It could be a fun time and a nerve wreaking time when looking for work. You apply for different roles and hope to be brought in for an interview. You are ready to take the next steps in your career and wait patiently to hear back. That is great. Let us explore some things you should not do when looking for work:
- Do not call the agency every week looking for an update. The agency will contact you if they wish to move forward with you.
- Do not contact someone above the hiring manager trying to get the job. This always leaves a negative impression on the hiring manager.
- You should not email back arguing about the decision not to move forward with you. This says more about you and only validates their decision.
- Do not threaten to sue or call into question the decision. You will quickly burn bridges and will not move forward in future vacancies.
- Do not call the agency looking for an explanation for the decision. Most agencies will not provide you with information. That is a liability for the employer.
- Do not leave message after message demanding to speak with someone. A great majority of agencies will contact you if they wish to interview you.
Those were some examples of things you should not do. You will notice that something these examples have in common is they say more about a person. The agency will factor in how you behave after being rejected. You do not want to be someone that ruins your chances in future vacancies. Take the rejection like a champ and move on. Now, let us look at some things you could do:
- You could email the agency letting them know you applied. There is nothing wrong with that.
- You could email them once asking for an update. Do not email them again. They will contact you if they want to interview you.
- You could call them asking for more information on the position. Please do not call them repeatedly. They are busy people and maybe the role is not right for you. Sometimes it is best to move on.
- You could thank them for their time after being rejected. This says a lot about you and leaves a good impression.
The items listed are a few examples. Please use your common sense. Put yourself in the shoes of the agency. Do not do something you would not like. Do things you would appreciate.