You had an excellent interview yesterday with a recruiter about the PERFECT job! You met all of the requirements and you are stoked to hear feedback and move forward. Your first instinct is to pick up the phone and call the recruiter. After all, shouldn’t the hiring manager be chomping at the bit to interview you after 24 hours?
Whoa! Slow down!
While you have great experience and you’re perfect for the job, the process takes time. The important thing is for you to NOT do anything that will ruin your chances at getting the job.
Vicki Salemi of Business Insider points out “5 Ways You May Be Screwing up a Job Opportunity Without Even Knowing It“.
One of the key focuses throughout the article is related to how you are behaving with the recruiter. Believe it or not, the recruiter has a lot of influence on whether you make it to the next round or not. That is why it’s very important to think about how you act towards the recruiter who is helping you to get in front of the hiring manager.
Give it time
Sometimes, it can take several days or even a week for the hiring manager to make time to review candidates and get feedback or next steps to the recruiter. While you are eagerly waiting, make sure you are not reaching out to the recruiter every day for an update. As referenced in Vicki Salemi’s article, you do not want to become known as the crazy stalker candidate.
Be polite and professional
Just because things are not moving as quickly as expected, do not become angry or hostile towards your recruiter. The better way to follow up is to simply express your interest in the position and check in once a week to let the recruiter know nothing has changed with your situation.
Don’t assume
When you are following up with your recruiter, don’t assume that you shouldn’t have to leave your full name or contact information on a voice mail or in an email. Recruiters are typically working multiple jobs at one time, speaking with many different candidates.
When you follow up with your recruiter, be sure that you clearly state your full name and phone number in any voicemails and emails. This is not only professional, but it helps to ensure you will receive a follow up call or email along with an update.
This may seem trivial, but I can’t tell you how many times I have listened to voicemails several times over and over, simply trying to understand what the person is saying on the message, or decipher who it could be based on voice recognition. I’m sure you can imagine how painful this is.
Don’t forget that while the recruiter can help to sell your skills to the hiring manager, the recruiter can also explain to the hiring manager that due to some recent experiences with you, it is recommended that you be pulled from consideration.
The recruiter can be your ally or foe, depending on your behavior and attitude. Don’t kill a job opportunity because you were unprofessional with your recruiter.
What are some ways that you have experienced a professional partnership with a recruiter which led to a job offer? Please share your experiences in the comments below!
Image: GeorgeRudy/Bigstock.com
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