How many times have you found yourself in this situation: several days prior, you had an interview.  It seemed to go well and the interviewer informed you that they would ‘get back to you.’  You went home, excited, but as the days passed with no call, you begin to question every aspect of the interviewing, wondering where you went wrong.

This happens more often than many HR professionals would like. Relax. Sometimes a busy schedule of interviews and work sometimes gets in the way of them calling you back.  Learning techniques aimed at discovering how to make employers call you back is an easy and beneficial addition to any job seekers trunk of tricks.

  1. Don’t Expect It: Don’t ever assume that you will get a call back.  Instead, make it a point to discuss the point of next contact before finishing the interview, meeting or phone call.  This can be as simple as asking when an appropriate time would be for you to follow up.  Many job seekers are leery of this, feeling that it will make them appear pushy; however, politely asking for a follow up isn’t being pushy.  I think it shows motivation and Always ask for a follow up.  Never leave it to chance.
  2. You Are Responsible: At the end of the day, you, as the job seeker, are the one responsible for the follow up, after all, it is you that wants the position.  Take responsibility for the part you play in follow up meetings and calls by asking for them, being polite is subsequent contact and following through on any promises you make.
  3. “I’ll Get Back To You” isn’t enough: “I’ll get back to you’ may be the five most dreaded words in the job seeking business.  Don’t ever leave a meeting or interview on this note. If a potential employer uses this line, ask them when!  If they cannot provide you with a specific time frame for a follow up, ask when it would be appropriate to follow up yourself.  Again, don’t be afraid to schedule your follow up.
  4. Keep Calling: If you were unable, or afraid, to schedule a follow-up, wait three days and follow-up yourself. Again, many job seekers shy away from this tactic, but remember that the interviewer or HR manager is busy as well and a gentle reminder is not harmful.  Be respectful whenever leaving a message and always be consistent.

Getting that all-important call back can be difficult and waiting for it can be even worse. Instead of leaving it up to fate, take matters into your own hands.  Be proactive by scheduling follow-ups.  Be polite, but assertive, when asking for a follow-up call or meeting.  Don’t ever be afraid to follow-up yourself.
Waiting is an unfortunate part of finding employment. If you are like me, waiting for anything can be excruciating. You can make this waiting a bit easier to endure by learning how to make an employer call you back.  The peace of mind a scheduled follow-up can give you will make the waiting game much easier.