Job searching can be a test of nerves. Applications can go astray or unanswered, hiring decisions get delayed, and feedback is unforthcoming. Keep your cool at each stage of the process with these tips.
Applying
With impersonal job leads (i.e. those from job boards) you're less likely to get a yes/no response, let alone feedback on your CV. Concentrate your efforts on graduate schemes or warmer leads which you've networked your way to. You'll find it easier to track the progress of your application or to get an opinion on the effectiveness of your CV.
If you've been invited to submit your CV to an organisation, wait a couple of weeks before emailing to ask if it's been received. Ask any contacts working there if they can follow up for you. In both scenarios, get in touch once (to show interest in the position and to ask about the decision-making process) then wait.
It's also appropriate to follow up if a deadline for contacting unsuccessful candidates has passed. Email is generally preferable to a phone call, as it's less intrusive. Never follow up before the closing date, as this makes you look pushy and desperate.
Interviewing
Get feedback during the interview. A question like "Do you have any concerns about my ability to perform well in the role?" can reveal doubts about your suitability which you can then address. Find out what the next steps are in the hiring process and an approximate time frame for a decision. Get the business card of your interviewer(s) to make follow-up easier.
To make yourself more memorable, send a thank-you note a day or so after the interview to reiterate your interest and your key selling points.
A delay in replying isn't necessarily a bad sign. Expect a lengthier process if candidates or decision-makers are away, or if more than one person is involved in hiring. Vacancies also get pulled for a number of reasons, such as change in company strategy, department mergers, or budget cuts.
If you haven't heard after a given deadline, email your interviewer to say you're still interested, and to enquire about the progress of your application. Keep it polite, brief, and friendly.
This advice was for a poster in the forums who hadn't heard two weeks after his third interview:
"Rather than leaving a voice message with HR (who may well be overstretched and understaffed, and are perhaps co-ordinating a number of hires or applicants) try and contact the hiring manager directly - either by phone or via email. I'm assuming that by the third interview you've already met the person you'll be working with / for, so contacting them again and reiterating your interest in the position is appropriate. Ask (if you haven't already) when a decision might be made, then do nothing further until a few days or so after that deadline passes. It's a fine balance: you want to show your interest in the job but not appear as if you're stalking the company."
After the interview
If you're rejected, use it as an opportunity for feedback. Write back and ask for ways you could improve your applications or become a stronger candidate. Never burn your bridges by being angry or defensive: if their first-choice candidate backs out, you could still be a contender.
By staying active in your job search you'll take your mind off waiting. Continue to apply and interview for posts until you receive a job offer.
Don't feel pressurised into accepting an offer immediately. Make sure you fully understand all the details, then ask for a few days to consider. Once you accept, inform any other organisations you're applying to, so they can also move on with their hiring processes.
