Should You Call the Employer After an Interview (And When) - Career Sidekick

Should You Call the Employer After an Interview (And When) - Career Sidekick Should You Call the Employer After an Interview? (And When?) After Your Interview / https://www.edenscott.com/blog If youre wondering, should I call after the interview? then youve come to the right place.Im going to walk you through when you should call (and NOT call) the interviewer after an interview.There are a couple cases where a phone call after the interview is a good idea, but many cases where this is *not* a very good idea, so well cover everything belowWhen Should You Call the Interviewer After an Interview?The first question to ask yourself is1. What do you want to say?In general, hiring managers and employers are BUSY. So if something is really simple and can be said via email, that might be a better choice.Im a big fan of contacting the company after an interview in general if you forgot to mention something, if you thought of a question to ask, etc.However, in many cases, email is a much better choice.So that leads us to the next question to ask yourself when deciding whether you should call after the interview2. Would email be just as effective?If your answer to this question is yes, Id consider sending an email.Since hiring managers are busy, theyll be able to read this when its convenient.You could even use a follow-up email after the interview to schedule a time to touch base on the phone. That way you know youre getting them at a good time.However, if they havent been answering your emails, then a call makes sense! That brings me to the next point.3. Have you already tried emailing?If you sent an email and waited 3-4 business days without a reply, then calling the interviewer or employer is a good logical next step!If the company isnt answering your emails, they really cant blame you for calling them. So go ahead!4. Are you following up for feedback?If so, I strongly recommend an email instead  (if you havent already).However if youve tried emailing and gotten no response after a couple days then calling is a good option.As mentioned in point #3 above, dont be afraid to use the phone if youve exhausted other options like email.5. Are calling to thank them?If this is the case, Id recommend sending a written thank you note or email.Its not recommended that you call the interviewer after an interview to thank them for their time (although an email or note is definitely a must-do!)6. Are you unsure about the next steps?Try to ask this at the end of each interview in the future, but if youre unsure what to expect moving forward, you can definitely contact the company to ask.However, an email is much more suitable for this as a first option in most industries.It does depend on your industry and the specific people youre talking to, though. So lets talk about that next7. Are you worried the interview went badly?If youre unsure if the interview went well, or have a bad feeling, you really can only wait at this point. Calling wont make things better, and it might just make it worse.So if you finished your interview in the last day or two, just wait for feedback.You can also read this article with 14 ways to know if your interview went well or badly.8. Is there something important you want to clarify or forget to mention?This can definitely be a good reason for calling the employer after the interview.If you have one specific thing you want to add or one question you wish you had answered differently, you can call them up and mention it.However, like with almost everything mentioned above, you could also do this via email if youre more comfortable. Its up to you. But this is a valid reason to call after the interview.9. Did the interviewer or employer invite you to call?This is an obvious sign its okay to call. If they gave you their phone number or a business card with their number on it and said to reach out if you needed anything, then go for it!However, if you dug their phone number up through Google or something else, Id be more hesitant and would recommend email instead.10. Whos your audience?I come from a background in Tech Recruiting, and Biotech/Pharma before that. Those are pr etty modern industries that use technology a ton.As a tech recruiter, wed use instant messaging and LinkedIn messenger to send resumes, etc.However, I know other industries are still much more formal/traditional.So when you decide whether you should call after an interview, youll need to consider the specific people youre talking with.What industry is this? Is it very formal and relies more heavily on phone than email? Or is it more modern and tech-savvy?And who is the hiring manager or person youd be calling? What do they seem to use to communicate more often? How has the employer communicated with you up until this point? (For example, when scheduling your interviews, etc.)Asking yourself those things will give you clues about whether its a good idea to hop on the phone or just send an email instead after the interview.Dont Overthink It! If You Want to Make a Follow-Up Call After the Interview, Do ItId recommend following the advice above, but if youre still not sure, just pick up the phone and call the interviewer or hiring manager. Its okay!The worst thing that happens is they see youre excited about the job and not afraid to take initiative when you want something.And most importantly youll get whatever your concern is off of your mind so you can go back to focusing on applying for more jobs, preparing for other interviews, etc.Should You Call the Interviewer after an Interview? Quick InstructionsMost things are communicated just as well by email, so thats a better first step usually. However, if youve already tried emailing and have not gotten a response, calling on the phone is okay.Its also okay if the interviewer gave you their phone number and invited you to call if you needed anything.Some very traditional industries prefer phone calls and would look down upon an email, so use your best judgment to assess your industry, too.And finally, if you just have a strong preference for calling, you should go ahead and call the interviewer after the intervi ew. Its better than spending days waiting nervously and feeling distracted when you should be getting back to your job search (yes, you should be applying for more jobs until you accept a job offer!!)Aside from these cases mentioned above, an email is typically a better first option for contacting most employers after an interview.