4 Things You Should Do Instead of “Checking In”
You nailed the job interview. Your thank-you email was warm, gracious, and not overeager. The hiring manager said she’d be in touch by Wednesday — but Wednesday comes and goes. So does Thursday. So does Friday.
Having been in this situation during previous job hunts, I know how aggravating it can be. And I know that your first instinct is probably to email the person who interviewed you, just to check in.
My message to you today is this: Don’t check in. Ever.
The thing is, the hiring manager didn’t forget about you. More likely, the company is negotiating with another candidate but hasn’t quite closed the deal yet. At best, you’re a backup. At worst, they just haven’t gotten around to breaking the bad news to the “other” candidates.
Either way, your sad little “Just wanted to check in on the position!” email is not going to secure you an offer. In fact, you’re better off doing almost anything else with your time. Here are four things you should do instead, the next time you’re tempted to check in…
1) Write a blog post.
As you’re sending your killer new resume out into the ether, keep in mind that you’re competing against an army of job-seekers with equally awesome CVs. Being a thought-leader in your industry will help you stand out from the pack, and the easiest way to do that is to blog on a regular basis.
Any time you have an original insight about your field, or some thoughts to share on a current event that’s affecting your industry, type it out and share it with the world. You don’t even need your own website to do this; that’s what Medium and Pulse are for.
Remember, not every blog post has to be a 1,200-word banger. You can do a lot with a little. And who knows, maybe someone at your dream company will come across your words and see how brilliant you are.
2) Introduce yourself to a stranger.
At this point, everyone should know that uploading your resume to job boards almost never gets you where you want to be. To get hired, you actually have to form connections with people in the real world who might hire you, or at least put in a good word for you down the road.
If you don’t belong to any professional associations, fix that problem immediately. I know — we’re all delicate introverts who hate networking. But it’s critical to show your face at industry events, shake a few hands, and collect as many business cards as you can.
You should also search LinkedIn for people in your industry who live near you, and set up coffee meetings with as many of them as possible. You could wind up meeting someone who leads you to the next step in your career. Plus, talking shop with your peers face-to-face is usually a lot more inspirational than any webinar or “how to” article you’d consume on the Internet. (Including this one, believe me.)
3) Add value to the company *before* you’re hired.
Okay, fine, this is just a sneaky way to “check in,” but hear me out: For a few days after your job interview, act like you work there. I don’t mean show up to the office the next day and ask the receptionist where your desk is. What I mean is, continue to keep that company at the top of your mind, and generate ideas that would benefit the business.
Assuming you did your research going into the interview, you already know 1) The product or service the company offers, 2) their target customers, and 3) the general strategies they use to reach those customers. Now: What would you do if you actually got the job? What would you do on your first day to improve customer experience or reduce inefficiencies?
Don’t keep those ideas to yourself. Email the people who interviewed you for the position and tell them about the great idea that just popped into your head. It will show them know that you’re already in go-mode, and you can bring value to the table. If the company is having trouble deciding between you and another candidate, showing interest and initiative could make the difference.
(And again, do not use the phrase “checking in.” They will sense your desperation.)
4) Go outside.
Believe it or not, there are some really good reasons to stand up from your desk and leave the house once in a while. Searching for work may be a full-time job, but keep in mind that you are your own boss — which means nobody’s going to reprimand you for taking 30 minutes in the middle of the day to go for a walk, play with your dog, or just stretch your arms in the sunlight.
Being unemployed is a bummer, and the worst thing you can do is stare at your computer screen all day, frustrated at your lack of progress. Don’t get sucked in. The anxiety of not hearing back after a job interview is real and inescapable, but you can’t let it define your days.
Give yourself regular breaks. Walk away from your computer and go outside. Shut the door behind you. Breathe, meditate, think about something else. It’ll all be there when you get back.
