Glenford Smith | When to call back about your job interview

QUESTION: I am an avid reader of your columns in the Sunday and daily Gleaner and I would like to ask a question. When one gets shortlisted for a job interview and one is contacted to come in for an interview, why after one has done the interview and they say they will contact the individual within a specified time does one not hear anything? Is it ethical for one to call and enquire about the status of one's interview? I await your response.

- S. Dunn

CAREERS: Thank you for your query. Thank you also for regularly reading the articles in The Gleaner.

Unfortunately, although companies might have every intention of getting back to everyone on the shortlist, they don't. The simple reason is that it takes time, and they usually don't want to take the time for that. I routinely tell job applicants not to take it personally.

I must say that the best of companies will take the time to call and tell you if you are successful or not. It is a pleasure dealing with someone from one of these professional, courteous, and empathetic companies. They understand that the candidate is waiting to get a yes or no. They call you back and assuage your anxiety with that yes or no.

Let me say that even after you have done the interview, before you would expect to get a yes or no, you are advised to contact them with a brief follow-up letter or email. Thank them for the courtesy of interviewing you and your hope that you will hear from them very soon. This will make it more likely that you will get an answer although this is not a reason to do it. It is a matter of simple courtesy, of saying thank you.

It is quite ethical for you to call and enquire about the status of your application. On the date when you said they would hear from you, call them and ask for the primary person on the interview panel. Introduce yourself and tell that person that you are calling to find out the status of your interview. You should have handy the date and time when you did the interview.

Candidates continue to think that it is the company's responsibility to reach out to them and tell them if they have been successful or not. In the perfect world, I would agree. However, we are not living in the ideal world. So, rather than leaving your fate in someone's hands and waiting until someone back to you if they will at all I advise you to take the initiative and call.

This is not to say that it isn't the company's responsibility to contact you with the outcome of your interview. It is. But you can stay aside and quietly wait for them to remember to call you, or you can take the reins in your hands and call.

I guess what I'm recommending is to take personal responsibility. In this way, you never have to wait and wonder. This way, whether or not they follow through on their promise to call, you are not worried you are fine either way.

I wish you the best.

n Glenford Smith is a motivational speaker and success strategist. He is the author of 'From Problems to Power' and co-author of 'Profile of Excellence'. glenfordsmith@yahoo.com