Contract after Interviews

[timlongs]

Hey all, first up, any advice given is much appreciated!

EDIT: Just noticed spelling mistake in the title, duh, should read: Contact after interviews

I've recently been applying for jobs in Digital Marketing (specifically SEO based roles) and through a mixture of just sending emails with CVs and cover letters attached and applying for jobs advertised, I've managed to have a few interviews for entry level positions.

All the interviews went very well in my eyes. And one company emailed me back within 2 days to say that they were impressed with me and there would be a permanent role opening in the company for me as long as they landed a new client which was described as 'extremely likely' - they said they'd get in touch within 2 weeks to confirm.

I emailed them straight back to say I was keen to work for the company and wished them luck with the new client. 2 weeks passed so I dropped them another email asking for an update... no response.

As of tomorrow it has been nearly 3 weeks. Do I email again or get on the phone? I am very interested in the role and the company but don't wanna come across annoying by hassling them.

TL:DR - Do I ring the person who interviewed me?

Edited by timlongs on Monday 23 November 20:50

[andy-xr]

Yes, and you've got a couple of options.

1. 1) The blunt and honest version. 'We said we'd speak after a couple of weeks, and subject to you landing this client we'd be working together. I Googled but couldnt find the press release. Did you land them?'

1. 2) The round the side assumptive version. 'I'm progressing a number of opportunities, and thought our conversation went particularly well. I'd like to make sure you're in my final selection and want to make my next role the right one. Shall we meet again, and is there any new information I should be aware of'

Sometimes people avoid awkward conversations that no-one wants to have and emails can easily be read and ignored if something sticky needs to be worded.

[timlongs]

andy-xr said:

Yes, and you've got a couple of options.

1. 1) The blunt and honest version. 'We said we'd speak after a couple of weeks, and subject to you landing this client we'd be working together. I Googled but couldnt find the press release. Did you land them?'

1. 2) The round the side assumptive version. 'I'm progressing a number of opportunities, and thought our conversation went particularly well. I'd like to make sure you're in my final selection and want to make my next role the right one. Shall we meet again, and is there any new information I should be aware of'

Sometimes people avoid awkward conversations that no-one wants to have and emails can easily be read and ignored if something sticky needs to be worded.

Thanks, called today and he was 'out of office' - but have been told my message will be passed on. If I don't hear from him by the end of the week I'll get on the phone again.

[rog007]

Some great advice there from Andy.

From their perspective, new clients/contracts can of course suffer all sorts of delays. If the contract really was imminent and you were the individual to help deliver it, I'd be a little concerned if they hadn't got back because if you're good, you'll also have other options being lined up if not already offered a role. I think therefore that there is a tipping point in time where if they keep you hanging on too long and you haven't found anything else, this could reduce your bargaining stock. It's not an easy one to be specific about as all indutries and circumstances are different, but I agree with you, after a period, it could come across as desperate. And would you want to work with an organisation that was unable to communicate effectively with you? Good luck!

[andy-xr]

By tomorrow, if they cant return a call you made on Tuesday, you may as well write it off, and if they havent made the effort to contact you by then, I wouldnt necessarily bother contacting them again

I'm sure they would be on the phone to you already if they'd landed the client, and wanted you to start working. They'd know that you've made a couple of contacts with them and they havent returned them

At some point you have to be objective and think whether you a) want to work for a company that's very dependent on just that one client that they're unable to do anything without them. b) put reasonable contact requests way down the list of things to do for weeks c) leave you hanging, which is more than rude

I think, if there isnt any contact by the end of the week that's getting on for a month, and they've given you their answer without actually giving you an answer

[timlongs]

Thanks for the advice guys. The day after I rung the company I was offered a part time role at a different company which starts next week, with the aim for the role to go full time in the New Year assuming things go well over the next few weeks.

I am still tempted to get in touch with the other company as I do feel it would be a good role for me, plus I get to move to London which would be fun while I'm still young.

This whole process has been quite annoying. I've had 5 interviews all in different parts of the country, and felt each interview went very well, and some companies just never got back to me. Some did, and there was some back and forth with emails, then they suddenly stopped replying. Wish people would just say yes/no.