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Topic: Asked to interview, no follow up
| Author | Message |
| Lizard Breath | Posted – 7/26/2007 9:41:19 AM | show profile Months ago, as I was planning to relocate, I began sending resumes, clips etc to newspapers and magazines. The local newspaper replied (within a day), to tell me that they were not hiring new staff right then, but possibly later and to contact them when I moved if I had not heard from them yet. I did this, left several messages and they were not returned. I assumed that they were still not hiring (the position was not advertised for, it is a small market and I just sent stuff out to everyone) or not interested. Last week, though, I recieved a message from the editor saying that he wanted to set up an interview and was hoping to hire some more staff in August. (I almost ran out of my temp job, yelling "suckers!") I called him back within an hour and left him a voicemail. Since then, I have called and emailed every couple of days, and I still have not heard back. I don't think he is on vacation. I understand that editors are busy, I've read all those posts, but HE contacted ME. I'm confused and I don't know how long I should keep following up. It seems like no matter what I do, I look bad. Any ideas, advice? I also welcome company in generalized anger and venting about this type of situation. |
| santose | Posted – 7/26/2007 11:34:57 AM | show profile I completely understand I have had a few similar experiences. The worst was when I phone interviewed for an out of state job. The potential employer offered to fly me out for an in-person interview, but never called me with details. After several attempts to follow up I just gave up. I would follow up for two weeks max. But that's just me. I have that "it's their loss" attitude when job searching. After all, would you want to work for someone who is too busy to treat potential employees with common courtesy? Not me. |
| WordyBird | Posted – 7/26/2007 11:50:50 AM | show profile Hmmmm, does this editor have an assistant, or could you try calling the front desk just to make sure he's not on vacation or in traction somewhere? But if he's in and around, I'm going to get out the f-word again: FLAKE. Grrr...I used to say that job-hunting was like dating, but honestly? I think job-hunting is worse. At least if a potential suitor says "I'll call you" and doesn't, it doesn't affect your livelihood. |
| WordyBird | Posted – 7/26/2007 11:52:11 AM | show profile Santose, yep. Would you want to work with someone like that? To trot out the dating comparison again: If they're not returning calls, they're just not that into you. |
| Lizard Breath | Posted – 7/26/2007 12:23:03 PM | show profile Thanks everyone, it is nice to have people to complain with. I know he is not on vacation because he posts a daily video news commentary on their website, and he hasn't missed a day. Plus, he posts it from the newsroom, so I can see that he is there!! ARG! I had come to the two week conclusion as well, I just didn't want to admit it to myself. I understand that it wouldn't be great to work for someone like this, but my journalism options are limited in this area and I feel my mind slipping away at my temp job. Misery loves company. |
| Otoole | Posted – 7/26/2007 1:50:53 PM | show profile Here, here Lizard Breath-- Don't fret. A flake for sure. I'll share my own experience. A photographer friend of mine based in SF ran into a publisher ( a mutual aquaintance from NYC) who was out visiting the west coast. The publisher asked about me (I used to work in NYC), what I'm doing, gave my photo friend his business card and directly instructed him to have me call him so he and I can reconnect. In fact, my photographer friend was so excited this would result in a freelance assignment for me. I was thrilled as well. I put in a call to the publisher a few days later; he was in a meeting but took my call, happy to hear from me, told me to email him my "vital statistics," (i.e. what I was up to.) He promised to call me in a few days. Never did. In fact, I followed up by phone and later--an email. No returned message. Definitely understand the flakey aspect. I do think there is a 'flavor of the moment' aspect to these sorts of occurances. |
