How to Handle the Waiting Game after a Job Interview

So you just had a big interview. It went well, you think? You had covered all bases, answered questions to the best of your abilities, and are pretty sure you got the job. You go home and wait for a call back. However, it has been more than 24 hours, and the silence is starting to freak you out. What is going on? There are two things you must know – silence is not an indicator of anything, and there are things you can actually do to handle the teeth-gnashing wait! What has happened? - If you were one of the earliest candidates to sit for the interview, chances are that your application is still under review. No company is comfortable with hiring a candidate on the spot without comparing with alternatives. This is specifically true for overseas jobs. Employers overseas are very particular about who they hire, so taking time to give final results is inevitable. - The hiring process may be at a lower priority for the business. The outcome of the interview is important to you but not so much for the organization. With the amount of work that a company has, the candidate selection process can wait for a while without impact. - Many companies have a policy wherein all the board members who interviewed you need to reach a consensus about the candidate. Scheduling a time for all of them to meet together can be a trifle difficult.   This and a lot more can keep the phone silent for days to come. The solution to this conundrum is simple. Find something to do!

-First and foremost, you need to stop worrying. You did the best you could; the results are just superficial. They do not matter in the long run.
- Keep looking for another job. Even though this is the one that you always wanted, there are other opportunities outside that might catch your fancy.
- Weigh your alternatives. See if you are ready to make a commitment if accepted.
- If you have employed the assistance of a consultant, discuss with him the pros and cons of the opportunity. You might find that a thorough discussion with him brings to light certain points that were out of your thinking arena.
- It is critical you talk to the consultant about other job offers. If they know that you have other offers that might reach a conclusion soon, they may be able to move the process faster with their client.
- Send a thank you note to all the interviewers. Then wait for about 2 weeks. If you still don’t get a response, send a polite note asking about your status and whether there is anything else you can do to help with their decision.
- Keep on networking. Just because the phone refuses to ring does not mean that you stop talking to people. With great connections you might just find another job opportunity that meets your requirements.
- Accept this down time as a blessing in disguise and utilize it to improve your resume and cover letter. Even though they must be tailored according to the job profile applied to, an occasional clean-up never hurt anybody.
- You could also do some sleuthing and check the employer’s website to see if they have made any big announcements. The question of your employ ability might just get answered.

Don’t!

- No matter what you are told during the interview, till the time you don’t receive an offer letter, there is no job. So NEVER quit your job search in the middle of the fray.
- Negotiate for a pay hike with your current manager. If you have decided to leave, then just leave.
- Constantly bug the recruiter for updates through messages or emails. Recruiting the right candidate takes time. You don’t want to irk the hiring manager for no reason.

Basically, you need to stay positive and be prepared for any outcome. If you have the right skill-set to ace the interview, the phone will ring. All the best! Author Bio: Tina Jindal is a professional content writer who works on a variety of topics like employment, real estate, and education. A career advisor for naukri.com, she has been involved with renowned publications as well. You can contact her @Gmail | LinkedIn | Google+.