Interview followup question

[Arriah]

3 weeks ago today I had an interview for a job that I really want and am very well qualified for. As I left, the interviewer said he'd be calling in a couple of weeks to let me know whether they're offering me the job or not. I clarified with him that it would be 3 weeks at the most before I heard something. Through the grapevine, I've heard that this particular employer usually does take a long time to reply to interviewees due to background screening and other verifications. Since every time I've talked to him it has been very late in the afternoon, I'm inclined to call Monday to check on the progress of the decision, thereby waiting the full 3 weeks before I initiate the call. DH is a wreck waiting and thinks I should call today so that we won't be so worried about it over the weekend.

I'd like some other opinions before I choose so your votes?

[AnglRdr]

Call on Tuesday.

[ETA: I should probably give a reason for that: don't call today, because it's Friday, and if he's anything like me, he's just dying to get out of the office, and, if there were information, it would have been passed on by now. Don't call Monday because everybody calls on Monday. So, call on Tuesday.]

[diddy]

Originally Posted by AnglRdr

Call on Tuesday.

[ETA: I should probably give a reason for that: don't call today, because it's Friday, and if he's anything like me, he's just dying to get out of the office, and, if there were information, it would have been passed on by now. Don't call Monday because everybody calls on Monday. So, call on Tuesday.]

I concur. Don't worry about a literal 3 week time-line - people give fuzy timeliness all the time if they can get away with it. With interview position's, unless they have a slam dunk candidate they may take their time with the checks and go over their results.

The reason I agree with Tuesday is that you don't want to sound too literal and too anxious or desperate. I certainly don't call return calls where they unless I know that they want to talk at a particular time or date when they give a fuzzy time frame like "call em next week" - I won't wait exactly 7 days kinda thing.

That's just my opinion, but If it were me, I would think that calling on a Friday exactly three weeks later may sound like I am really desperate for a response. I give them the benefit of letting them call me until a longer than reasonable time has passed.

[Barbara]

Arriah, I'm of the opinion that it's a bad idea to bug the guy or gal who's making the hiring decision. If they're hiring you, they'll call; if they're not hiring you, they won't. I would be worried about situations where the decision is not yet made and it's between you and one or two other people - if that's how things stand, I wouldn't want to do anything to convince The Powers That Be that I'm a pain in the arse and so take myself out of the running.

[rhiandmoi]

The rare occasion where I disagree with Barbara!!! Many hiring managers (including me when I'm one) want to see that candidates actually want the job, so calling after the agreed upon waiting period has passed is completely appropriate. I know that for my current job, I had to call and "touch base" with the hiring manager at least 5 times. I think calling on Tuesday if you don't hear from him on Monday is perfect. It allows you to reaffirm with him that you want the job, but it isn't pushy or annoying.

[Menolly]

I took an advanced business communications course way back in high school. The teacher told us it was a very good idea to write a thank-you note to the person who interviewed you. It got me one of my earlier jobs, because the thank-you note made me stand out from the rest of the candidates. That's what I'm suggesting you do, Arriah.

[Just Jocko]

I'm agreeing that the Tuesday call would be a good idea. And I agree with Menolly -- write that thank you note if you haven't already.