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How long do you wait after the job interview?

Amasov

Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
So last week I had a job interview that went really well. It was probably the best interview I ever had. Everyone I met with was unbelievably nice and made the atmosphere so warm and welcoming. So after meeting for about an hour and a half, the interviewer had told me that if I didn't hear from him in a week (because he told me ahead of time that the place was about to get insanely busy), to reach out and contact him.

Now initially, before our meeting was set up, we had some email problems. They reached out to me and asked if I still wanted to be considered role, after they disclosed some additional information. I told them I still wanted to be considered. Over the course of the new few weeks, I keep getting the same email message from them -- again, asking if I wanted to be considered for it. I kept responding that I did each time. Finally, after the fourth email, I realized, they're clearly not getting my answers, so I picked up the phone and called them up to verbally tell them my response. I was glad I did and I think I was lucky they kept emailing me. They could have brushed it off as me not being interested immediately, because they weren't receiving my responses.

I finally reached them, we had a quick chat over the phone, then I get another email a day or two later asking me if I would like to come in for an interview. So, not wanting to have the same thing repeat itself, I called them up and left them a voicemail telling them I would like to come in. So, as I said above, interview went well. I liked them and they liked me.

So yesterday was the one week mark. I didn't hear anything, so I sent out an email (from a different account) to reiterate my interest in the job and nicely asking for a followup. It's been less than a day, but I haven't heard a response. I'm tempted to call them up about it, because I may not be 100% sure my email is being received, despite it being sent from a different address.

So I guess you could say I'm a little torn. Should I call them even though my message was sent less than one day ago? I don't know if it was received, and at the same time, I don't want to look harassing.

Thoughts?
 
If my interviewer doesn't tell me at the end of the interview, I have gotten into the habit of asking when to expect a decision. That way I don't call them too early and sound annoying, and I don't call them too late and miss my chance. I'd say wait until the end of the day to see if they respond to your email. Since it's Friday, it's a little tricky. Plus, it's a holiday weekend. For all you know, your interviewer is on vacation or took the day off. Also, because it is a holiday weekend, depending on their schedule, you may not hear anything by Tuesday. It probably wouldn't hurt to give them a call before today is over.
 
You know, I was thinking that. Maybe just give them a quick call over the phone just before the end of the day to see if I can catch them. I tell you, so many times I've had great interviews, but I just NEVER hear back from the employer. And I reach out to them too.
 
And honestly, since there is a precedent for them not receiving your email responses, there is reason enough for you to try and contact them via phone.

"Hey, I shot you an email, but I know you weren't receiving them before, so I figured I'd give you a call just in case."
 
I always make it a point to ask where they are in the hiring process when I interview, kinda like Rojo is getting at. Am I the first guy, and you have people lined up over the next two weeks followed by personnel requisitions up the chain, or do you want someone to start a week from Monday?

I always send out a thank you letter within a day of the interview, but try to gauge where they are as far as follow up calls go. I don't want to be up their ass, but I don't want them to forget me either.
 
You may want to be prepared for rejection and find more leads. We went through this recently.
 
Well.. they've told you they epxect to be busy in a short while and it should take a week for a decision to be made.

I'd say give them an addtional week to respond after which i'd call them and inquire politely.

I've had interview answers reach me a month later.. long after i got another job.
 
Yeah, I've had that happen, too. I've applied for some jobs, waited two weeks or more and heard nothing. One temporary job waited nearly two months to get back to me, but by that time, I'd already found something else.
 
My experience may be different because I'm in education, but here's what I've learned... If they don't call you within 48 hours, you didn't get the gig.
 
I think you should call, but I haven't been hired in 10 months so what do I know?
 
My experience may be different because I'm in education, but here's what I've learned... If they don't call you within 48 hours, you didn't get the gig.

Not necessarily, depending on the situation, it may take a few weeks. It depends on how many candidates they interview, if they have multiple rounds, if the approval process has to be signed off by several people up the chain of command, etc.
 
My experience may be different because I'm in education, but here's what I've learned... If they don't call you within 48 hours, you didn't get the gig.

^That's not always true. It took the school district weeks after both interviews before they hired my wife for an old job several years ago. Same goes for several school system I was working with this past summer.

And what if you were the first person being interviewed and they had interviews set up for the whole week or two? Or you were interviewed on a Friday?...
 
What I have always been told is "The Squeaky Wheel Gets The Oil" (or is it WD-40?) Anyway, they point is you want to show these people that you really want this job. In today's market, that can sometimes be tough. I noticed that you relied a lot on e-mail. One thing to consider is getting as many contacts as possible. They may give you the main number, but if you can get more than one person's extension, then you can bug that person if you are not getting the information you need. It's possible that the whole company went on vacation, but it is possible that someone is still there that you can talk to. Maybe you can get someone's home email? You never know what's possible until you ask.
 
On the other hand, being the squeaky wheel could be perceived as desperation. I know it sucks, but I would suggest just waiting and applying for other jobs in the meantime.
 
I've been hired for five teaching jobs; two I turned down. Of those five offers, one was multiple round. I left the interview for my first teaching job with job offer in hand. I left round one of my current (and new!) job with offer to advance to the second round in hand. In the other three offers, I was called within 48 hours, and, I believe, one of those calls came on a Saturday.

Experiences may vary, but it's my experience that if you haven't heard in 48 hours, you didn't get the gig (or to the next round).
 
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