on pins and needles

[tabbycat31]

Last week I interviewed for a job and they said that this week they'd be making the decisions about callbacks. I haven't heard yet and I'm getting nervous.

Any advice on how to stay sane?

[Moondog]

1. Remember that, at the moment, it is only Tuesday.

And making decisions does not equate to actually making the calls.

In short, it is too early to fret.

So, instead, distract yourself with something that you find to be pleasant.

[tabbycat31]

2. he said 'early next week'

So I'm wondering if I made the cut or not (my initial interview was an hour---- all of last cycle my interview time totalled 40 minutes). I hope that's a good sign.

ANd my fate rests in my former boss from 2011. I'm not sure what he honestly thinks of me.

[Moondog]

5. Even so,

that time frame just describes when "they'd be making the decisions about callbacks."

It is still "early (this) week". And, if this is a climb up the ladder, there may be more players, with whom they have to coordinate preliminary decisions.

I still think it is a bit early to fret.

In any event, at this point, there is nothing further you can do. If you get a call-back, it may be for another interview by others.

I once was under consideration for a position for which I was interviewed five times. Always by different people, with different agendas. It seemed interminable. It took almost three months. Ultimately, I did get the position. And within six months, I wished I hadn't. But that was my miscalculation, not theirs.

[tabbycat31]

8. Thanks

I sent a follow up email after the interview. He said he liked that I knew the state's politics and that I worked in a neighboring district. He also told me that I did my homework.

I've given my life to my job and when I'm not working, I tend to go stir crazy and feel useless.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

3. Do you think by fretting yourself into a frenzy you'll increase your chances?

Focus on what you will do next, should you not get this job... You'd be amazed at how creative a bit of pressure can make you!

Good Luck!

[Wait Wut]

4. Uh huh...

...breathe.

Second: keep looking. I'm serious. Even when I 'knew' that I had nailed a job, continuing to look for others kept me from becoming overconfident and stressed out.

Third: breathe more.

Forth: Depend on us to send incredibly strong vibes rivaling Teh FORCE!!!

[tabbycat31]

6. I'm working on another application now

Thanks for the vibes. Breathing (and eating) have been rare.

[HarveyDarkey]

7. You're asking in The Lounge about how to stay sane?

Wrong forum for advice on that. That being said, it's still early in the week, keep your hopes up.

[Aristus]

9. Wait Whut offers some good advice.

My own advice my seem a little obvious, but do something to distract yourself. Coming here to the Lounge is one way; plus you can get moral support from people you trust.

Find an activity that diverts you. Or get some exercise. When I have a problem that causes anxiety, I find going for a long walk helps. It either distracts me from my worries, or helps me think through my stressors in a productive way.

[tabbycat31]

10. I do try and do things to distract myself

Part of the reason for my anxiety is that I feel like I have no future where I currently live and just want to get on the road again (my closest friends have moved away). I'm also the kind of person who when I commit to things I go in 100% and no less. When I'm not on the road, I'm committed to making myself better at what I do.

And I hit the gym 5x a week.

[Aristus]

11. Told you my advice might be a little obvious.

It was the best I had.

Hang in there...

[ohiosmith]

12. Contact the hiring manager. Thank them for the consideration and ask if a decision as been made.

Do it by letter and reiterate your interest in the position and the skills and experience that make you the ideal candidate.

Be aggressive, you have nothing to lose.

[tabbycat31]

13. I sent a follow up email

Chances are there's not even an office yet. He's not the one in charge of the final decision, it will be the chief of staff.

[ohiosmith]

14. Ask if they require any additional information or clarification.

If you don't get a response in a week or so, send another email. Thank them again for the opportunity to be considered. Say that you assume that another has been selected for the position. Say you are still very interested in their organization and would like to be considered for any future opening you may be a fit for.

[tabbycat31]

16. there's only one position in the organization I'm interested in

It's a state senate campaign, and there's only one person at my level. If I went a level under me, I'd be overqualified and taking a step backwards.

I applied to another campaign (at a higher level) just now. Cover letters are the death of me.

[ohiosmith]

17. Interview for any and every position. You can always turn them down. The key is to get in front of

the decision makers.

Let me know the next time you need a cover letter.

[tabbycat31]

18. I just sent one off

If you could critique it for me, pm me

[Paulie]

15. We are doing some hiring this week.

Generally if someone doesn't make the cut we call the next day an let them know. I expect Friday afternoon we will have two people and make a decision like 4pm. We tell the one we want first and they accept then we inform the other. Not everyone operates the same but I've seen this process at a couple different firms.

Nothing you can do but wait. And keep looking, keeps you busy and who knows something else might pop out of the woodwork.