Dear Joan:
I am seeking some advice about a position I have recently applied. The position is Director of Information Technology for a certain department at a major State University. I have interviewed two separate times over the past 6 weeks.
The first interview was given by a panel of 3 executives. The interview took about 2 hours and at the end of the interview I was asked to give 4 references; two people who I have worked for and two people who have worked for me. The following day I sent thank you emails out to each person on the interview panel along with the requested references. I was told later that all 4 persons were contacted and that the panel was very pleased with each response.
I was asked to come back for a second interview by the Director of Finance: this is the final decision maker. This person told me that I might be asked to come back for a third and final interview. I sent a thank you email to this person about 4 hours after the interview concluded.
I have two questions that I hope you can help me with:
1.) I am an owner of a computer consulting firm, but before I started my company I worked for this University as a System Programmer. I was asked during both interviews, “what do you plan on doing with your company if you come to work for us?”
My plans are to turn over my responsibilities to my partner, so this is what I told the interviewers. I have been told since then by other colleges that I should have
deferred that answer until the third interview. Did I do the right thing?
2.) It is driving me crazy waiting to hear back from the decision maker. They told me that they wanted to fill the position by early February 2006. It is possible that I might have to leave town due to some personal matters. Do I call or email these people to let them know I might have a schedule change? How often should I contact them while I wait?
Answer:
Hand wringing is a natural reaction following a job interview. There are some general rules of thumb I’d like to suggest, but first let’s deal with some of your specific questions.
I don’t think you made a mistake by telling the interviewers the truth about turning over your responsibilities to your partner. In fact, if you had “deferred” it to the third interview, you may have looked like you weren’t really clear about whether you wanted to abandon your business. What would you have said? “I’m not sure…” or, I’ll wait until I get a solid job offer before I deal with it…” They would have been leery about hiring you if you didn’t have a clear, established transition plan for your business. It conveys to them that you have made a final decision to take an internal job.
There is no need to sit by the phone in the hopes they will call. You simply need to call in for messages regularly, or let them know how to reach you. Since you are likely to have some personal matters to deal with in February, which may conflict with a third interview, simply send a courtesy e-mail to let them know. For example, “I can be reached on my cell phone from February 2-9. I will be out of town on some family business.” If they are on a tight schedule to fill the job, it will get them moving, if they need to interview you again. I highly doubt you will be denied a third interview because you must go out of town.
Here are some suggestions for following up after an interview. At the end of the interview, ask, “What is your timeline for filling the position?” Or, ask, “In what stage are you, in the hiring process?” They will give you enough information to know they have just started interviewing, or are near the end. This should help you know how long the wait will be. Also ask, “How would you like me to follow up with you? May I email you or call periodically?” They will tell you how to follow up, if at all.
One approach to use when following up is to ask, “Is there anything else I can get you to help you evaluate my fit for the job?” They may raise an issue or concern that they forgot to bring up in the interview. It sounds like less of a “nag” than simply asking, “Have you made a decision yet?”
The smartest thing you can do is to pursue other opportunities in the meantime. Not only will it put more eggs in your basket, it will give you leverage when they finally do make an offer. If you do have two offers, you will be in the bargaining seat are likely to get more money.
Finally, don’t make the mistake of pestering the employer. They will become annoyed and begin to think you are clueless about the realities of the hiring bureaucracy and their busy schedule. About every two weeks after an interview is about right when following up on a job. Don’t forget, this job opening isn’t the only thing they are working on…even though it may be keeping you up at night.
