What I Wish I Knew About Interviewing For My Dream Job

Summary

The author shares their experience of waiting for a callback after job interviews and emphasizes the importance of common courtesy from recruiters and hiring managers.

Abstract

The article discusses the author's experiences with job interviews, particularly the anxiety and excitement that come with them. The author recounts a specific instance where they went through multiple interviews and writing tests for a position they were highly interested in, only to be met with radio silence for nearly eight weeks. After several follow-up attempts, the author was informed that they did not get the job. The author expresses frustration with the lack of courtesy and the prolonged waiting period, emphasizing the importance of a simple "no" instead of being ignored. They also share a recent experience of interviewing for a teaching position and being met with the same silence. The author concludes by urging recruiters and hiring managers to provide clear and timely feedback, as it is a matter of common courtesy.

Bullet points

The author enjoys and dislikes interviewing for jobs due to the associated anxiety and excitement.
After graduating, the author interviewed for an online proofreading position, which involved multiple interviews and writing tests.
Despite a positive interview experience, the author received no response for nearly eight weeks.
After numerous follow-up attempts, the author was informed they did not get the job, causing disappointment and frustration.
The author emphasizes the importance of a simple "no" instead of being ignored, as it is a matter of common courtesy.
The author recently interviewed for a teaching position and is still waiting for a response, despite follow-up attempts.
The author urges recruiters and hiring managers to provide clear and timely feedback to interviewees.

An interview is just phase one. Waiting for a callback after is the hardest part.

Interviewing for jobs is both a task that I love and a task that I hate. One of my favorite topics to discuss is myself and what I’m capable of. I could talk about myself for hours. You may call that cocky, I call it overcompensating for incredibly low self-esteem. Whatever way you slice it, I get anxious getting ready for an interview.

I’ve had dozens of phone interviews, Zoom interviews now, and in-person conversations about potential jobs and position openings.

When I graduated from university with a Bachelors's degree in English composition, I had every intention of getting a job in publishing. I wanted to work with a newspaper or magazine, and I wanted to write articles or be an editor. Unfortunately, I live outside of Baltimore, Maryland. If I wanted to truly pursue a career in publishing, I’m going to have to move to Oregon, New York, or Florida.

While interviewing is a nerve-wracking but exciting endeavor, the waiting afterward is far, far worse. Yet, no one seems to talk about that waiting.

Just after I graduated, I was interviewing with companies in Baltimore that were hiring for online proofreaders or associate editors. I had a reference from an old classmate to interview at her company. I had a phone screening, two writing tests, and two in-person interviews over the course of February 2019. I did not get a straight answer from this company until April. Nearly eight weeks of radio silence.

After so many interviews and giving writing samples and even being told that I was being highly considered — I even had a brief meeting with some higher ups in the company — I was pretty sure I had the job in the bag. It was a really cool opportunity that would have allowed me to grow and learn and write about topics I wasn’t used to. I tried not to get my hopes up, but with how well everything was going, it was hard not to.

After a dozen and a half follow-up phone calls and emails, I had to give up. My point of contact ghosted me. He never responded to my emails. I called his assistant and his office line a handful of times, and my calls were never returned. I even reached out to other people in the company, thinking maybe I had the wrong email address. The only thing I could think of was that this guy was deathly ill and out of office.

Out of the blue one day in April, after I had started my current teaching job, I got an email from my point of contact which said they had decided to go in a different direction.

Even though I had already started this other great job, I was so upset to hear that I had not gotten the job. I thought I had accepted that fact, but his email reminded me how hurt I was by the entire experience.

I’ve never been a recruiter, nor have I ever had a position of hiring authority at a workplace, so I have never had to hire someone or interview a candidate. I don’t know what the process is like. However, a simple “no” is better than ignoring a person. I wish I had been better prepared for the lack of courtesy that is, unfortunately, the norm.

About two weeks ago, I interviewed for a really awesome opportunity that would give me more teaching experience. I have sent three follow up emails to both people who interviewed me, and I once again have been met with nothing.

I need to know a straight answer. I work a fixed schedule month-to-month with my driving school. If I am going to start a new job, I need to let my school know so that they can schedule me for only evening classes. But I can’t even give them my availability because I’m still waiting to hear.

While this is my situation, I know it’s not everyone’s. I don’t think it matters. Whether someone has a set schedule or someone is just waiting impatiently, an interviewee deserves an answer.

Recruiters and hiring managers need to stop beating around the bush. Just tell me “no.” I would rather know right away that I didn’t make the cut than to go weeks and weeks wondering what could have been. It comes down to common courtesy.

What I Wish I Knew Before Interviewing For My Dream Job

An interview is just phase one. Waiting for a callback after is the hardest part.