The interview process can sometimes be infuriatingly slow. It can crawl at a snail’s pace and leave you hanging without any explanations and this can be harmful in more than one way. A lot of candidates interview for several jobs and positions at the same time and so the entire hiring process can seem like a ticking race between offer letters and the acceptance deadlines. Today’s topic- How to Ask Recruiters to Speed Up the Interview Process?
When companies become unresponsive or keep delaying their selection process, candidates can face several problems along with the stress of missing out on a good job. Oftentimes, candidates are hesitant to ask interviewers to speed up the selection process or just ask them about the cause for such severe delays due to the simple fear of leaving a bad impression. And through this article, we hope to answer the question: if it is okay to ask recruiters to speed up their interview process, and if yes, then how?
Firstly, yes, it is completely okay and understandable for you to ask your recruiters to speed up the interview process. In fact, if their procedure is dragging on (and on and on) or riddled with delays, you’re very much entitled to ask for a justification. While the fear of constructing an unfavorable impression is a valid one, it should not hinder your experience of a job search.
There are several ways to approach recruiters, some of them extremely subtle and natural which can help you get a clarification that I intend to discuss in this article. The following headings try discussing various situations and techniques of approaching your recruiters.
How to Approach Your Recruiters
When you don’t get a response from your recruiters’ days or sometimes weeks after your interview, you cannot keep waiting for them to eventually reach out. Don’t assume that you’re helpless and can’t accelerate the process. Here are some ways through which you can not only approach the recruiter but also help them come to a decision.
- Get Clarity at the End of the Interview Itself
The very first step, which is more or less precautionary, can be conducted as a follow-up of the interview itself. In all likelihood, by the end of your interview, the recruiter is going to ask you for queries. For example, they might ask, “Do you have any questions?” or “Is there anything else that you would like to discuss?”
Utilize this moment to ask them about when you can expect a response from them. You can for example ask: “When can I expect to hear a decision?” or “When can I expect to hear back from you?”
If you’re worried that the question might seem out of place, no worries it won’t. On the contrary, asking them about their timeline is actually an effective way to help you in your future follow-ups with the hiring team whenever deemed necessary.
You can also use this moment to clear out any discrepancies or confusion that you might’ve towards the position you applied for, your responsibilities, etc. Having a clearer understanding of what the company expects from you will further aid your decision in accepting a job offer, especially, when applying to multiple companies and positions at the same time.
- Follow Up with your Recruiters
Following up can be tricky. On one hand, you do not want to come across as extremely persistent but on the other hand, you also want to stand out. Following Up, when done right, can boost your chances of being hired.
First and foremost, keep in mind to send a thank you note to the hiring committee after your interview is done. Send it across, most preferably in the form of an email within twenty- four hours of your interview. A message of gratitude and appreciation is a nice touch and conveys your sincerity towards the team, helping you stand out from other candidates.
The next step is to keep track of the timeline that the recruiters provided you. If they did not provide you with a specific duration, then a waiting period of seven to ten days seems like an acceptable one before you approach them regarding their decisions. While you approach your recruiter, ensure to be mindful and polite. The conversation should be diplomatic and not driven by emotions.
The best advice one can provide for such a conversation is to not sound demanding or be too emotional. Coming off as extremely persistent can very much cause a hindrance to your chances of getting hired.
In case you do not get a response for another week, you might want to contact them again and ask directly about where you stand as a candidate. Their response will reveal a lot, not just in terms of the actual decision but also about your chances of getting hired, so read between the lines.
- Let them Know that you have Other Opportunities
Let your recruiters know that you have other offers waiting and are actively applying to different companies (only if it is true though). Let the company know that you’re not waiting around for them and are still on the job hunt.
In many cases, if you’re considered an excellent candidate for a position and the company in question really wants to hire you, they will try their best to accelerate the process and get back to you in minimal time. You don’t really have to mention the company that you’re interested in.
“Hello, Austen. It was a pleasure meeting you last week and I am extremely excited about the prospects of joining the team. I’ve had some developments in my job search and am currently interviewing with some other companies as well. However, this position definitely remains my topmost priority. I would really appreciate it if you could help me swiftly move through this process and provide a clearer timeline.”
Again, try being polite about it. You want to let them know that you have other opportunities but at the same time also highlight that this position is your first choice and that you’re very much looking forward to it. It is not supposed to be threatening but being transparent about the kind of position you stand in with the company itself.
However, do not lie about having other opportunities given that some recruiters might take you off the candidacy list entirely if you come off as too demanding. In any case, I would advise that you constantly look for newer job opportunities at least until you’re completely sure that your recruitment is confirmed.
- If you receive no reply, move on
When nothing seems to have worked and you have received no concrete response from the companies and the hiring team, then it is time to accept that you probably were not what they were looking for and continue with your job search.
However, keep in mind that not being selected is not your fault. A lot of times a company’s requirements and what you have to offer are just not compatible and it is okay. Looking out for different positions and roles is always a good thing as it provides you a broader perspective and opportunities.
Many times, delays in the interview process can be the fault of the HR or the hiring management. There are various reasons for it. In some instances, processes get delayed due to several reasons like being torn between two extremely amazing candidates. The interview process is not always on time and the hiring team is not always responsive and sometimes things simply do not work out. In such situations, the best thing to do is to not blame yourself, restore your confidence, and apply at different places.
Don’t be anxious to reach out and ask for transparency from the recruiters and/or the hiring team. At the end of the day, it’s an opportunity that many are trying to grab onto and so you, as another candidate, should follow through with the steps which you think are best suited.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is it acceptable for me to reach out to my recruiters and ask them to speed up the interview process?
Yes, definitely. Even though many candidates fear that this can end up hurting their chances of getting hired, asking for clarity in case of long delays can actually benefit you more.
Secondly, you as a potential candidate are very much entitled to receiving information about the timeline of the process and where you stand as a candidate.
Q2. What should I do in case the recruiters do not get back to me even after I’ve emailed them regarding a follow-up?
In case the recruiters do not get back within a week of your follow-up, you can give it a second chance. However, do not push it.
If the hiring managers do not respond to you with a clear and coherent answer, you might want to look for other jobs and consider other opportunities.
Q3. Why are the recruiters not reaching out? Can it be because my interview was not good enough?
Absolutely not! Recruiters not reaching out to you or delaying their process has little to do with you. In most cases even if the candidate does not succeed in the interview round, the team ensures to send them an email informing them on where they stand on their sheets.
The delay might be due to several reasons like too many good candidates, salary and payment issues or not being able to make a decision between two or more extremely qualified candidates.
Q4. How do I know that I am not a shortlisted candidate and should hence, stop waiting for a reply?
If the recruiters have not reached out even after several reminders or if their responses lack guidance on the timeline procedure, you might want to give up on the opportunity. Companies do not wish to lose on a good candidate and hence, in most cases, will attempt to get back to them as soon as possible.
If their responses do not answer your query directly and the procedure keeps taking ages to come to an end, it is likely that you haven’t been shortlisted for the role.
The interview process can sometimes be infuriatingly slow. It can crawl at a snail’s pace and leave you hanging without any explanations and this can be harmful in more than one way. A lot of candidates interview for several jobs and positions at the same time and so the entire hiring process can seem like a ticking race between offer letters and the acceptance deadlines.
When companies become unresponsive or keep delaying their selection process, candidates can face several problems along with the stress of missing out on a good job. Oftentimes, candidates are hesitant to ask interviewers to speed up the selection process or just ask them about the cause for such severe delays due to the simple fear of leaving a bad impression. And through this article, we hope to answer the question: if it is okay to ask recruiters to speed up their interview process, and if yes, then how?
Firstly, yes, it is completely okay and understandable for you to ask your recruiters to speed up the interview process. In fact, if their procedure is dragging on (and on and on) or riddled with delays, you’re very much entitled to ask for a justification. While the fear of constructing an unfavorable impression is a valid one, it should not hinder your experience of a job search.
There are several ways to approach recruiters, some of them extremely subtle and natural which can help you get a clarification that I intend to discuss in this article. The following headings try discussing various situations and techniques of approaching your recruiters.
