Foo - Ugh. Help me compose an awkward e-mail (job search related).

So I interviewed with this company over two weeks ago (before Xmas) and it seemed to go well. They called one of my personal references and from what I can gather seemed to be interested in hiring me. One of my professional references also got a message which he returned later that day. No call back. At my request he called back a second time. Still no response. At the time I interviewed they seemed very eager to fill the position so this has me worried.

On the other hand the hiring manager has been on vacation and just returned today. I don't know when he left, and I know things are always crazy when you get back after time away and have a zillion voice mails and e-mails to catch up on. I'm trying hard to stay positive and not to read too much into this but I just feel like anything I say at this point is going to come off bitter and annoyed because that's the way I feel right now.

All I want to do is:

1. Expresss that I'm still interested in the job.
2. Ask if a decision has been reached, and if so where I stand.

It doesn't seem that hard, but I've been having real trouble with it.

Why not give the guy a ring? Like you said, he's still catching up on emails, and some emails have a way of getting lost in the ether...

breathe. You are right, things do get bogged down in the hiring process. I am a manager and there have been times when we were terribly desperate to bring someone on board, but there didn't seem enough time in the day to go though the cumbersome hiring procedures we have to deal with. By the time I got around to getting back to the candidate I was really interested in, I was worried that they have already found a spot somewhere else.

A e-mail stating your continued interest is certainly appropriate at this point. Don't forget to thank them for their time taken to interview you. You can also offer to supply with more references if they are having trouble getting a hold of the ones you listed. Don't let your frustration and impatience show; that would be a big turn off.

Good luck!

If this is a large company then there are other formalities that can take quite some time to complete. When we hire someone we require 3 signatures all the way to the top. This can take weeks depending on their schedules / holidays.

I agree with CycleMagic, it is very appropriate and wise to send a quick email letting them know that you are still interested. It is not necessary to make it too wordy. You've already made your impression based on your resume and interview.

Good luck!

Well, okay maybe a quick email may be appropriate in this case. I'm in the IT consulting business where hiring can be cutthroat most of the time and where resource requirements and deals are made at the drop of a hat. A phone call enquiry more often than not would be quicker and straight to the point. But yeah, send a short quick email and see how that goes for now.

Gov't job? I think it was over 2 months from the interview till I was hired at my job. Gov't's are slllooowww...

breathe. You are right, things do get bogged down in the hiring process. I am a manager and there have been times when we were terribly desperate to bring someone on board, but there didn't seem enough time in the day to go though the cumbersome hiring procedures we have to deal with. By the time I got around to getting back to the candidate I was really interested in, I was worried that they have already found a spot somewhere else.

A e-mail stating your continued interest is certainly appropriate at this point. Don't forget to thank them for their time taken to interview you. You can also offer to supply with more references if they are having trouble getting a hold of the ones you listed. Don't let your frustration and impatience show; that would be a big turn off.

Good luck!

I agree with cyclemagics suggestions. Doesnt hurt to email. Dont bring up the reference thing voluntarily though.

1. I leik meh job.
2. I can has make decision now please?

1. I leik meh job.
2. I can has make decision now please?

:lol:

There once was a HR Director from Nantuckett,
Who kept all his resumes in a bucket.
The applicant feels dissed
and is getting quite pissed.
Make up your damn mind or I'll just say...

Just call him casually and get a check-up on what's going on. If it's been more than week or two since you've heard from them, I would definitely do this to show them that you are still interested in what happens.

If it's been sooner, be a little more patient, as they are probably sifting through the other potential hires. If they talked to your reference, then that's a good sign, but not a sure-shot win.

Thanks, everyone. I sent him a quick e-mail. I'll follow with a phone call tomorrow if there's no word. I really don't have a good feeling about this but if the answer is "no" then at least I can move on.

I agree with Clint
dirty harry on personnel (http://www.the-dirtiest.com/sounds/personnel.wav)

Thanks, everyone. I sent him a quick e-mail. I'll follow with a phone call tomorrow if there's no word. I really don't have a good feeling about this but if the answer is "no" then at least I can move on.

Call next week, not tomorrow!..

I agree with Clint
dirty harry on personnel (http://www.the-dirtiest.com/sounds/personnel.wav)

:roflmao:

Call next week, not tomorrow!..

Good point. Seems like they'd tell me sooner than later if they were letting me off the hook after an e-mail. I guess I can wait a few more days.

Any news?

Any news?

Nothing. I'm trying my best to be patient but I am starting to wonder what the hell is wrong with these people.

Nothing. I'm trying my best to be patient but I am starting to wonder what the hell is wrong with these people.

Hang in there. If they found someone else they would have replied with a form letter-type rejection. If they've decided not to fill the position then it might be a while before you hear back from them.

Don't lose patience, like I said previously, these things can take quite a while. My guess is that everything is clicking along at the usual pace.

Ok. Update time.

Yesterday they called and offered me the job. I went down there with the intent to sign, but the pay and hours outlined in the offer letter are not exactly what I'm looking for.

I told them I'd have a decision for them on Monday. I'm not ruling it out, but I have a second interview for over the weekend for a job closer to home with a smaller company that pays more.

Sorry to hear it's not what you were hoping for, do you think there's any chance to negotiate with them?

Good luck with the next interview! :)

Sorry to hear it's not what you were hoping for, do you think there's any chance to negotiate with them?

Good luck with the next interview! :)

They seemed pretty firm on the pay, but I did ask. If I get a firm offer from this other place I might be able to use that as leverage, but if I get a firm offer I would rather take that job. :)

It would not be the end of the world to take this job and the people I would potentially be working with seem nice. I didn't want to burn any bridges. For the pay rate, the hours, and the commute it seems like kind of a bum deal right now.

They seemed pretty firm on the pay, but I did ask. If I get a firm offer from this other place I might be able to use that as leverage, but if I get a firm offer I would rather take that job. :)

It would not be the end of the world to take this job and the people I would potentially be working with seem nice. I didn't want to burn any bridges. For the pay rate, the hours, and the commute it seems like kind of a bum deal right now.

If you can't get them to budge on the pay, then make sure you negotiate indoor bike storage for your commuter (I'm assuming everyone here commutes to work).

If you can't get them to budge on the pay, then make sure you negotiate indoor bike storage for your commuter (I'm assuming everyone here commutes to work).

Fortunately that is not an issue.

I'm going to test ride the commute tomorrow.