Peter Fitzgerald is chronicling his process of navigating from losing his job to a new and brighter tomorrow. To read other posts from the series, see “Job Transition: A CareerSherpas’ Odyssey”.
I had a good phone screen this morning followed by a strange and disjointed “video interview” process with a recruiting company.
I can see how the video interview concept could be very useful. It gives the hiring manager the opportunity to see their candidates and put a “live” face to a resume. On the flip side it feels like you’re coming into a video dating service. Admittedly mine was a bit less organized than it should have been since one set of questions wasn’t available beforehand, but even taking that into account it stands out as one of the stranger pieces I’ve gone in for in this search. I fully admit that it made me more nervous than it probably should have, but it didn’t help that my voice kept cracking in mid sentence.
The phone screen, by comparison, was a relaxing experience. I find it engaging to be able to connect with a person, to really understand where they’re coming from, and to share how I fit into their puzzle. It helps that it seems it went well.
I’m ending the day following up with people who haven’t gotten back to me. Not the most fun of exercises, but definitely important if any of those opportunities are going to go anywhere. Dealing with a lack of communication tends to be a delicate matter.
If you’re dealing with a recruiter, it can mean a lot or it can mean nothing. Given the recruiters I’ve worked with in my career, the initial recruiter responses generally fall into a handful of categories, which says a lot about how you should be able to follow up:
- “I’m really excited to meet you, but I don’t have a good fit right now.” In this case, following up isn’t too hard, but it’s highly unlikely that they’ll call you. This might also come along with the message that you should keep in touch. The good news here is that following up once a week is a great way to be top of mind when a good fit shows up.
- “I’m thinking this would be a good fit, but it isn’t in your sweet spot.” Often when submitted for these kinds of positions it’s a hit or miss type of arrangement. If you hit, it moves fairly rapidly. If you miss, you may never hear from this recruiter again. No harm in following up, but don’t push too hard.
- “I’ve got these positions that look like good fits for you, which ones do you think make sense?” Personally, I like this response. It shows that you have someone who thinks they can place you and is looking to see (and even interested in) where you want to be. Not hearing from someone in this case is usually not a bad thing and probably means that the process at the hiring company is moving slowly. Checking in periodically and asking what sort of time frame you’re looking at probably will give a pretty clear idea on what to expect.
- “I’ll let you know if something comes up that looks like a match.” This would be my least favorite response. In my experience it’s roughly equivalent to saying “I’m putting you on the shelf.” Recruiters take note, this is a real put-off and doesn’t come across as being as nice as you think it does. A better option would be to suggest that the candidate call you after some specified time period to follow up. In any case, checking in no more than once a week is probably wise.
In each case the odds of you actually getting a call back if there isn’t a direct submission in play are pretty much zip, but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t touch base periodically. Giving yourself a shot at being top of mind when the right role comes along never hurts.
If you’re dealing with someone you’ve applied directly to it gets a bit trickier. In this case it’s all about who your contact for the position is and being judicious about how you approach them. Gauging how frequently and by what means you should follow up with someone is a very delicate balancing act. You don’t want to over-do it and appear pushy (or desperate), but you do need to know what’s going on.
The most direct and honest approach is usually the best: Just ask.
You’re trying to prevent yourself from being a pest here. So asking up front what kind of time line the company’s process works on and if, when and how you should follow up allows the other person to set the rules that suit them. Particularly if you’re talking to the hiring manager, it doesn’t hurt to show initiative in meeting their needs.
Get in there, follow up, and make every check in a positive experience for you and whoever is on the other end of the line. Whether they’re a recruiter, internal human resources representative or hiring manager it’s worth the effort – so long as you aren’t pestering them!
Peter Fitzgerald is the founder of CareerSherpas.com and is currently working on his first book, looking for a new day job, connecting individuals with ideas and opportunities, and attempting to learn the bagpipes.
