What to Do When You Don't Hear Back After an Interview

If anyone knows how to cope with a constant stream of rejection, it's me. Don't get me wrong; this isn't a letter of complaint. I'm writing this to help you deal with those times when you’ve been so close to landing the job you've always wanted, but then you find out you weren't selected—or worse, you just don't hear back after your interview.

In the current economy, it takes a fair amount of perseverance to land your dream job.

I've followed all the right steps, from acquiring additional qualifications, learning the language of the sector, and networking myself into some satisfying professional relationships. But despite feeling ready to enter the social-impact sector, it seemed like time and time again, recruiters didn't share my confidence.

After a series of job interviews led to me being ghosted by potential employers, I started to ask myself some downright depressing questions: What if the sector actually didn't want me? Is there anything wrong with me as a professional?

Since then, I've realized that not hearing back from organizations that I've applied to is more a reflection on them as an employer and less on me as an applicant. And despite the despair I often felt during my period of job hunting, I learned some pretty helpful lessons to keep the faith and pursue my career goals.

1. Panic won't land you a job, focus will

It's not worth it to panic when you don't hear back from a recruiter or hiring manager after an interview. Rather than blowing up their email accounts or phones, evaluate how the interview went. What questions did they ask that you weren't prepared for? Was there anything you forgot to mention about your past experience that would have demonstrated your competence for this role? Taking note of these points will help you in your next interview.

While it's disappointing to not hear back from a job you were excited about, focusing on the next interview will allow you to improve your application.

2. Don't be afraid to follow up

Of course, you shouldn't be afraid to follow up with a recruiter at least once if you haven't heard back after an interview. In fact, it's a good idea to follow up with your interviewer within a week of your last interview if they haven't provided you with a timeline of the hiring process.

Despite what you might think, the recruiter isn't your enemy. Often times, they get sidetracked during the hiring process and may require a nudge if they forgot to reach out to you about next steps. If you find out you've been taken out of the running for the role, they can also share useful insights to help you land an even better job.

3. Review your resume

That's right. Even if you believe it's nothing short of a work of art, your resume might be the cause of your interview problems. I still remember the face of a recruiter who noticed a date typo in my resume during our conversation—believe me, I'd never want to live through it again.

During the job search, you should review your resume before and after every application and interview you have to ensure there are no inconsistencies in formatting or content. A few minutes of your time can greatly impact the outcome of your next interview.

4. Be conscious of your behavior

An exhausting job search can make you feel desperate and anxious, but don't forget that you're a quality applicant with experience and hard-won skills. Even if you don't hear back from roles you're sure that you were qualified for, recognize that you will land a job eventually.

As I faced difficult questions about my career transition or the exact reason for leaving my former roles, I tried to be evasive to hiring managers. Before I knew it, I started to bluff about my former experiences and skillset in order to get roles that I wasn't even sure I wanted. I wanted to land a job so badly that I forgot my professional identity and career goals. Then one day, after reaching out for the umpteenth time about why I wasn't selected for a role, a recruiter told me that some of my interview responses didn't seem genuine.

I started to realize how my behavior might look like to others. Believe me, I wouldn't want to hire me either! Even when facing hard times, don't let the situation get the best of you and pay close attention to how you’re interacting with others.

5. Don’t burn yourself out

Looking for a job can become a job itself. You'll get tired, push yourself too hard from time to time, and then suffer painful down periods. It wasn’t until I allowed myself some days off that I understood the value of taking breaks to calm down, consider my goals, and think about a position over before applying. Don't overwork yourself—you don’t want the employer to find you fatigued and stressed when you finally get the call.

All things come to an end, and so will your job search. It’s inevitable that at least one opportunity will work out, even if it’s not the one you hoped for at the beginning of the process. Be patient and believe in yourself; it sounds pretty shallow, but that's what I've learned from my experience. If you don't believe in your value, nobody else will.

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About the Author | Kelly Smith is an experienced writer and tutor working at Career FAQs. She’s keen on new motivational tools and productivity hacks. She’s also interested in new media.