When it comes to your job search, “no news” certainly isn’t good news. In fact, one of the most frustrating parts of the process is waiting to hear back, especially after an interview. Is there anything you can do to speed things up or stay in the loop?

As one of the leading recruiting agencies in Houston, Murray Resources knows there is one important step you can take:

Do yourself a favor at the end of your next job interview and ask the hiring manager about next steps. They may have a target date in mind when they plan to make a hiring decision. Or things could be up in the air. Whatever the case, when you ask the question, at least you’ll know. You won’t be left sitting by your phone wondering when and if you’ll ever get a call back.

If the hiring manager said they would be contacting you within a week and it’s day 10, then it’s absolutely appropriate for you to follow up with them. You want to be diplomatic, not pushy, with an email like:

“Hi Mike, I hope you’re doing well. Last we spoke, you said you and your team would be making a decision about the job opening. I was wondering if you had an update? Please let me know if you need any more information from me. Looking forward to hearing from you.”

What do you do if you forgot to ask about next steps? Can you still follow up? Absolutely, just say something along the lines of:

“Hi Mike, I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to connect with you about the job opening. I’m still very interested in the position. Do you have a timeframe you can share for the next steps in the hiring process?”

Keep in mind, you’re not trying to find out whether you got the job with your follow up (ok, maybe you are, but that’s secondary). You’re simply trying to get a sense of where the decision makers are in the process.

A few more tips when you follow up:

• Don’t send a letter, send a note. In other words, keep it brief. A few quick lines to inquire about progress and that’s all you need.

• Also, be conversational, not stiff and formal. You want the hiring manager to view you as a real person, not just another boilerplate candidate.

• Don’t be pushy. No matter how much you want to scream “Did I get the job?!,” don’t do it. Hiring managers operate under their own time constraints and you’ll hurt your chances of landing the job if you’re too aggressive.

Looking for more expert help with your job search? Let Murray Resources know. As one of the leading recruiting agencies in Houston, we can assist you with the entire job search process – from crafting a strong resume to preparing for interviews – all so you can find job opportunities that are a great fit for your skills and background.

Ready to get started? Contact us today.