# Is there any good way to contact a job after an interview **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 29, 2013, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-good-way-to-contact-a-job-after-an-interview/664792 "2013-07-29T06:24:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-good-way-to-contact-a-job-after-an-interview/664792/1 "2013-07-29T06:24:18Z")
I had an interview for a job about 10 days ago. I thought it went great, I had all of the qualifications they were looking for, I answered their questions well, and we had a laugh or two. They told me I was the first person they’s interviewed for the position, and they had a few more scheduled. They also said they were hoping to hire very soon. I want to KNOW. If I didn’t get the job, I’d rather know so I can mentally move on. Or even better, I did get the job (I’ve been job hunting for almost a year). Is there anyway to contact them and ask if I got the job? If they’ve picked someone else, I’d rather hear it than be hanging for any longer. But on the other hand, I don’t want to seem pushy and desperate. How can I tastefully contact them to ask for an update? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-good-way-to-contact-a-job-after-an-interview/664792/2 "2013-07-29T06:31:30Z")
Drop an email to the person that interviewed you, thanking them for the interview, expressing your continued interest, offering to provide any additional info they may want, etc. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-good-way-to-contact-a-job-after-an-interview/664792/3 "2013-07-29T06:40:11Z")
And it’s perfectly fine to ask explicitly what is the status, especially if done in a matter of fact matter. Also remember that some interviewers are really friendly by nature, and you can be picking up on that. When I was in school, I had the experience of interviewing for an internship were a number of other people from my major who also interviewed. We all felt that it had gone really well. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-good-way-to-contact-a-job-after-an-interview/664792/4 "2013-07-29T09:21:45Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > I had an interview for a job about 10 days ago. I thought it went great… > > …They told me I was the first person they’s interviewed for the position, and they had a few more scheduled. They also said they were hoping to hire very soon. That doesn’t sound like it went “great” if they were talking about other interviews. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-good-way-to-contact-a-job-after-an-interview/664792/5 "2013-07-29T09:58:27Z")
Eons ago, after waiting a week or so and not hearing anything, I called the office and just asked if a decision had been made. I got the impression they’d lost my contact information or something, because they ended up hiring me a day or 2 later. I suppose that should have been a tipoff to run far away, but I took the job and networked my way (8 months later) into what ended up being a 26-year career. Anyway, I’d recommend calling and asking about the status of the position. What’s the worst that can happen? As long as you’re not calling daily and being a pest… ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-good-way-to-contact-a-job-after-an-interview/664792/6 "2013-07-29T11:06:54Z")
“Hi, this is Palo. I interviewed for \ a couple of weeks ago and I’m still really interested in the position. Could you let me know if a decision has been made yet?” ---
**Author:** ![Tracijo67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@Tracijo67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracijo67)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-good-way-to-contact-a-job-after-an-interview/664792/7 "2013-07-29T11:17:39Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > That doesn’t sound like it went “great” if they were talking about other interviews. Well of course they were informing him that there were other interviews being conducted. Most companies do not cancel scheduled interviews once they’ve found “the one”. I say that routinely, and usually as part of the reason why it will take some time before the candidate hears from us. I think it is a good sign that theywere relaxed and joking with you. Good luck. Please do follow up. Hiring managers take this as an encouraging sign of your interest. Keep it direct and simple. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-good-way-to-contact-a-job-after-an-interview/664792/8 "2013-07-29T11:50:25Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > That doesn’t sound like it went “great” if they were talking about other interviews. That’s not true. No one will cancel other interviews that are already scheduled, and deifnitely will not csncel until a contract is signed/hire is complete. A professional email asking about status is fine- but just one. Realistically there are so many reasons an offer might be delayed that you shouldn’t take it as a negative sign about your chances. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-good-way-to-contact-a-job-after-an-interview/664792/9 "2013-07-29T15:59:01Z")
You can google follow-up interview email templates. Send one and cross your fingers. If you don’t get a response within the week, assume you didn’t get the job. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-good-way-to-contact-a-job-after-an-interview/664792/10 "2013-07-29T16:39:51Z")
Thanks guys, I sent a quick email, along the lines of what sandra\_nz suggested. Now I’ll wait for a response. I’ll let you know when I hear something. Oh please please please let me get this job! ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-good-way-to-contact-a-job-after-an-interview/664792/11 "2013-07-29T17:06:54Z")
OK - 10 days might seem like an eternity to you, but it is a blink of an eye in terms of interviewing people. Many don’t see the ad/job posting immediately, nor apply for the job, until after it has been posted for awhile. When I used to hire teachers, it seemed like the best applicants were always the ones who applied latest. (I think it had to do with them only finding out about the job(s) from friends/co-workers, and thus the late applications.) It takes time to arrange all the meeting for interviews. Once the interviews are completed, they might have to go through a sort of committee review, and that can take time to get the committee to meet. Then the committee has to go through each application. Once decided, it takes time for HR (or whoever is responsible) to sort out the contract and details. In other words - take a chill pill…give them time to check out who else is available and let them find out why YOU really are the best choice- but don’t start stalking them and knocking on the door every five minutes! ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-good-way-to-contact-a-job-after-an-interview/664792/12 "2013-07-29T17:43:19Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > Thanks guys, I sent a quick email, along the lines of what sandra\_nz suggested. Now I’ll wait for a response. I’ll let you know when I hear something. > > Oh please please please let me get this job! Just curious whether you had sent a thank-you note after the interview? (I can’t tell if you’re from a country that frowns on that.) ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-good-way-to-contact-a-job-after-an-interview/664792/13 "2013-07-29T21:17:16Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Just curious whether you had sent a thank-you note after the interview? (I can’t tell if you’re from a country that frowns on that.) **Palo Verde** ’s profile says Tuscon, Arizona. So I’d say it would have been appropriate to send a thank-you note. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-good-way-to-contact-a-job-after-an-interview/664792/14 "2013-07-30T03:37:36Z")
> [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](#): > > **Palo Verde** ’s profile says Tuscon, Arizona. :smack: Thanks.