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There's nothing more frustrating during your job search than time spent waiting for a response from an employer.
Whether it's a response to an initial application you're after, feedback on a first interview or confirmation that you've landed the job, even a few days can seem like a lifetime. And when you're job seeking in a busy holiday season, unfortunately that often means you'll be sat twiddling your thumbs for even longer.
With any new hire there is a usually number of key people who need to collate their time together in order to make a decision.
- Line Manager -
The person whose direct responsibility it is to make sure the right individual is hired. They will need to be involved at every stage.
- HR Manager -
Most large organisations will employ a recruitment specialist who will coordinate the interview process, liaise directly with each candidate, and often conduct the first interview.
- Colleagues -
Team compatibility is important in any workplace which is why the people you could be working alongside are often invited into interviews to see if you're the right ‘fit'.
- Senior Manager - Usually invited in at the second interview stage to probe a bit deeper into why you want to work for the company and what you're able to bring to the table.
- Finance Manager - The person who works out whether there is room in the budget to take on a new member of staff. This decision will obviously be made before the hiring process really gets under way, but they may be required if there are any salary negotiations at the end.
As you can see, that's a lot of people who may be away from the office at any one time, not to mention any holidays you may have booked yourself.
The digital age now makes it easier for conversations to be made across the globe, but there are few people wanting to access their Blackberry on a beach or a ski lift.
So what can you do to make the wait as painless as possible?
The only sure-fire way is to enquire as soon as you can into what the exact decision making process is going to be, and who will be involved. Not only will this show your interest in how the organisation operates, you'll also get an idea of how many people's calendars need to be coordinated. The more people that need consulting, the more delay you can usually expect.
Be careful not to ask directly “How long will it take?” as you may come across as impatient, or even worse, desperate. The process isn't going to be any quicker with you calling every morning to hurry them along. Be eager, but understanding with the person you're dealing with.
You may even be able to use the information to your advantage. For example, if you're discussing the process with the HR team and you discover that the senior manager is currently on holiday in Southern France, you could bring it up when you meet him and discuss the excellent cheese and wine on offer in the region. Showing that you're comfortable conversing with people on a personal level may just be the difference between you and another candidate.