How to Figure Out What's Going on With a Job You Interviewed for Pre-Coronavirus

Landing a job interview feels gooooood.

And it should.

I mean, I’m guessing you did a fair amount of work to get to that point, right?

Maybe you tightened up your resume, finagled an intro from a friend of a friend, or got up the nerve to cold approach the hiring manager.

Whatever your game plan was, it worked. You got their attention and started discussing a potential new job or career.

And, the conversation was going along swimmingly, right?

Swimmingly, that is, until … buhm bum bummmmmmmm … #coronavirus.

The record-stop moment heard ‘round the world.

The moment that slammed virtually all of us into a new world of sanitizing, self-inflicted haircuts and sameness (every.single.day.) at warp speed.

I mean, it was just a few weeks ago that I was frolicking gloveless through the aisles of Albertson’s without giving it a second-thought. I was getting my nails done for my upcoming video shoot with LinkedIn Learning. I was grumbling about the kids’ aggressive sports schedules and counting the days until Spring Break.

It was all pretty freaking normal.

Today, I’m scrambling to find an online grocery delivery service with ANY availability (no luck so far), explaining to my teenager (for the 27th time) why she can’t go running with a friend, and creating contingency plans in the event my business hits the skids across the these trying months.

Certainly, you can relate.

We are all clambering to find our bearings and settle into an brand new pattern of living, working, surviving …

… and this all includes the people and companies you began interviewing with before all the hullabaloo.

And so, if you’re sitting there right now feeling a weeeee bit anxious, because you haven’t heard a peep from your recruiter (or the hiring manager) about potential next steps in the interview process, here’s how to follow up to see where things are at:

IF Things were just getting started

If the interview process was just getting started (say, you’ve had one phone interview, or maybe had an interview booked that got postponed indefinitely), consider a message that goes something like this:

Hello, _______________,
I hope this note finds you and your family safe and healthy. I thought I’d reach out to reaffirm my interest in the ___________ position we chatted about on ___________. Certainly, I realize that the landscape for many companies has changed in a very short period of time. If you’re holding off for now, I completely understand, but I wanted to let you know that I’m happy to invest the time to speak with you about my capabilities now so that, when things fire back up, we’ll have already taken those initial steps.
I recognize there may great uncertainty for you and the company right now. If you have any news, I’d appreciate a quick update as time permits. Likewise, if there’s anything I can do to be helpful, don’t hesitate to reach out.

A note like this says, “I’m fully aware that you may be struggling personally and professionally right now. I acknowledge this, and empathize with you.” It also says, “I’m still interested and would very much like to keep the conversation going — in a new format, on a new timeline, in whatever way works given where you and the company are at.

If Things were well underway

If the interview process is well underway (and you felt like things were heading toward an offer when you last spoke), the spirit of the message will be similar, but you can likely be a bit more forward or familiar, depending on where you left off. (Yet still proceed with empathy and care.) This note might go like this:

Hello, ____________,
I hope this note finds you and your family safe and healthy. Wow, who would have figured we’d be navigating this new terrain so suddenly?
Listen, I know your attention may have shifted to immediate issues related to coronavirus, but I wanted to extend my thanks again for your interest in continuing the conversation with me related to the ____________ role.
Last we spoke, you’d mentioned __________ as anticipated timing for final interviews. I imagine that this date has shifted given the new landscape we’re all adjusting to.
When you’ve had a moment to catch your breath, I’d appreciate an update on plans for the position, and potential timeframe assuming things are still moving forward.
Related — I’ve spent some time thinking about some specific ways I could help the team cut costs and preserve morale through the challenging weeks ahead. Happy to share if you’re interested.

Thank you again, __________. I hope to speak with you soon.

Again, this note will get you back on your point person’s radar in a way that’s empathetic and helpful, and in a manner that implies you’re calm and willing to be flexible (which, honestly, we all need to be right now).

Now, keep in mind as you approach that the response may not be the one you’re hoping for, at least not immediately. For this reason, you may want to consider a contingency plan in advance. This way, no matter the response, you’ve got something else to focus on.

And, by all means, be kind to yourself as you step your way through this. This is some next-level terrain we’re navigating here.

Control the things you can control, and try your darndest not to dwell on those you cannot.*

(* Said while shaking fist at sky and cursing #coronavirus. )

Has your interview shifted to a video format?

Strap on your Zoom, Skype or Hangouts seatbelts, folks. You’re in for a ride.

If you’ve never (or rarely) done a two-way or one-way video interview, I’ve got a video course over on LinkedIn Learning, quite aptly called, “Video Interview Tips,” that’ll help you get ready for this wild new world.

Normally, these courses are available only to LinkedIn Premium members, but LinkedIn just opened up 13 free courses for anyone navigating job search during these challenging times. “Video Interview Tips” and my newest course, “A Career Strategist’s Guide to Getting a Job” are included in this free bundle, along with some great ones designed to help you calm the overwhelm, build resilience and up your online networking game.

You can access all of them through the link below:

Access the 13 free courses now