An Interview, then silence. What’s next?

You’ve had your first interview for a dream position at a fantastic company. Maybe you’ve even had a second. They both went well, and the interviewer told you to expect to hear from them within a couple days. A week passes, and you start to wonder. Then the second week passes, and crickets are the only thing filling the silence while you wait for your phone to ring. What happened?

First – it’s your career. If a recruiter or interviewer gave you a timeline to get in contact with you, and they did not, contact them with a polite email or phone call requesting a status update on your candidacy for the job. In some companies, the hiring process can take a long time, but there is no harm in finding out whether the position is worth continued pursuit, or if you should look elsewhere. Regardless of how well an interview went, until you have accepted the job offer, nothing is certain.

No one cares more about your career than you do. Effective communication with a potential employer can be the difference between you getting the job or not, so don’t be afraid to ask when a hiring company misses a deadline they made with you, verbal or written.