How to Ask if You Got the Job

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While it usually isn’t appropriate to ask outright if you got the job, there are a few ways you can pose similar questions to get some info on your chances. By asking for an update after the interview, thanking them for your time, and taking note of the interviewer’s reaction and tone, you should be able to figure out if you got the gig. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps you should take after your interview if you want to know whether you landed the job or not.

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Preparing to Follow Up

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  1. At the end of your interview, the hiring manager will likely ask you if you have any questions. This is a great time to ask more about the company or specific job, but you should also ask what happens next. [1]
    • For example, ask the hiring manager how long the post-interview process might take, if you can expect to hear from the company whether you got the job or not, and when you might hear something. You can also ask what the best way is of contacting the hiring manager if you have questions.
    EXPERT TIP

    Alyson Garrido, PCC

    Career Coach
    Alyson Garrido is an International Coach Federation accredited Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Facilitator, and Speaker. Using a strengths-based approach, she supports her clients with job search and career advancement. Alyson provides coaching for career direction, interview preparation, salary negotiation, and performance reviews as well as customized communication and leadership strategies. She is a Founding Partner of the Systemic Coach Academy of New Zealand.
    Alyson Garrido, PCC
    Career Coach

    Our Expert Agrees: Before you leave the interview, ask when they expect to be making a decision. Then, you can follow up when it gets closer to that date.

  2. If your interview goes well, you might be tempted to ask the hiring manager on the spot if you got the job. Don’t do this. It can make you look desperate, which can be a turn off for the hiring manager. [2]
    • It’s also likely that the hiring manager won’t be able to give you an answer right away. They may have more candidates to interview, or they might need to discuss all of the candidates with a larger group of people.
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  3. This isn’t directly related to asking if you got the job, but it will keep you on the mind of the hiring manager. In your note, remind the hiring manager of who you are, what you interviewed for, and something that excites you about the company or position. [3]
    • For example, you can say something like “Dear Jim, I wanted to thank you for the opportunity to interview for the assistant manager position at Jim’s Bakery. I really enjoyed the interview, and I’m so excited about the new products that Jim’s Bakery is innovating!”
    • Don't ask for an update about the position in this note, just use it to thank the manager for interviewing you.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 2:

Crafting Your Follow Up Email

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  1. Give the hiring manager or recruiter some time to go over all of the interviews they did. They might also need to speak to other people in the HR department, and are often prevented from discussing the opening until they’ve been given the green light to hire someone. Give them about a week to deal with those issues before you write a follow up email. [4]
    • If the hiring manager gave you an actual date by which they’re hoping to make a decision, wait a few days after that to follow up. The dates they give are usually optimistic, and other things may have come up.
  2. Your email should include your name, the position you applied for, and the date of your interview. The better you can remind the hiring manager who you are, the more likely you are to get a response. [5]
    • You can say something like, “Dear Jim, I hope things are going well. I was wondering if you could provide me with an update on the assistant manager position I interviewed for on May 5, 2017] Please let me know if I can provide you with any other information; I look forward to hearing from you.”
  3. If you’re interviewing for a new position, chances are you’re in the middle of a job search. If you’ve received another offer while waiting to hear from your first choice, let the hiring manager know. This gives you a solid reason to need to know and increases the likelihood that you’ll hear back. [6]
    • You can say something like “Dear Emily, I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to check on the status of the coordinator position I interviewed for on January 10. I’ve since received an offer from another company, but I’m still eager to hear from you about joining ABC Consulting. Could you offer me any update on the position? Thanks for your time.”
  4. If you’re waiting to hear about a job you’re really interested in, it can be tempting to check in until you get an answer, especially if the hiring manager encourages you to continue to do so. You should, however, give yourself a limit for check-ins, usually no more than three. If you don’t get an answer by then, move on to the other positions. [7]
    • If you don’t hear after three check-ins, it doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t get the job. But it does mean that the timeline is definitely longer than you initially thought, and you don’t want to waste energy on it when you could be working on following up on other leads!
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How Do You Know If a Hiring Manager Wants You?


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      Warnings

      • Don’t give the hiring manager arbitrary deadlines. If you need to know if you got the job by a certain date so you can make moving arrangements, for example, that’s fine to mention during the interview. But don’t give the hiring manager a deadline unless it’s necessary.
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      • You shouldn’t call the hiring manager relentlessly. Give them a few days after each deadline they give you, and resist the urge to call to check in every day.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-following-up-can-help-you-land-the-job
      2. ↑ http://lifehacker.com/why-you-should-never-ask-if-you-got-the-job-right-after-1757422768
      3. ↑ http://www.careercast.com/career-news/how-deal-waiting-hear-back-after-job-interview
      4. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/02/20/what-to-do-when-you-dont-hear-back-after-a-job-interview/#3fa59bb54f92
      5. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/02/20/what-to-do-when-you-dont-hear-back-after-a-job-interview/#3fa59bb54f92
      6. ↑ https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-following-up-can-help-you-land-the-job
      7. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/02/20/what-to-do-when-you-dont-hear-back-after-a-job-interview/#3fa59bb54f92

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Asking if you got the job can actually make you stand out to the hiring company, but you’ll want to make sure you ask in the right way at the right time. At the end of your interview, ask the manager about what happens next to show you’re invested in the position. For example, you could say, “How long will the post-interview process take?” Just don’t ask straight-out if you got the job. Even if the interview went well, this can make you look desperate. If you want to send a follow-up email after an interview, wait about a week so the hiring manager has time to finish all their interviews. In your email, include your name, the position you applied for, and the date of your interview. Then, ask for an update on the open position. You could say something like, “I wanted to check on the status of the coordinator position I applied for on January 10.” To learn how to check in if you don’t hear back from a company, read on!

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