The confusing part for applicants is whether or not to take some action regarding feedback from recruiters. Is it appropriate to contact the recruiters? If yes, when and how? Or in what way could you get the information you need faster?
It’s good to know what to do when recruiters don’t respond. You can save time, and take action toward your employment where possible.
Have patience during the hiring process
The hiring process overall is quite complex. There is the research of possible candidates, then scheduling of interviews with everyone, and shortlisting of candidates as well.
The recruiter and hiring manager are aware that you expect to hear from them. But, you also need to be aware that the hiring process is not the easiest process for them as well.
Choosing a candidate is not easy, but if the process is done well, it pays off for everyone included. In turn, choosing the wrong candidate means losing resources down the road, and going through the hiring process all over again. Keep this in mind while you wait for the response.
Relax and remember there’s nothing personal about recruiters that don’t respond back. Things get busy as there are probably too many applicants, and the selection process could take more than several business days.
Contact the recruiter or hiring manager
Even the best of us cannot contain the enthusiasm or impatience when it comes to nudging the hiring managers or recruiters. It is normal to at least inquire about the timeframe or possible dates when you get a reply back.
It is useful to know the date when you get a reply back because you won’t waste time waiting idly. And also, this way you won’t be pushy with too many emails asking about it.
Regardless of the decision, the company makes, sending a follow-up email is considered a good and polite move. These emails make you look grateful for the job interview and for the recruiter’s time dedicated to this.
A follow-up email also means that you are genuinely interested in that job. If you decide to contact the recruiter or hiring manager, be subtle, polite, and patient.
Assemble a concise subject line, including your full name and the job position you applied for. Write a short concise email, be grateful for the interview, and ask when could you expect a decision.
Be interested in the position, but not pushy
Maybe asking about the final decision sounds too pushy or official to you. Still, there is another simple, but useful way to stay in touch with unresponsive recruiters.
You can try an interesting approach that resembles the interview itself. For example, ask about the job position and its obligations, and phrase it as a follow-up. Taking an interest in the job responsibilities, instead of just pushing for the reply could get the recruiter’s attention more.
Usually, recruiters don’t have detailed information about the daily tasks of the job. Most of the time during interviews, as an applicant you might forget to ask everything you wanted to know.
So, this is a great opportunity to remember the interview questions the recruiter asked you and use them to your advantage. Ask about the workload on a daily or weekly basis. This way, you remind the recruiter to reply faster, and you stand out from other applicants too.
When you ask the recruiter questions, you also prepare for the job position itself. It will give the impression that you are serious, professional, and consider yourself a perfect fit for the position already.
Do you need another approach for the hiring team?
Applying for tech jobs is stressful because of the expectations and the waiting period. Take it easy on yourself, but also take it easy on the hiring team.
Once you emailed the recruiter, focus on other productive and professional things in the meantime. More than one subtle reminder, especially within a short period, could appear a bit intense.
There is no special tactic or approach at this point. You have done all you could so far—attended the interview process, answered questions, and completed the assessment tests. Add the follow-up email to the recruiter to this equation, and it’s completed on your behalf.
All you can do is wait, and use your time wisely while you wait. Go through all job types and options, because you never know what is most suitable for you in general. From there, you will certainly know what to look for.
What to do to become a great fit for a job position?
Try to stay motivated and don’t lose focus on what is ahead of you. For now, you wait, but use this to upgrade your professionalism drastically.
To land a great job offer in the digital world, it is good to examine your approach, skills, and expertise. This way you will improve your job search overall, and hand in hand, more opportunities will arise.
For example, try to evaluate the skills you have so far. Maybe one or more of them could be improved or upgraded. Maybe add more resumé skills, or take a course to improve existing technical skills.
There are other excellent ways to advance your career path. Even consulting a career coach is a great idea. Such experts can broaden your network, assess your job hunting, propose improvements, and improve your resume.
Considering that demands and requirements change and increase for everyone, especially software engineers.
The takeaway
The harsh truth is that a job seeker not always gets a reply back. Whenever you search for a job, it is natural to expect a timely answer, preferably a positive one.
However, being prepared for any possible scenario in advance is a good mindset to adopt. This gives you determination, better soft skills, efficient job hunting, and a better evaluation of your expertise.
When you wonder what to do when you haven’t heard back from your recruiter in a while, just be patient. Politeness, genuine interest, and resumé upgrading are most useful now. Be smart with your free time, and remember, productiveness in your free time will benefit you in the long run.