not disputing that - but by the same token, for the majority of cases following up an interview (in particular where a panel has been involved), phoning the company post interview (other than requesting feedback if unsuccessful) will make no difference whatsoever to the outcome.

As I alluded to earlier, if an interview panel has informed the candidate about the method of contact -the candidate should respect that -disregarding a simple instruction may be construed as a negative trait of the candidate i.e. 'We told you what would happen but you ignored us'.

When one actually contacts a company following an interview, the majority of times in larger organisations, the point of contact will be a HR member of staff who may not have even been involved with the interview.

That person alone or even an individual who participated in the process can in no way influence or change a decision that has already been made by others.

steve1980

Not sure what part of the country you're in but it has been snowing this week.