Waiting Around?

July 23 2009

So how's it going with you? The monsoon season is in full swing here in Las Vegas. Rain last night. Big storm a couple of days ago. Good stuff when you live in a desert.

So, no word yet on my presumptive interview. That's the hardest thing about looking for work: the waiting for somebody else and there's not a thing you can legitimately do to get them off the dime. If it hasn't happened yet, it will: you just know you've grabbed that clinching interview, the person said so explicitly, but they never call. You feel like the stereotypical Jewish mother: you never write, you never call, oy, kinder! Yeah, well, you may be tempted to rattle cages at that point. The thing is, you probably shouldn't, in most cases. Unless it's for a sales job where that sort of persistence is admired. You need to be persistent, but you also need to be courteous. If you look grasping and overeager, you'll be like the little nerd who can't get a date because he's, well, grasping and overeager. Sorry, but that's the way it is.

If, on the other hand, a deadline passes and nothing has happened, you have a legitimate reason to inquire as to why that is so. Now you can call or email and find out. It may be that some crisis came up and they couldn't do anything else for a week. It happens.

The best way to get through a situation like that is to keep working along as if there were no interview scheduled. You are not employed at least until their first check clears the bank. Maybe not really even then, given modern realities. So, rather than obsess about that one interview that should happen shortly, keep working your process. Do that and you will get a great interview, sooner or later. I promise.

Steve