What if you never hear back from an employer?

I received the following email from a client:

"I interviewed with them on the [date]. Employer 1 who was supposed
to interview me couldnt make it, so I interviewed with a guy named
Employer 2. He said he would get back to me by Thursday. On Friday I
sent an email to Employer 1. The following Tuesday, I called to talk to
Employer 1 but he was out at their other facility. I asked if I could talk
to Employer 2 but the secretary said that for hiring inquiries, it would
be better to talk to Employer 3. She had left for the day so I was
transfered to her voice mail. I left her a brief message explaining
what was going on and my call back number. She never called me back.
Its been over two weeks and I havent heard anything from anyone. I
thought I had a pretty good interview. What should I do?"

Interviews create a lot of anxiety, especially when it is for a position one really wants. Waiting to hear back can be excruciating, much like the way I remember feeling after taking the ACT or GRE. After all that effort, you want to know the results right away, not sit at home and wait for the answer to finally arrive, wondering if your assumptions of your performance were at all accurate.

This client approached this situation with maturity and confidence. Contacting the employer the day after the agreed upon follow-up date was completely appropriate. It demonstrated proactivity and continued interest in the position. It is common for companies to become unexpectedly busy, so this client's persistence was a good refresher for the company about this individual's candidacy.

In speaking to a colleague about this situation, she suggested the following,

"This is not that unheard of in busy companies.

If the location where he interviewed is close, he should
1. walk in again with a thank you letter for the person who interviewed him and

2. at the front desk he should request an appointment with the person who will be making the hiring decision. This is not making a nuisance of himself...it is being proactive and professional. He should follow up until he is actually turned down if he really wants this position.

3. If he could make some business cards with his EVP [Employment Value Proposition--why he is the best candidate/what he will do for the company] on it that would be effective and put one in the thank you letter for the interviewer and mail one to the person who makes the hiring decision inside a follow up letter. He should make it clear in the card and in the letter how he can help this busy company -come across as the answer to their concerns.

Professional persistence is 9/10 of the game."

Thanks Sue for the great advice!