Potential employer not mailing back

[Henkyou]

What do you guys think I should do about a potential employer I was mailing back and forth with suddenly ceasing all communications? I send them a reply to their last email to me, and that was two weeks ago, I've heard nothing back since. Would it be appropriate to mail them asking if they are still interested in hiring me? Or should I just chalk it up as them passing me over? The opinions of some employers here would be neat.

Additional details:


# I have a bit of a sinking feeling since their last email was working out the pay I'd be interested in, I mailed them back my rough expectations, which were actually a bit below going rate for someone with comparable skill set/exp.

# They seemed quite interested in hiring me, as they needed someone of my exact skill set and willing to work some unusual hours.

# I know at the time they were busy, and still currently are quite busy. So it is entirely possible they simply missed me, however I'd like to think if they were still interested they would have mailed me wondering why I had not replied to them.

# I know for a fact the exact person whom I was speaking with is around, as I've seen them active on a certain other forum.

I can provide some more detail/back story if it would be helpful, not interested in naming the potential employer though, I'm not here to make trouble. And for full disclosure, this is a secondary account approved by @MannDude (thanks btw) for the purpose of this thread, since I'd prefer to not start any trouble, as said before.

Thanks

 

[notFound]

It really depends on the scale of the employer - if they're a tiny employer it may be they simply cannot afford to employ you, if it's a larger employer perhaps they just missed e-mails, it's happened to me a lot with big providers they get caught up with something else and just forget.

I would say give it a week and mail with a small follow-up (not enough to make you look desperate and not enough to show you don't care).

edit: I did kind of assume it's a host. not sure if it is.

 

[Henkyou]

edit: I did kind of assume it's a host. not sure if it is.

It is, yeah. I was kinda trying to avoid saying it outright, since it narrows it down. But it is sorta relevant info.

It really depends on the scale of the employer - if they're a tiny employer it may be they simply cannot afford to employ you, if it's a larger employer perhaps they just missed e-mails, it's happened to me a lot with big providers they get caught up with something else and just forget.

I would say give it a week and mail with a small follow-up (not enough to make you look desperate and not enough to show you don't care).

I would say they are certainly big enough that I think them forgetting about me isn't impossible. Thanks for the advise mate.

 

[raindog308]

It's rude and unprofessional not to close the loop if they've spoken with you.  If you'd just sent in an application then maybe not, but if they've had conversations then they should let you know what's up, even if only to say they've decided to go with someone else.

I wouldn't hesitate to ping them again.  Nothing wrong in saying it's been a while and you wanted to make sure there wasn't a missed email, etc.

But if the sequence of events went like this...

   Host: "We need someone who can do X, Y, and Z"

   You: "I can do X, Y, and Z"

   Host: "Great!  How much were you looking for?"

   You: "$_____"

   Host: (sound of chirping crickets)

...then the answer is that they can't afford you.  Which may be unrealistic on their part (thinking they'll get quality talent at a cheaper rate), but...

 

[Henkyou]

It's rude and unprofessional not to close the loop if they've spoken with you.  If you'd just sent in an application then maybe not, but if they've had conversations then they should let you know what's up, even if only to say they've decided to go with someone else.

I wouldn't hesitate to ping them again.  Nothing wrong in saying it's been a while and you wanted to make sure there wasn't a missed email, etc.

Thanks for the reply mate. I agree about it being a bit of a shame if they decided to end our convo simply by ignoring me, I'm thinking I'll go with the advise I've gotten so far and message them back in a few days or so asking if they are still interested.

But if the sequence of events went like this...

   Host: "We need someone who can do X, Y, and Z"

   You: "I can do X, Y, and Z"

   Host: "Great!  How much were you looking for?"

   You: "$_____"

   Host: (sound of chirping crickets)

...then the answer is that they can't afford you.  Which may be unrealistic on their part (thinking they'll get quality talent at a cheaper rate), but...

More or less it went like that, except the initial contact was by me responding to their job offering, but the rest is correct.

 

[dano]

I have been offered jobs that seemed to be "lost in communication" for awhile. Most times, the hiring managers or owners are busy, or have simply forgotten about the last conversation, but still have you in their mind as they interview others and mull over the hiring. If the position they are hiring for is urgent, they will most likely get you squared up quickly, but if it's a small biz or a position that is new to the company, things will take longer.

If I want a position at a company that I have interviewed with, I always send them a note right after the interview to thank them for their time, and let them know that I am interested in working with them, because of X,Y, and Z. If a week or two has passed and I have not heard anything from the employer, I will send a single followup e-mail to "check in" on the hiring process.

There is a line between persistence and being a pain in the ass, so keep your note quick and to the point.

 

[Henkyou]

There is a line between persistence and being a pain in the ass, so keep your note quick and to the point.

This seems to be the general consensus, thanks for the reply mate.

 

[drmike]

Well I've been on both sides of the table and in big ways.

Here's the deal, if they are public offering the job today then they are inundated with applicants and the back and forth.

I don't have a tool for it, but concept borrowed from other old school professionals.  The concept is called the TICKLER.  It is a reminder X days out, a reminder to touch base.   Historically, you'd delegate to the secretary.  Hey Jane, put in the TICKLER to do whatever on [date] or [days] out.

As a job seeker, you MUST be aggressive.  

If you have talked multiple times - like initial application/CV submitted, confirmation of such, some small chat and now two weeks out, well, you need to be blunt and bump the matter.

Make contact and ask if the position is still available or if it has been filled.

 

[drmike]

I mailed them back my rough expectations, which were actually a bit below going rate for someone with comparable skill set/exp.

Money part gets bad and often disconnect there.   They should already know going rates.

This is interrelated to the often used excuse about an applicant being "overqualified" for a position.  Which typically means, the manager / supervisor feels threatened and/or thinks you are gunning for their job / better qualified.

 

[tchen]

Like others have mentioned, ping them back but keep it succinct and professional. Above all else, chuck out all that negative stalking / I lowered my ask price why don't you bite thinking because it does you absolutely no good and usually is entirely disjointed from what's actually happening in the back office.


Hiring someone correctly takes time. Project priorities shift - funding approval gets stonewalled, a whole boatload of reasons not related to you. Hence it's healthier just to ask honestly and simply whether they're still interested..

 

[tchen]

I mailed them back my rough expectations, which were actually a bit below going rate for someone with comparable skill set/exp.


Money part gets bad and often disconnect there.   They should already know going rates.


This is interrelated to the often used excuse about an applicant being "overqualified" for a position.  Which typically means, the manager / supervisor feels threatened and/or thinks you are gunning for their job / better qualified.

That's a good point. It's kind of odd to see someone experienced price themselves under market. College kids sure since they don't know better. But anyone with a few years experience should price higher than the average on initial request or at least be prepared to come up with a good ulterior motive for doing so. As silly as it sounds, below price throws up red flags for me too. But maybe hosting is different?

 

[Wintereise]

If this was a 'low end host,' chances are, their capability of paying any sort of 'going rates' anywhere is non-existent -- and they're basically looking for someone who'll work for peanuts.

Follow up once, if nothing comes of it, move on.

 

[Henkyou]

Well I've been on both sides of the table and in big ways.

Here's the deal, if they are public offering the job today then they are inundated with applicants and the back and forth.

I don't have a tool for it, but concept borrowed from other old school professionals.  The concept is called the TICKLER.  It is a reminder X days out, a reminder to touch base.   Historically, you'd delegate to the secretary.  Hey Jane, put in the TICKLER to do whatever on [date] or [days] out.

As a job seeker, you MUST be aggressive.  

If you have talked multiple times - like initial application/CV submitted, confirmation of such, some small chat and now two weeks out, well, you need to be blunt and bump the matter.

Make contact and ask if the position is still available or if it has been filled.

Thanks for the advise mate, I'll try to take it to heart. I agree about the aggressive part, I probably should work on that.

I mailed them back my rough expectations, which were actually a bit below going rate for someone with comparable skill set/exp.

Money part gets bad and often disconnect there.   They should already know going rates.

This is interrelated to the often used excuse about an applicant being "overqualified" for a position.  Which typically means, the manager / supervisor feels threatened and/or thinks you are gunning for their job / better qualified.

Might be possible, since by my own judgement I think I'm really overqualified, I'm interested because I like them. It is a side job more than anything.

Like others have mentioned, ping them back but keep it succinct and professional. Above all else, chuck out all that negative stalking / I lowered my ask price why don't you bite thinking because it does you absolutely no good and usually is entirely disjointed from what's actually happening in the back office.


Hiring someone correctly takes time. Project priorities shift - funding approval gets stonewalled, a whole boatload of reasons not related to you. Hence it's healthier just to ask honestly and simply whether they're still interested..

Thanks for the advise mate.

That's a good point. It's kind of odd to see someone experienced price themselves under market. College kids sure since they don't know better. But anyone with a few years experience should price higher than the average on initial request or at least be prepared to come up with a good ulterior motive for doing so. As silly as it sounds, below price throws up red flags for me too. But maybe hosting is different?

I'm used to doing work for actual enterprise companies and large businesses, I only went with below rates because the expected work to me is like shaking a stick, it wouldn't be hard at all, and I was genuinely interested in helping them more than getting a job. I actually have a job currently.

If this was a 'low end host,' chances are, their capability of paying any sort of 'going rates' anywhere is non-existent -- and they're basically looking for someone who'll work for peanuts.

Follow up once, if nothing comes of it, move on.

I doubt most hosts, low end or not, could afford actual rates. I have a salary job now for a large enterprise, I don't really need the money. Mostly in it to help them, but my time isn't exactly free either.

All in all, thanks for the advise gents. I'll mail them back within a few days probably to see if they are interested still. If not, oh well, on to doing other stuff I guess.

 

[matt[scrdspd]]

Whether a potential employer or a potential girlfriend, you can generally take silence after you responding to a question as "not interested". 

You never know tho, they may just be busy and you could end up hearing from them weeks or months from now.

Good luck.