Early last week I was flown in for an interview at a financial services group for an entry-level actuarial position. It’s a great company, very much in my preferred city (where I grew up); benefits are good and everyone was very kind. I thought the interview itself went reasonably well, though I was fatigued and I think my performance suffered near the end. But long story short: I came; I interviewed; I left. A few days later I shot off an email to the chief actuary and the position’s recruiter with the standard thank-you note. I understood that they were attempting to make a decision rather quickly, and I think they were only planning to interview three candidates in person. But it’s a week and a half later and I have no response.
Frankly, at this point I’ve pretty much resigned myself to not getting the job. But this would be an awesome position, and my heart skips whenever the damned phone rings—I need closure. When I last had an interview, it took nearly a month for that company to send me a rejection letter; I’d like to avoid that to the extent possible.
My question: at what point—if ever!—would it become acceptable to inquire (via telephone or email) about the status of my candidacy? The problem is that it entirely slipped my mind to ask when I’d hear back from them; the advice I’ve seen on the net of “wait until <some period of time> after they told you you’d hear” doesn’t apply. If there’s still a chance, I don’t want to hurt it by being annoying.
[A bit on my background: I’m in the process of completing a master of arts degree in applied economics. (Coursework has been finished with exemplary grades, but I need to finish a literature review before requirements are met.) Instead of going the SAS programmer route usually taken by graduates from my program, I’m focusing on an actuarial career—I’ve passed Exam P and will be taking Exam FM in a month. That isn’t to say I wouldn’t take a job as a SAS programmer in this terrible climate and I’ve certainly applied for my share, an but an examination of my jobless former classmates does not reveal that track to be any easier right now. Heck, any job advice not related to my question would be helpful.]
IMHO, a week and a half might be a bit too soon to say “So, did I get the job?”
But you could give yourself a slight excuse by e-mailing something similar to but more formal than “Thanks for the interview. By the way, I forgot to ask what your timeline for a decision was. Do you know when you’ll be deciding?” That way, you’re not bugging them about what decision they’ve made, just following up with the interview.
Of course, the ideal way to contact them is “I really want to work for you, but I have another offer. Can you tell me soon?” but it’s probably better not to do that unless you really do have another offer.
I think you’re right about it being too soon; perhaps on Monday I’ll send them an email such as you’ve described. I appreciate the advice.
Heh. The thought occurred to me in my darker moments, that in this barren, nearly interview-less wasteland no one could blame me a bit of subterfuge—but I’m a terrible liar.
Yes, every day seems like an eternity for the person applying, but they may be flying by with other things going on with the interviewers. And the other interviews may not be scheduled one right after another. Hang in there!
My brother’s an actuary and he mentions those tests and gearing up for them periodically. I forget what level he’s at-- I think he had passed five or six and then they revised the series of tests. Good luck!!
What a coincidence! At the moment I’m in the process of interviewing candidates for a qualified actuary’s position.
My view: if you weren’t given any specific dates about when the decision would be made, I’d say two weeks would be a perfectly acceptable point at which to go back and seek clarification about your application. That seems to be the norm with candidates here.
an email is not at all intrusive and I would fire off one at least weekly. show you are persistent but not obnoxious.
do you have the phone number of someone lower down in the food chain to call for some advice. 'i’d really like thius job. can you give me any hints on the application status and how your corporate culture likes to see go getters follow up. ’ type of thing.
work cultures and different countries have different norms. think about what you want to project and often an appeal for advice brings out the help in people. never underestimate the power of ‘if you were me, what would you do?’
