Does following up even work?

First topic message reminder :

Back story:

Two weeks ago, I had four interviews at a restaurant for a hostess job, so basically I wasn't going to be making anymore than $8 or $9 an hour. I never did find out what the exact pay would be, but based on my knowledge of the food service industry, I didn't expect more than $9 an hour. That was OK, because I really just want to get out of the house and work at this point.

I met with the woman in charge of employee training when I dropped off my application, then had three interviews each of the three following days with two assistant managers and a general manager. The management seemed to like me and said I had good availability and then had me fill out a form to agree to a background check.

Each day of my following three interviews, I was on time. I was dressed up nice and was courteous to everyone I met.

But now, the job I thought would be mine has not come to. In fact, after all of these interviews I have not heard a thing back. They haven't called to even mention if there was a problem with my background check. I've heard nothing saying they are held up, that they can't hire me...just silence.

OK I guess I should make my point. I vented about this to a few of my friends, and they responded that I should call them because "it only takes a couple of minutes" and it "shows you're interested".

Is it ever the employer's responsibility to call the job seeker anymore, or do they just sit around expecting everyone to flock to them and bow down to them??

I could understand my friends' response if I had simply filled out an application, dropped it off and hadn't met with anyone. However, I had a hard time understanding that I still needed to "show interest" after four interviews. I think they know I want the job...

I'm not convinced following up even works in the job search. In my experience, in the times I have followed up, I have either been ignored or gotten ambiguous answers. After one such interview, I followed up with the hiring manager in a fair amount of time and was told that they were still "making a decision", and I never heard from that company again! In fact, they did the standard re-post the job because no one was perfect enough. Also, I have sent thank you notes after every interview, and here I am...still unemployed!

I just think it's outdated advice, and I apologize to anyone who has gotten a job from this. But it hasn't worked for me, and I just don't think it's worth it to keep trying. I have heard some advice that if the employer were really interested, they would contact you, and I wold have to agree.

Really, though, if everyone who was unemployed followed up and it impressed employers that much, maybe we wouldn't have a problem.

Am I being ridiculous, or is this others' experience as well?

Yeah, I had one of those recently.

T or F : I like to play games of chance, even when I can't afford it.



Would anyone ever answer T to that, even if it were true?

I just quit one midway through when it said the test normally takes 60-90 minutes. Need I mention it was for a minimum wage job for 16-25 hours? Forget that, yes I need money but not that bad. Last year I took a test for a $10 hour job asking me questions in calc and trig. I failed that one but why should someone know those for a job like that? It's a way to discriminate against older workers. I took trig in college but that was many years ago.

Best job I ever had required four interviews, one of which I had to fly to the corporate home office. Sometimes they make it difficult and make you jump through hoops to find out how you handle and react to things.
Bottom line if you need the job, its their game and you play by their rules.

JoanB wrote:Yeah, I had one of those recently.

T or F : I like to play games of chance, even when I can't afford it.



Would anyone ever answer T to that, even if it were true?

That's the point of those tests. You just tell them what they want to hear. I have worked for many companies that used them and used them to hire people. I have never failed one. To me it is just common sense. Tell them what you think they want to hear, not the truth. I don't mean this to be an insult. I would be willing to help anyone with any questions about these tests that they might have.

Well lendme, my point was, what could the employer possibly hope to weed out? People who were that stupid wouldn't know which key to press or which end of the pencil to use in the first place.

They might as well have asked "T or F: I like to get drunk, go into work, beat up my boss, and torch the place."

When I was hiring people I always felt that a follow up phone call or note gave that person a leg up

rainer123 wrote:When I was hiring people I always felt that a follow up phone call or note gave that person a leg up

I totally agree. Don't be obsessive, but definitely this shows your continued interest and may just be a call made in the "nick of decision time".