Nudging an Employer

CTGirl · #1 10-16-2006, 02:12 PM

Some of you may be familiar with my current situation (see the Oh Crap! thread if you're not). I have not yet heard from the company I interviewed with on Wednesday, so I'm thinking about sending them a nudging email, but I'm not sure how to phrase it exactly, so I'd love some help.

Some extra background info: This company had gotten as far as a phone interview with me a while back, but then they waited a month before calling me about an in-person interview, so by then I'd taken another job, and they were discouraged that they'd missed their chance.

So, what I'd like to include in this email is that:
-I'm extremely interested in a job with this company
-I am interviewing at other companies (that I'm less interested in) so I need to know the status of things with them

But I'm not really sure how to word it appropriately. Any suggestions?

cache · #2 10-16-2006, 02:43 PM

Without sounding arrogant? Good luck...it might come off that way in an email. Have you sent a post interview follow-up? A note or email thanking them for the interview? Assuming you didn't, this would be a good chance to do so, except if you are interested in immediate feedback, a phone call might be more in order so you can get a feel of their timeline and opinion of you. Also, with a phone call, you can better express why you are interested in knowing the status, without sounding like "everyone wants to hire me, so decide now or else" which is how an email might sound.

It is possible they have several interviews that are spread out over a few weeks, and in the interest of giving everyone a fair shake, they will not make a decision or communicate with anyone until they have interviewed everyone. Did they give you a timeline in the interview?

weary · #3 10-16-2006, 03:02 PM

while i agree with cache that it could come off as arrogant in an email (tone is diff to "read" in text), i think you can still accomplish this communication. i'd say via telephone is better though.

need more info though. what, if any timeline did they give you as far as response/selection? are they aware you have these other interviews? have you received offers from anywhere else? are you dealing with the same people (hiring managers, HR contacts, etc.) that you dealt with the first time around with this co?

CTGirl · #4 10-16-2006, 03:16 PM

I am on a pretty casual level with these people, so it's not as formal a situation as it usually would be, so I'm trying to avoid the formalities and just send them more of a "checking in" type of email letting them know that I'm still interested, but if it's just not in the cards, that's cool, I just need to know.

I agree with what you're saying about phone calls being better, but knowing these people as I do, they definitely prefer to communicate via email, and getting ahold of them on the phone (especially given how busy they are right now) is just not as feasible.

The two people that I'm dealing with now are the same 2 that I dealt with the last time around. The one guy, the Director of Consulting, is the one who seems really interested in hiring me, but the Director of Operations, who is responsible for the logistics of it all, seems to drag her feet a lot, and it has been a bit of a struggle to pull her along at every phase. So, it's entirely possible that the Director of Consulting guy thinks that she's taking care of it, and she just isnt, cuz that's what happened before, and he was somehwat shocked that I had gone and taken another offer because he didn't realize I'd been waiting around for them for a month.

After my interviews on Wednesday, this Director of Operations chick told me that she'd have to meet with the others, but she'd get back to me "later today or tomorrow" and now it's Monday.

So, I'd like to write an email and send it to the both of them, so that he knows the status of things, in hopes of getting the ball rolling with them.

I'm thinking of something along the lines of this, but perhaps worded better:

I just wanted to check in with you, since we haven't spoken in a while. I've been interviewing with other companies, and I wanted to check on the status of things with you. I would really appreciate the opportunity to work at XXX, but if that's just not in the cards, just let me know so that I can pursue some of these other opportunities. Thanks!

weary · #5 10-16-2006, 04:05 PM

o-k, that helps. i think you could probably do email then, but be careful with your wording. and maybe even wait one more day to tomorrow. (i realize the 15th has come and gone so this is more pressing to you now...but still.)

how about something like this:

dear dir of ops,

thank you so much for your time last wednesday. as i expressed in our meeting, i am just as excited about and interested in the _______ consultant position as i was the first time around...even moreso, if that's possible. while i have had a few other interviews, the opportunity with you at ________ is my first choice. having said that, i just wanted to check in with you to find out the status of your selection process and where i stand with regard to same. the best way to reach me during the day is at this email address or on (xxx) xxx-xxxx. thanks again and i look forward to hearing from you soon.
-CTGirl

cc the dir of consulting dude and cross your fingers.

*fingers crossed for you!*

cache · #6 10-16-2006, 04:40 PM

Casual, huh? [wicked grin] OK, how's this:

Hey You,
Sup. Just checking in. Are you ready to hire me yet, or are you still deciding by how much you are going to increase my salary? Seriously. That offer was kinda weak. I just wanted to let you know that I am going to need November 1 through the 15 off for personal reasons. I expect full pay during this time, but I will make it up by promising to work at least 33 hours a week through New Years. OK, 35, but I get an extra hour break every day.

Let me know when you want me to start cleaning up the messes that you've created.
Peace,
CTGirl

OK, now that I've had my fun...I think your response sounded good, except for "but if that's just not in the cards, just let me know so that I can pursue some of these other opportunities"

I know this is micro-analyzing, but I don't like the word "just" - either of them. Perhaps:
but if that's not in the cards, please let me know so that I can pursue some of these other opportunities

dddork · #7 10-16-2006, 04:52 PM

call them.. don't write an email.. Email would give them time to think.. you would want a spontaneous response.. Be courteous though..

CTGirl · #8 10-16-2006, 04:59 PM

oh weary, I like yours! It may be a bit formal considering my relationship with these people, but I think maybe I'll blend mine and that one together, cuz I think somewhere in between would be good, thanks!

And cache, I agree, you're right about the "just"s in that sentence. I only spent a moment on that paragraph to give people an idea of what I was shooting for.

LaFille · #9 10-16-2006, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cache

Casual, huh? [wicked grin] OK, how's this:

Hey You,
Sup. Just checking in. Are you ready to hire me yet, or are you still deciding by how much you are going to increase my salary? Seriously. That offer was kinda weak. I just wanted to let you know that I am going to need November 1 through the 15 off for personal reasons. I expect full pay during this time, but I will make it up by promising to work at least 33 hours a week through New Years. OK, 35, but I get an extra hour break every day.

Let me know when you want me to start cleaning up the messes that you've created.
Peace,
CTGirl

[/I]

wow, now i know why i haven't had much luck with my job search. my next cover letter is going to begin with the salutation: "holla beoches!"

weary · #10 10-17-2006, 01:00 PM

CTG,

anything yet? did you call or send an email?

CTGirl · #11 10-17-2006, 01:07 PM

I didnt send it yesterday, I decided to wait till today, so it would be just about a week since we'd met (didnt wanna seem so pushy). I just sent it, so we'll see what happens.....

*fingers crossed*

weary · #12 10-17-2006, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTGirl

I didnt send it yesterday, I decided to wait till today, so it would be just about a week since we'd met (didnt wanna seem so pushy). I just sent it, so we'll see what happens.....

*fingers crossed*

mine too (*fingers crossed*)!

keep us posted!

CTGirl · #13 10-17-2006, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weary

mine too (*fingers crossed*)!

keep us posted!

thanks hun!

I'm freaking out a bit right now, and checking my email constantly......perhaps I should have laid off the caffiene this morning.....

cache · #14 10-17-2006, 01:54 PM

Since it has been a few hours, I would send a follow up to your follow up. Go for the psycho stalker angle...it might get you in

labrat2111 · #15 10-17-2006, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTGirl

thanks hun!

I'm freaking out a bit right now, and checking my email constantly......perhaps I should have laid off the caffiene this morning.....

I know how you feel on that one. I called a company 2 mondays ago and got a verbal okay that I had gotten a job I wanted. They said they would get my offer packet to me in "1-2 days" and yet by Friday I still hadn't heard or received anything so I called them and finally ended up leaving a message.

Now yesterday I was all hyped up on coffee (as I need it to function on Mondays) and I didn't want to be stalkerish so I waited for them to call. I heard nothing by the end of the day so I tried calling a few times but couldn't get a hold of anyone. So I was all annoyed but they finally got back to me today telling me the salary for the position and getting my offer info in the mail so now I can calm down.

Hang in there.