Navigating the Hiring Game: Key Tips for Staying on Track
By Kristin Hodgkinson and Wendy R. Weidenbaum
As if landing a job interview isn’t hard enough, the added anxiety of playing the waiting game after the interview is enough to frustrate even the most qualified candidates. In today’s hiring game, it isn’t uncommon for the process to take months and span over multiple interviews, with the candidate not hearing anything for weeks in between. What has changed? Companies realize that hiring a new person is an investment and want to ensure the right person is being hired, someone who fits with the culture, has the best skills, and can build the relationships needed to add value quickly. While the wait may be disheartening, it is important to stick it out to be successful. Follow these tips to make sure that you are staying patient, positive, and prepared throughout the entirety of the hiring game.
Be Patient
Be assertive at the end of each interview by asking those with whom you are interviewing when will you hear back from them or when a good time is for you to reach out. Always follow up with a note stating the additional value you will provide as well as expressing your appreciation for the time and opportunity. Although the interviewers state when they will reach out, other priorities often get in the way. Have a strategy. How long will you wait between the interview and the follow-up phone call? Whom will you call? Will it be human resources or the individual who interviewed you? A balance needs to be reached between assertiveness and desperation.
Be Positive
As more and more time goes by, you may begin to feel rejected and give up hope on the possibility of landing this position. Never assume that no news is bad news. There are a number of steps that go into securing a new hire, and this is most likely what’s delaying the process. The hiring team may be collaborating to check off to-dos, restructuring the office, and preparing for a new team member. They may be lining up other employees to interview you. They may be considering you for other positions. Because you don’t know whether you’re waiting for the actual offer or perhaps a 7th or 8th interview, stay informed on what’s going on in the company. Follow the company and their key executives on Twitter and through Google searches, be on the look-out for new press releases and scan the company’s website daily. Keep an open mind and stay positive throughout the hiring process.
Stay Prepared
In short, don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Even if the company you are interviewing with has asked you back on multiple interviews, continue to pursue your job search for other opportunities. Until you have a job offer, you do not have a job. Stay invested in the current process, but also be sure to have a back-up plan in case it falls through.
Be Aware
And here’s one last thing to think about. The interviewing process allows you the opportunity to view the organization’s culture and see how they treat their employees. If the decision-making process is slow, you may be joining an organization that is very consensus-driven. Read into the signs of the culture during this process and know what you may be joining.
The hiring game is not for the faint of heart. It is a process that requires perseverance, positivity, and patience. Stay prepared and keep at it and you will be sure to find success.