Hunting for a job in a shrinking economy is a daunting task. When hiring managers take ages to reply, it becomes even more mentally draining. Thankfully, a few good practices can help avoid post-interview anxiety and stress.
You’ve wrapped up multiple interviews and are now waiting to hear the results. The anxiety and incessant monitoring of the phone are enough to distract you from your usual issues and obligations. Yet the waiting period drags on and on.
Managing your expectations is important. You need to remember that there is no single dream job for you. When you feel that you are being ghosted about an opportunity, you must continue with the job search. Every company has its own set of recruitment standards and turn-around time. Large corporations may take more days to get back to you in comparison to smaller ones. You must accept the fact that the job offer can fall apart at any point, irrespective of the company size. The vacant position might have been merged, or it might have gone to someone else. The hiring manager might be talking to some other potential candidates in the meantime. If you’ve been overthinking post an interview and its been causing a lot of stress, below you’ll find tips that will surely help you settle down.
There can be multiple reasons behind the silence of a company but that shouldn’t bog a candidate down. You have to be on your toes until you have an official offer on the table.
Gurinderpal Singh, Founder, TMSS Talent21
Bluffing to cut the wait for that HR call doesn’t always work
Impatience could kill an eventual ‘Yes’. Forcing the employer’s hand by saying that you have received another offer, and you may be tempted to join if you don’t have an answer quickly could be easily called out as a bluff. If not conveyed in the right way, some take it as lack of professional patience and courtesy. If the organization has some valid reason to stretch your recruitment process, you are likely to lose out all together.
Watch: How long should you wait to hear back from an employer
So rather than resorting to bluff, it is advisable to politely tell the hiring manager that you are continuing to hunt for jobs. This may trigger the manager to check the status of your application and tell you something concrete.
You must remember that every vacant position comes with a closing date. No vacancy stays open endlessly. Usually, the position comes with an expiry date of 45 to 60 days. You must take any action with this timeline in mind.
Hiring and Getting Hired during the Pandemic
In the current recruitment situation during the pandemic, hiring to build the internal resource pool seems very unlikely. Hence, every requirement has a cost, and that needs to be up and running as early as possible. If you have been caught up in a long waiting period, you should understand that it is the time to look for other opportunities. The pandemic has adversely impacted the recruitment processes of many organizations. A majority of the workforce has been working from home, and some delay in processes is understandable. Nevertheless, it is natural for job seekers to experience anxiety during the process.
According to the JDP 2020 Interview survey, around 29% of 2018 respondents admitted suffering from job interview related nervousness. Only public speaking surpasses job interviews as a factor of nervousness. And 41% of respondents state that not being able to answer a difficult question is the reason for their nervousness.
A Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) report states that anxiety disorders are among the most common illnesses in the United States. Over 19 million children and adults report to have gone through some sort of anxiety disorders. Career related insecurities is one of the top reason people stress. Realizing that stress during the post-interview uncertainty period is not unusual helps, but there are some effective tips to help stay calm and collected when while waiting for that hiring manager job, no matter what kind of job.
Watch: How to deal with the wait (Post-Interview Anxiety)
5 Tips To Stay Away From Stress Post An Interview While Awaiting The Hiring Manager’s Phone Call
1. No hinting the current boss
You must not give any hints to your current employer that you are looking for a switch in your professional career. Unless you have a sure job at hand, you must give your 100% to your current job. It is always wise to be financially stable while you are looking for a new job.
2. Occupy yourself in preparation
You can occupy yourself during the transition period preparing for the next negotiation round. You may get a call from the hiring manager at any moment, and you should be prepared with figures for negotiating a salary. Being caught off guard won’t reflect well on you.
3. Continue the quest to know more about the company
You must have gathered enough information about the company you are giving an interview for. You should continue the quest in between the process. Try to learn more about the company’s other verticals and an overall picture of the industry you are entering into. If possible, talk to some present employees of the company to get a clearer picture of the work culture.
4. Maintain the momentum of your job hunt
The best way to avoid anxiety when you are waiting for a job offer is to keep yourself busy. Maintain the momentum of your job search. Your interview might have gone really well, and there may be all the signs that you are getting the job, but anything could go haywire. So, keep yourself prepared to face the worst when you are least expecting it.
5. Keep giving pep-talk to yourself
Last but not least, keep your mind off this for a while. It is easier said than done, but it is the best thing to do. You must constantly remind yourself that it is just a phase, and everything will eventually fall into place if you have put in the effort.
