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What to Do When You’re Waiting for a Job Offer

What to Do When You’re Waiting for a Job Offer

The time between a great interview and receiving a job offer can feel like torture. You feel confident about the possibility of getting an offer from that company, but don’t have anything in writing yet. While you’re waiting for a job offer, here are some steps you should take:

Don’t stop your job hunt yet

Even if you feel supremely confident that you’ve got a job coming your way, don’t stop searching for work until you actually have an offer on paper and in your hands. Keep investigating and seeing what’s available until you’re completely positive you have a job. You should keep taking interviews and submitting your resume and cover letter until you actually get an offer from a business.

But don’t assume you didn’t actually get the job

The hiring process can be slow, so don’t get discouraged if it’s been a week or so and you still haven’t heard anything. This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s over. If it’s been a week past the deadline they gave you for getting back to you, follow up with the hiring manager by giving him or her a call, but don’t assume that rejection is imminent.

Ask someone who might know

If you used a contact to get the interview, try asking them if they have any insight as to what’s going on. Do they know if the position has been filled already or whether they decided not to hire at this time? If you worked with a recruiter, try having them reach out and get a status update.

Try using context clues

Go onto the company’s website. Do you still see the job advertised there or has the posting been taken down? Is there anything going on within the industry that might have impacted the company’s decision to hire? Are there new laws or mergers happening that may be causing the business to lose money, therefore putting a hiring freeze in place? These pieces of information can help you to better understand what may be happening.

If you do end up getting bad news about the job opening, make it a point to let the interview experience work for you in a positive way. Be gracious when you get the news, then stay in touch with the hiring manager. Check in every few months or so in order to sustain the relationship. You may not have been right for the opening they had at that time, but could end up being perfect for a position that becomes available in the future.

Image: dolgachov/BigStock.com

Lauren Levine

Lauren Levine is a copywriter/blogger who contributes to a number of magazines and websites including The Frisky, USA Today, and others. She also authors her own blog called Life with Lauren. She loves cooking, anything on the E! network, and is trying to convince herself that running isn't so bad.

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