“Removed the tooth, removed the pain,” they say. But when anxiety leaves you after facing an interview, it immediately comes back, waiting for an answer. How long do you have to wait to receive the outcome of a job interview? What is right to do and what is absolutely not?
The interview process is long, although we always think of the moment of the meeting as the crucial moment of selection. In our business, we take care of organizing and managing interviews and we know that, at times, the wait can seem infinitely long.
To better face this crucial moment – without panicking, with the irrepressible desire to fill the recruiter with phone calls – we decided to write down the 4 things you can do waiting for you. the outcome of the job interview.
1. Take a deep breath and objectively evaluate your interview
If you have to wait, you might as well do it smartly, don’t you think? Leave anxiety aside and try to make an objective evaluation of the meeting you had.
There are very simple signs you can look for to see if you will get a chance to be called for a second interview and get hired. First of all, if your recruiter has been interested and talkative, even asking you a few more questions to deepen your presentation, that’s a good sign!
Other positive indicators are the sharing of projects that the company is working on, the description of the workplace and colleagues with which the candidate will have to collaborate, the ‘deepening of your specific professional experiences. The more the interviewer shows interest in you during the interview, the more satisfied you can be with your presentation.
Finally, if the interlocutor has also inquired about your willingness to start work in the event of a positive outcome, you can rest assured that you have made a good impression.
Haven’t we convinced you yet? Ok, if you need more reassurance, start with a more in-depth analysis of the interview you had: badly it will come in handy as a reminder for the next selection!
A good practice is to take notes on the interview taken, noting the most relevant questions they asked you, the answers you gave, and also the reactions of all participants, both you and the recruiter. Thus, in black and white, you will have a clear overview of what you have experienced and it will certainly be easier for you to evaluate what you can expect.
2. Consider waiting times well
Well, now you feel calmer already. But how long will you have to tell yourself to be calm and be patient? You’re right, you can’t wait forever. We can give you some indications to understand when you need to keep yourself under control and when it starts to get a little late.
To begin with, it is right that you know that there is no defined waiting time for the outcome of an interview. Of course, it is information that must interest you and that you must not let it slip away. For this reason, it is always a good idea, at the end of an interview, to ask openly when you can get an answer. This first of all show interest in the open position and also respect for the selection times that follow the phase of meeting the candidates.
But if you missed the opportunity to ask this important question, we can give you some general indications. It all depends on the company, the type of profile sought, and the number of candidates. If you have been dealing with a small to medium business, a few days – at most a week – could be enough to get feedback. Conversely, if you have applied for a large company, it may take several weeks to get a response.
Then there is another variable to consider: if you have applied for a particularly specific and technical position, it will probably take more time to evaluate your profile and that of other candidates. In general, however, it is not a good idea to wait too long, so please allow a couple of weeks to wait for an answer before taking another step.
3. Let’s dispel a myth: making yourself heard after the interview is not a taboo!
You heard right, we just advised you to contact your recruiter, even before he calls. In the right times and ways, it is not rude but appreciated interest.
Basically, never take this step within a week of your interview. If your interlocutor has indicated a longer waiting time for an answer, respect the times that he has communicated to you.
Also, you must look after the way you approach contact. We know, it is a crucial and delicate moment, but it is worth showing interest to keep the attention on your profile. The best way to tackle this challenge is to send a thank you message to your recruiter and reiterate your motivation to fill the role you applied for. No pleasantries and exaggeratedly kind tones, take this opportunity, to be honest, and show it in a new contact.
Did you forget to ask specifically when you would have been informed of the outcome of your interview? Perfect, this may be the right opportunity to get an answer and ask a few more questions – not too many! – in the open position and on the company.
4. Never say never, focus on relationships
Sometimes thinking of the worst helps strengthen your opportunities. In this waiting phase, you can in fact do something not only to overcome the anxiety of the moment but to build a solid foundation step by step for your professional future.
Whether you are at your first interview or you already have some experience in this kind of thing, the advice is never to underestimate the potential of relationships. Even if for a short time, the interview allowed you to get in touch with reality and with a professional. It is a real shame to miss the opportunity to maintain a relationship and cultivate contact for future opportunities. Step by step, person by person, you will have created an important knowledge base, which even if it did not immediately lead you to get a job, will quietly continue to work to offer you an opportunity in the future.
So how can you create this network of connections? First, treasure the business cards of recruiters and company managers. When you get a result (a diploma, a degree, collaboration for a project) share it with these people and update them on your progress: undoubtedly the fastest and most immediate way to do all this is to use LinkedIn. Keeping your profile up to date and connecting with recruiters and the figures you met during the interviews will allow you to have an already selected audience of people who could contact you to offer you a job.