out of office reply
Hi all, need advice from my fellow jobseekers here:
I sent out a very personalized thank-you email a few hours after my 2nd-round interview on Friday. I sent it out before the close of business (4.40pm) but got an out-of-the-office reply from my interviewer as she flew in from another office to conduct these interviews (and told me she will be flying back that night).
I felt she liked me and I am maybe 60% confident of getting this job, but I try not to think about it. I'm competing with 4 other candidates and she was impressed by my qualifications, attitude and aptitude. The only thing that may count against me is experience, but this is a relatively entry level-semi-entry level-type position.
The thing here is, I am concerned that she wouldn't get to read my email when she gets back to her own office on Monday due to the accumulation of so many other daily emails. Emailing has been our only mode of contact, and it will take far too long for postal mail to get to her.
The question I would like to pose is, do I re-send that thank-you email on Monday, or would I look desperate/pushy/irritating to re-send that exact email just two days after I originally sent it?
At the end of the interview, she did mention that she would try to conclude the hire (after discussing with her boss) in a week's time, latest the week after next, and told me to drop her an email if I didn't hear anything by then. Is that a hint sliding towards a negative outcome?
I am really quite excited by the upcoming projects of this company and had told her so, also reiterated that point in my email. I really want this job. Is there anything else that I can do with all subtlety to persuade them and not come off looking desperate/impatient/pushy?
She is European by the way, and this is a Europe-based company. (not sure if there's any significant cultural difference pertaining to that!)
Ok, no matter how I phrase this, it is going to come out sounding like a criticism. It really isn't. Why did you email her before before the close of business the day of your interview when you know she was from another office, wouldn't be flying out until that evening and so, in all probability, wouldn't get back to her office until Monday morning?
Ok, b!tchiness aside, it is quite possible, and indeed probable in this day and age of busy traveling executives, that the interviewer carries with her either a laptap so that she can access her emails even while in the airport waiting for her plane, a cell-phone with that most wonderful of features that allows you to be able to access the Internet to at least check if you have e-mails while not neccesarily being able to access or read them or a PDA which DOES have the ability to access her e-mail to read and maybe even delete those tht she doesn't want or need or forward those that can be handled by others in her absense.
Perhaps you could wait until Monday afternoon and then send her a follow up e-mail explaining that you are sure that she received your e-mail but just wanted to be on the safe side and send her another since you are positive that she was inundated with work upon returning to her office.
That was a very valid query Kelly, certainly not "b|tchiness".
I did what I did, because there were two other candidates she was going to see after me, and my intention was to (sort of) insert a positive image of (urgency? keen-ness?) for her to take it with her before she leave the local office.
I honestly had thought that there would be a high chance that she would be at her computer before the close of business, and she would received my email before she leave the office. That would then be perfect timing.
Thank you for that suggestion Kelly. Any other alternatives?
For Pete's sake don't resend the email. If she's like me, she'll have hundreds (yes, hundreds) to go through when she gets back. You're not in control of whether or not she reads yours or just deletes. She's not going to appreciate a second one to delete. Even if she hadn't been out of the office you don't know that she wouldn't just delete anyway.
You've done what you can, now give it a rest and don't be a pest.
Tess
I wouldn't worry about it. If you sent her an e-mail she will definitely get it. Please don't be discouraged if she doesn't respond to you. A lot of hiring managers get so many e-mails just like yours that they don't have time to respond to. It's just not a high priority for them. They respond to the most important e-mails which are usually ones that are company related.
I have to be honest and tell that just because you sent a thank you e-mail before the close of business that it will not give you a better shot at the job. She will decide who gets the job based on the individual who fits the company's need the best. So, just hold off on sending another e-mail unless a long period of time passes and you don't hear anything.
Jay
Thanks Tess and Jay.