Should I chase my application or be patient?

floalice15 · 2023-05-15T09:57:03+00:00

Hi Everyone TIA for any advice you can give. I applied for a role on 5th May (job deadline day). I received an email on 9th May confirming receipt of my application. The job advert stated interviews would be today (15th May) Part of me thinks that the interview date may well have been moved as it was a bank holiday weekend so they would have only had 9th - 13th May to sift and contact applicants for an interview. But part of me feels that I've been unsuccessful. Should I email to chase yet or leave? Before applying I managed to find the manager for the role on LinkedIn and had a 30 min teams chat about the role. I was really hoping I'd get through to an interview for putting in a good application and reaching out to him online. Don't want to seem desperate by emailing as appreciate not long since I applied but obviously would like to know if they interviewed today. Any advice would be great

FlorenceOrTheMachine · 15/05/2023 11:02

In my experience employers and recruitment agencies (especially the latter, who are lazy as fuck parasites) tend not to bother to inform unsuccessful applicants of their lack of success. I would say you're out of luck on this occasion. Would be delighted for you if I'm wrong.

Quveas · 15/05/2023 11:02

I wouldn't. If they are going to shortlist you, they will contact you. And someone phoning / reaching out on line does not improve your chances. Shortlisting is done on the basis of the application alone, or should be. In fact, certainly where I've always worked, if we are willing to have pre-application chats we detail that in the advertisement - we never never respond to people who "track us down" by other means, and it is just possible that doing that had the opposite effect.

Megifer · 15/05/2023 11:03

I'd leave it, if you've had a chat with the hiring manager so they will know of your application and will arrange an interview if they are interested.

Aprilx · 15/05/2023 12:17

I was thinking you should leave it now as unsuccessful candidates are rarely contacted. And then I read that you already traced the manager and had a thirty minute Teams chat! Shocked that you tracked somebody down in that way.

If the manager wanted to have pre interview chats they would have said so on the job advertisement and provided their contact details. Personally this is not something I would want to do, the interview is the opportunity to talk about the role and usually there are two or three interviews so more than enough opportunity.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 15/05/2023 12:26

we never never respond to people who "track us down" by other means, and it is just possible that doing that had the opposite effect

I know it's primarily a US site, but Ask A Manager has a lot of useful tips for job hunting and this is regarded as an absolute no-no; not least because you're trying to game the system they have put in place for candidates and want them to follow. Plus you haven't even been offered an interview and you're demanding 30 minutes of a manager's time without any idea of or consideration for what else they have to do or how busy they are.

Comfortingpigeon · 15/05/2023 12:29

I'm a veteran at job applications and I think sadly you didnt make it so i wouldnt chase but there could still be hope for the next week or so if they simply havent got round to it, which is a possibility.

VisionsOfSplendour · 15/05/2023 12:30

It's hard waiting, I had an interview about 10 days ago and haven't heard anything. I'm not expecting to have got the job after such a long time but it's always better to know

Good luck

Comfortingpigeon · 15/05/2023 12:30

I do think the stalking and teams chat was a no no also!

ClickClackClock · 15/05/2023 12:35

I disagree. Whether it's different industries as I work for NHS but I always welcome candidates making contact and would always allow time to speak to them.

TheKobayashiMaru · 15/05/2023 12:38

I would not contact them. They have been clear the interviews are today and I suspect they expect candidates who have applied to realise they are unsuccessful as they have not had an interview invitation.

They would have sifted on the 9th and then sent out interview slots that same day. That's how I'd do it on that strict timeline.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 15/05/2023 12:42

ClickClackClock · 15/05/2023 12:35

I disagree. Whether it's different industries as I work for NHS but I always welcome candidates making contact and would always allow time to speak to them.

So once the interviews start they aren't actually a level playing field because you've already got some ideas about the candidates who have contacted you, whether that's for or against? I'd be pretty pissed off if I was a candidate who had followed the application process and found out that was happening.

Phos · 15/05/2023 12:43

Honestly, if today was the interview date and you haven't been contacted, I'd advise you to assume you weren't successful and just leave it. It won't change anything if you've not been successful and may be off-putting if shortlisted has been delayed for some reason.

Some people have said the teams chat is a no-no. Considering the hiring manager obviously agreed to this, I wouldn't say it was a major faux pas, but please don't assume this guarantees you an interview. Not saying this was what happened but as as hiring manager, I can tell from a mile away who is calling to discuss the role to help them prepare and who is doing it because they think it fast tracks them to interview.

Phos · 15/05/2023 12:45

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 15/05/2023 12:42

So once the interviews start they aren't actually a level playing field because you've already got some ideas about the candidates who have contacted you, whether that's for or against? I'd be pretty pissed off if I was a candidate who had followed the application process and found out that was happening.

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It's not uncommon. Probably more common for internal posts because it's easier to contact people but certainly happens externally.

Megifer · 15/05/2023 12:47

ClickClackClock · 15/05/2023 12:35

I disagree. Whether it's different industries as I work for NHS but I always welcome candidates making contact and would always allow time to speak to them.

For me its not an industry thing but a fairness thing. If I spent 30 mins with a candidate who tracked me down its not particularly fair on others who followed the process.

I have on occasion in the past spent time chatting to a candidate who has gone outside the process but typically they seemed to be the ones who then 'hound' for want of a better word, so thats another reason i don't do that now.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 15/05/2023 12:50

So making idiots of the people who actually are professional and correctly follow the stated application process - it's all about if you can game the system.

StainlessSeal · 15/05/2023 12:57

@MrsDanversGlidesAgain its very usual in the NHS (certainly for higher grade posts) for the advertisement to state that they welcome enquiries and usually list a couple of people you can contact. I've also been told after not getting a post that it would have helped to have an informal chat with the lead clinician, so I had a really good idea about the job before hand and that this would have swung it for me!

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 15/05/2023 13:02

StainlessSeal · 15/05/2023 12:57

@MrsDanversGlidesAgain its very usual in the NHS (certainly for higher grade posts) for the advertisement to state that they welcome enquiries and usually list a couple of people you can contact. I've also been told after not getting a post that it would have helped to have an informal chat with the lead clinician, so I had a really good idea about the job before hand and that this would have swung it for me!

Ah right, that makes it slightly different, if candidates are encouraged to get in touch pre-interview as part of the application process and it's made clear that they can.

Original poster

floalice15 · 15/05/2023 14:33

Thanks to everyone for their replies. I'd just like to point out that I haven't stalked anyone I contacted them on LinkedIn after the job advert directed any enquiries to this individual. They then contacted me to arrange a 30 min informal chat about the role. This is pretty normal, and is what LinkedIn is for - networking. No need to accuse me of stalking!

OP posts:

wherethecityis · 15/05/2023 14:43

I had a 30 mins chat prior to applying for a role recently as well. I agree it's completely normal in some fields.
I chased up when I didn't hear about that application, and now I worry I am coming across as impatient and this will go against me. It's hard to be patient. I'm still waiting to hear back and the application deadline was weeks and weeks ago, but they will contact you if you've been successful so I'd just hang tight.

Megifer · 15/05/2023 14:51

floalice15 · 15/05/2023 14:33

Thanks to everyone for their replies. I'd just like to point out that I haven't stalked anyone I contacted them on LinkedIn after the job advert directed any enquiries to this individual. They then contacted me to arrange a 30 min informal chat about the role. This is pretty normal, and is what LinkedIn is for - networking. No need to accuse me of stalking!

Ah that wasn't clear at all from your op!

Tbh then if you followed their advice to get in touch and you had what sounds like a first interview/sift arranged by them it might be worth leaving it a day or two then get in touch asking for feedback as to why you weren't successful for the next stage but don't be offended or disheartened if they cant/won't provide it. Again due to the sheer volume I can only give feedback after a f2f interview.

Aprilx · 15/05/2023 15:12

floalice15 · 15/05/2023 14:33

Thanks to everyone for their replies. I'd just like to point out that I haven't stalked anyone I contacted them on LinkedIn after the job advert directed any enquiries to this individual. They then contacted me to arrange a 30 min informal chat about the role. This is pretty normal, and is what LinkedIn is for - networking. No need to accuse me of stalking!

You said “I managed to find the manager of the role on LinkedIn”, which certainly suggests some detective work on your part.

If the advertisement directed you to the individual, didn’t it provide a contact email? Rather than expect you to have to hunt them down.

Original poster

floalice15 · 15/05/2023 15:19

@Aprilx that is what LinkedIn is for - work related networking.

OP posts:

greennotepad · 15/05/2023 15:58

In fairness to the OP, if the manager was bothered by being 'tracked down' they probably wouldn't have agreed to a 30 mins Teams chat.

Networking with contacts at potential employees is perfectly normal on LinkedIn and what it is for- some of these replies are acting like the OP stalked the manager to their home and locked them in a room until they agreed to talk.