After the first round of interviews with HR at different firms, some ghosted me - no update after 1-2 week, and did not reply to my first follow-up email. Is it okay to follow up for the second time? What is the suitable interval between follow-up emails to not seem “pushy”?
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Ghosted by HR after interview - should I follow up for the 2nd time?
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Hi,
Typically the wait should be around 1-2 weeks, although Ive known firms to have taken ~1 month to get back.
I would say ~2-3 weeks is a reasonable gap between follow-up emails.
Always remember to remain professional and polite - becuase unless the firm had committed to getting back to you by a certain date, they theoretically are not under any obligation or fixed timeline (assuming they do not have an internal policy).
All the best!
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Hi there,
First, please don't send a first follow-up email so quickly! There's no upside to this.
First email, if you have to, should be 2+ weeks out.
In this instance, do not send a second email so soon. It would indeed be pushy.
Think about it, if you were them, you would send an email if you had decided to hire someone, right? If you really wanted that person, you'd let them know. Would them sending you an email change anything?
Rather, focus on that which you can control:
1) Applications (and networking) at other firms
2) Fixing any case weaknesses (if you don't hear back from multiple firms after the first round, then there is definitely significant work to do)
Here's some reading to help improve your casing:
https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/dos-and-donts-in-a-case-interview
https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/how-to-shift-your-mindset-to-ace-the-case
https://www.preplounge.com/en/articles/pitfalls-case-interview-preparation
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Best answer
Hello there,
Yes, it's generally acceptable to follow up for the second time if you haven't received a response after the first follow-up email. When doing so, it's important to strike a balance between showing your continued interest and being respectful of their time.
Remember that people are busy, and sometimes delays can occur for various reasons. While you want to demonstrate your enthusiasm, being patient and respectful is key to maintaining a positive impression. Following up twice is generally considered reasonable as long as you're respectful and professional in your communication.
Also please keep in mind that if you are an off-cycle applicant your recruitment might take 4-6 months and in some cases even more so you have to be mentally prepared to go the distance while remaining enthusiastic and patient.
Hope this is helpful!
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Hi there,
in general, it's fine to follow up more than once, but give them some time also.
In certain geographies (e.g. Middle East), volumes are very high + HR teams are rushing less, so not hearing back for 1-2 weeks is nothing unusual.
Suggest you wait for a week and follow up. Can try to call them directly - that usually yields higher response rates.
Hope this helps.
Regards, Andi
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Hi there,
1) Is it okay to follow up for the second time?
Yes, there is no problem with that if not done immediately after the first one.
2) What is the suitable interval between follow-up emails to not seem “pushy”?
I would wait 10 days from the first email and then call if possible instead of sending an email.
Good luck!
Francesco
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Hello,
I usually advise to follow up if you don’t hear anything after ~4 weeks: 1-2 weeks is well within a reasonable time frame. There are many reasons for why firms sometimes need a longer turnaround for deliberations (interviewing other candidates, need more time to deliberate, internal processes taking a while, etc.). I would wait 3 weeks since your last follow-up before following up again.
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Hi there!
A two-week gap between follow-ups seems absolutely normal.
Ghosting should not be acceptable and no reputable firm should do that.
Be as polite as you can about your inquiry. Also tell them that you have other applications ongoing and you just want clarity over the process with them so you know how to proceed.
Best,
Cristian
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