In today’s job market it’s becoming increasingly common for the hiring process to take weeks or even months from start to finish. This can be highly frustrating for a job seeker, especially when you’re asked to come in to do several rounds of interviews. In order to keep your sanity as you go through a long hiring process, keep these tips in mind:
Remember, you don’t have to say yes to every interview
If you know right off the bat that a job isn’t the right fit, simply don’t apply. When a hiring process is going to take up a lot of your time, you want to be sure that the end result will be worth this sacrifice of time. If you’re not thrilled about the job description, it’s best to wait for something else to come along. Instead, take the time you’d be spending in interviews and writing thank you notes and use it to research what else is out there.
Know what to expect
Talk to other people who have gone through the interview process in your field before and find out what to expect. This information can allow you to plan more effectively. For example, if you know that it may be three weeks from the time you start interviewing to the time you actually receive an offer, you can build time into your schedule for this. If you’re unemployed during this time, you can budget your savings accordingly.
Don’t become a bad employee during the process
If you’re currently employed as you’re interviewing, it’s important to continue contributing positively in your current role. If you start calling in “sick” every week to go on interviews, you may end up costing yourself your job. Prospective employers will be willing to be flexible with you if you explain your situation. Regardless of how anxious to leave your current company you may be, make sure to exit gracefully.
When you go through a lengthy hiring process and don’t get the job, it’s easy to feel frustrated. However, resist the urge to tell the hiring manager what a mistake he or she has made. You never know when another position will open up within that business that you may want to apply for; burning bridges is never a good idea, no matter how satisfying it may feel at the time.
Image: Sergey Nivens/BigStock.com
Add comment