If an interviewer says he'll get back to you on a particular date and doesn't how long do you wait to get in touch?
Immediately. Don't be a jerk about it ("y u no reply?") but proactively pinging someone to keep the ball rolling can be a good thing. Keep the email short and open-ended, like so:Dear [x],We last spoke on [date] about my interest in the position at your company. Are we moving forward on this, and if so, how should I prepare?I worked in recruiting for one company and plenty of good candidates fall through the cracks just due to administrative lag and other random stuff. Don't take it personally. It just happens occasionally. If you want anything to get through a bureaucracy, you typically have to remind people of the next step (which may be rejecting you, but hey, it means you get to move on) or things just sit around in limbo. People have a finite amount of attention and a nearly infinite array of things they "should be" paying attention to.
What's the best way to follow up on a job application sent out online that you are really interested in?
Not sure if I'm the right person to listen to when it comes to this particular question as I am a contractor and my view is biased as such.Companies may have thousands of applicants to screen but you as a job seeker may have hundreds of applications circulating amongst many companies.Companies have time and resources on their side whereas you may be constrained by limits to both of the aforementioned.Therefore, I typically have no problem politely following up after submission of my application, in order to gauge what the company's process and timeline for making a decision might be.Keep in mind that if the application was solicited, the company advertised that it was looking and invited applications, it's natural that having invested your time and effort to fill out those forms, inputting all of that personal information requested, you could expect the courtesy of some feedback. Most people do not follow up, so it's not like the Company is inundated with phone calls. Finally, if you're tasked with hiring an employee, would you not prefer from two equally qualified individuals, the one who was eager to get the job ? HR and Talent Acquisition professionals may tell you something entirely different but their job is to find an ideal candidate and if one is at the other end of the phone line seeking to express their desire to work for the company, it's an opportunity for them to solve a problem and one that should not be dismissed for reasons of expediency.My summary;----------------Place a call, be extremely polite and convey the fact that you'd love the opportunity to work there and to contribute to the company's success going forward and you'd appreciate some measure of feedback to help you plan for your own immediate future. At the worst, you won't get through with the call but it won't affect you being considered for the position. Alternatively, you may get to speak with someone and your resume and application may get noticed and tagged for a short list.Remember, I'm a contractor and my view is likely biased, so comments from HR and Talent Acquisition professionals will likely hold a lot more weight as they are the ones who forward the details of short listed candidates to department heads for consideration as part of the selection process.
How do I tell a recruiter I'm not interested in moving forward?
You should be honest, clear and appreciative. You never want to burn a bridge. They may have a job for you later that you really do want. This kind of thing is very common. Happens all the time. The whole purpose of the phone screen and interview is to share information between candidate and employer to determine whether or not you are interested in them and conversely if they are interested in you. I would recommend something like this (by email is fine):Dear Miss Recruiter, I would first like to extend my appreciation for your interest in me for the JOB TITLE position at COMPANY NAME and for taking the time to explain the role. It’s been a pleasure talking with you and learning more about the organization. After taking some time to carefully consider the information you provided, I feel that this may not be the right fit for me. At this point in my career, I have decided that I’d really like to pursue an opportunity in the WHATEVER industry. Again, I very much appreciate your time but I would like to respectfully withdraw from the job candidacy. I wish you success in your search for the right person for the opportunity and perhaps our paths will cross again. Meantime, if I hear of anyone in my network who might be interested in the job, I’d be glad to pass along the information. Thanks again,
Do you follow up after job applications and if so, how?
I don’t think it hurts - unless you make a real pain in the ass of yourself over it (Don’t call more often than once a week!) - but on the other hand, with large companies, I don’t think it helps either.The larger the company, the more automated/impersonal the hiring process is…APART from the actual interviews, which are quite the opposite.You have to understand though that the time between your application and being asked to do a phone interview (or whatever) can be long.What tends to happen is that HR get a ridiculously large pile of applications. 90% of them are just junk. People who meet none of the requirements. Of the 10% that remain, maybe a dozen or so will get phone interviews - then a handful will get face-to-face interviews.But if NONE of those people work out - they may go back to some of the people they chose not to interview initially. In such cases, it could be many weeks between your application and getting an interview date.Also, it’s common for businesses not to tell you if you failed. This seems harsh - but it’s more or less the same thing. You don’t want to actively say “NO!” until your #1 choice accepts the job offer and shows up for their first day at work. Until that point, your #2 and #3 choices are left hanging just in case you need them.Recruiting is not a pleasant activity - for either side.
Is it considered bad etiquette to call and ask if you got a job?
No it is not bad etiquette. Usually at interview stage they advise you when they will be making contact with the applicants. If they don't I usually ask when they would be making a decision, so I know when it is okay to call. If it has been a week with no response I would do so, give them your name and reference to the job you applied for and then ask on the "progress of the application process for the job." In other words how far have they got in the interviewing, hiring, etc. It is quite appropriate and does no harm at all. They should tell you upfront ... we are still interviewing, second list offers are being made at present, decision delayed due to the overwhelming response, we will advise everyone by Friday, etc. It doesn't hurt to let them know you are very much still interested. In fact that may work in your favour as it reminds them of your name, etc. Good luck; I know how annoying looking for jobs is. I only ring the ones I am really genuinely interested in and most employers know this.
10 points for best cover letter for job application?
Without having intimate knowledge of your qualifications, your experience, and the specific job, I really can't give you a good cover letter. However, I can point you to a series of EXCELLENT articles that I use as reference materials. Go to careers.msn.com, click on the "Articles and Advice" option and start scanning the articles. I've been an applicant for a number of jobs (most of which I have been offered), and more importantly, I have been on the other side of the desk and reviewed hundreds of resumes and cover letters, as well as conducting dozens of interviews. In addition, I've taught career prep courses for a local college. Most importantly - proofread your letter and resume. Then have someone else proofread them. Then check them again. Then have a third person read them. Then a fourth. Maybe a fifth. And pick intelligent people who are seriously interested in helping you - not friends who are going to pander to you to make you feel all warm and fuzzy. You need a real friend who's not afraid to tell you, "This doesn't make sense. I'd change this sentence like..." Good luck! P.S. - I'll even do one better for you. If you would like to e-mail your letter to me, I can give some pointers. e-mail to this username at yahoo.com. I might not be able to get back to you for a couple of days, though.
Which would you consider more important in choosing a career?
After school you take whatever job is open and learn to do whatever your employer needs done. You can do your hobbies on the weekends.
Have job interview..Is appropriate to send a small gift with the thanks for the interview letter?
I really, really have wanted to work for this company for along time. It is super hard to get in, now I finally have a chance. I have an interview next week. Afterwards when I send my "Thank you for the interview" letter, would sending a small gift be ok? Or would it be considered bribery? I just really want to stand out and make a nice impression. I was thinking something along the lines of a decorated cookie with the words "Thanks" or "Hire me" or what do you think? Something clever, any ideas? or should I scrap this idea all together?