Chixe

Happened a few times to me, and real damn frustrating. The lame part is that it doesn't help out the confidence, yet you still have to keep trying to interview because obviously you need a job. Nothing about job hunting is fun.

I'm really considering just calling these people and saying

"Yes, it's been a week and a half...is it really that plausible to think it takes less than a week to interview people for such a task that you claim to be so difficult, that I'm such a perfect fit for? Just tell me this: did I or did I not get the job, please stop destroying me like this"

Uhm... OK: Tip from someone who's done his share of job hunting:

CALL. THEM.

Seriously, if they turn you down, ask why. If they don't, or they decide not to make up their mind just yet, you can always stay fresh in their memory by talking to them directly. You can also always offer to do some work for them on a trial basis (offer to do it for minimum wage, or the lowest wage they offer). They're more likely to tell you "stay onboard" than to tell you "be gone" and hire someone else since by that time you know them, they know you, you know what you have to do and whether you want it, and they know what you can/are willing to do and whether they want you. Just don't let yourself be taken advantage of. A week should be the most you put in like this, with few exceptions.

The sad part about job searching, especially with the introduction of online searches, is that most people (not saying you, by the way, just something I've noticed) have become lazy about such things as networking and realizing that they are ALWAYS selling themselves to the potential employer. Remember: you're a salesman. Your product is YOU. The potential employer is the client who has already told you they have a problem they need solved and it is up to you to show them whether your product will be what solves their need.

By the way, best times to call are usually very early in the morning (before 8am, so as to ensure you can easily get past the gatekeeper, if (s)he's even there at that time) or after 6pm (for the same reason: gatekeeper's likely gone home and boss is still at work). Don't bother calling after 3pm on Fridays. Mondays are good, because that's when they're setting up their weeks. Tuesdays are OK. Avoid Wednesdays and use Thursdays as follow-up days.

Good luck with the hunt.

Yeah following up is never a bad idea.

Oh, I should have mentioned the voicemails. I've left them.

My voicemails, please answer them.

It's a matter of what times you call. If you want a certain job bad enough do something crazy, like stopping by.

Worse they can say is no, which is OK, because if they're ignoring you you're probably already dead to them anyway.

Then again, you could be dealing with an arsehole, in which case you should just look elsewhere. Remember also that for ever $10,000 in salary you're likely to look for about 2 months, unless you're REALLY good interview.

I used to get that all the time; Gnorb's right -- if they say they're going to call you, and it's been two weeks, FOLLOW UP. Usually after an interview, I'll leave a pre-written thank you card with my contact information -- not only will they appreciate the gesture, but your contact info is right there, front and center.

Of course, there is the flip side to the early follow-up. Some jobs aren't looking to hire right away; you can usually find out if they are by simply asking when they anticipate on filling the position. Sometimes, the person's job you're getting hasn't left the company yet, and sometimes, they just can't hire someone on right away because of whatever business things may be going on at the time.

It took my current job a month to get back to me after my first interview, but when I came in that second time, the job was mine. Good luck!

I quit my job because theyre all slackers

oh well, im going to bootcamp soon

Yeah, call them. The rule of the thumb here is that if you don't hear from them in 2 weeks. Call them for a follow up. Sometimes they are just looking over the list again and you'd know if you're on the pile to call. Calling them also reinforces the idea that you're keen in the job. Something that they will remember when they check on your resume.

What I usually do is to call for the job BEFORE I send out my resume. Get to the person who takes care of those things and ask the important questions before sending out my resume. It also reinforces the presence.

Rarely if ever, they call back (out of the 20 or so jobs I applied, only 3 called back in 2 weeks). So calling them is a good thing. Getting a job is really about giving the BS that you can get you from the pile to the interview. Sadly, your capabilities are just a small part of getting a job. A lot of it is just social skills.

I will definitely agree Kamigoroshi about interviews being mostly social skills. They obviously know your skill level before they bring you in, then it's just a matter of communication from there on out.

Karsh mentioned something which, in my experience, has been one of the best tools for networking: the thank you note. After the interview, (snail) mail them a thank you note, or drop it off at their office. If you're not going to get the job, you're not going to get it, but the thank you note will do two things: (1) keep you in their mind for future openings, (2) befriend you to them. In the first case, they may be able to help you out by giving you a job later. The second I find more valuable, because they'll be willing to give you leads if they know of any, or recommend you to someone if they hear someone's looking. Using this method I've gotten interviews with people I'd otherwise not even get the time of day from.

Karsh also mentioned coming back later: DO IT!!!! A month or two after the interview, come back and inquire about the job. A lot of times the person they hired doesn't work out for them and suddenly you're in. Here's an example: I applied for my current job in November of '04. I spoke with them at that time, but they ended up hiring someone else. I sent a thank you note and later enquired about any openings. Still nothing. 3 1/2 months later, in February, I got a call for a phone interview. Because they already knew that if nothing else I was tenacious, I got the interview. I ended up getting the job the next day and started 2 days after. Been here just over 2 years now, and as far as jobs are concerned, this is the best one I've had.

In interviews, however, I make sure to establish the following:

1) I ask what the work environment is like, as well as morale. If it sounds like I'll get micromanaged, I'm out. (So I ask about the company's and boss-to-be's management style.) If I can, I'll ask whether I can talk to other employees.

2) I tell them in no uncertain terms my strengths and weaknesses. I can work with teams and I can work solo: either is fine so long as they trust me. My weakness shows up when micromanaged: I become bellicose when someone's breathing down my neck unnecessarily. If they tell me they are a very "hands on" manager, it tells me they're probably a micromanager, which makes the employee-meeting process all the more important. My philosophy about projects is simple: tell me what you want, when you want it, then get the hell out of my way. If I have questions, I'll ask them. For some reason, most people seem to like this. :-D

3) I try to find out why the position is empty: did someone leave or was this just created? If the former, then you'll want to make a mental note to see whether you can find anyone that used to work there: find out all the warts. (With small companies that may not be possible.) If the later, then this tells you the company is on the grow. Ask them about that: they'll usually be very proud to tell you.

The key is to know your stuff, know that you know your stuff, and know how to communicate to them that you know your stuff without looking like an ass. SMILE! ALWAYS! And make sure they're comfortable with you during the interview: Ask about their projects, what they're doing, what you'll be doing, then take ownership right away. If I'm applying for a tech writing job, I'll ask what the company wants and then describe to them how I would accomplish those goals, and what the end product will likely be. If I'm being hired for a small company on the grow, I'll ask what future plans are involving my position, then start brainstorming with them, right away, as to how I would ensure that growth happens. All of this I do with enthusiasm because it's contagious.

I can go on all day about this, but remember one thing: never ever ever ever ever ever undervalue yourself. As a hiring manager, nothing yelled "BEWARE!" to me more than someone either (a) not knowing how much to ask for, or (b) asking too little without a good reason.

P.S.
For the love of god, if you have an "objective" section in your resume, take it out: the only person that cares about it is your mom. Besides, you're lying there anyway. Your objective is "get paid!", so anything else is just plain silly. And superfluous. When I was hiring people, I never read these. Ever.

Well I hate to say this but if they havent called in 1.5 weeks, you probably didnt get the job....keep looking, you obviously have scads of talent, its their loss.....

I wouldn't want to chase a job at a slow/unresponsive company.

1.5 to 2 weeks just to send a "we're thinking about you" or a "let's just be friends" email is a bit too much for me. But my girlfriend says I'm very stubborn about such things...