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<p>You research the company, plan your route to the interview spot, and spend hours practicing answers. Not only have you put in a lot of time and effort, but also money for transportation. The interview goes well, they seem to really like you and say they&#8217;ll get back to you. Then, you wait. And wait. Unfortunately, most job-seekers today will face this scenario at least once. In fact, it has become common for employers not to follow-up with candidates. How do you maintain your sanity when employers aren&#8217;t responsive? There are a few strategies for getting information without being an nuisance.</p>
<p><strong>Ask for a Timeline</strong></p>
<p>At the end of your interview, inquire about the hiring timeline if you haven&#8217;t been given one during the interview process. It may not be completely accurate, but it will give you an idea of when you should expect a follow-up. Even if the hiring process is put on hold, you should expect an update from the potential employer so you won&#8217;t be left in the dark. If the employer can&#8217;t or won&#8217;t give a timeline, you should carefully consider if you&#8217;d want to work at such an organization.</p>
<p><strong>Follow-Up Once</strong></p>
<p>One follow-up on the job seeker&#8217;s side is enough. Wait until the follow-up date given by the employer has passed (several days or a week to be safe) and send a polite email reaffirming your interest in the position. A short email will be less annoying and intrusive, but still shows that you expect communication after putting in the effort to interview. If you don&#8217;t get a response, move on and forget about the negative experience. Continuing to badger the employer won&#8217;t help your case and will only fuel your frustration.</p>
<p><strong>Stay Focused on Your Search</strong></p>
<p>Even if you&#8217;re almost certain about a job, don&#8217;t stop your job search until a contract is signed. Sometimes employers make promises and then find they don&#8217;t have the budget for the position or decide to go with another candidate. It&#8217;s unprofessional, but a common practice. After dealing with rejection and rude employers, you may begin to feel that your efforts are a waste of time. But the longer you persist, the greater chance you have of finding a company that values your skills and treats you with respect.</p>
<p>While it&#8217;s understandable that a company can&#8217;t respond to every applicant, those who have taken the time to interview deserve communication and honesty from potential employers. Sadly, professionalism isn&#8217;t as common as one might expect and job seekers should be prepared. The key to job search success is remaining focused and moving past the inevitable negative experiences.</p>