How To Speed Up Getting Hired

Author: Liz Frome

When a potential employer is moving the hiring process along at a slow pace, is there anything you can do to help speed things up and get a response or job quickly? The answer is yes. 

It’s not unusual for candidates to take part in three or even four interviews and, as a result, wait weeks for a final hiring decision.

What’s causing the delay? Companies are being very cautious, especially in the current financial situation. (Companies are sitting on the sidelines and are waiting to see if things will settle.) Just as job seekers want to get a job quickly, employers want to be certain they’re choosing the right person for the job to avoid a costly hiring mistake. (A hiring mistake can not only be costly but also be disruptive to a team.)

As a job seeker, understand that you might have to wait longer than you’d like to receive an employment offer. If there is a prolonged interview process or too many interviews’ candidates feel this to be a dealbreaker, it’s not uncommon to want to “give up” when you aren’t hired as quickly as you’d like to be.

But it’s good to keep in mind the old saying that patience is a virtue. That doesn’t mean you have to sit back and twiddle your thumbs. Please do not assume there’s nothing you can do to speed up the hiring process. Below are some ways you can help speed up the hiring process.

Tips to Speed Up the Hiring Process

How to ask about the hiring timeline

Discussing expected timelines during the initial interview can help you better understand a possible slow hiring process. If it’s the first interview, ask the interviewer; “What does your timeline look like for hiring?” If you’ve completed what you believe to be the final interview, ask, “When might I expect to hear a decision?” This not only provides light into what the employer is thinking but also helps you know when to follow up with the company.

If the topic of the time process didn’t come up during the interview, try sending a polite email asking for an update and include a question about timelines, such as: “Can you share the expected timeline for next steps in the hiring process?”

Tip#1 - Don’t leave the interview without next steps

Your efforts to make the hiring process go faster should begin during the job interview. Use the interview opportunity to discuss any information that may help you get hired more quickly.

Do leave the interview until you confirm that they have all the information needed from you. You might ask: “Do you have any other questions for me?”

You want to make sure you have a chance to address any potential questions or hesitations the employer may have that could slow the job offer.

Tip #2: Follow up

After an interview, your number one priority is to remain top of mind with the hiring manager. Be sure to send a thank-you note within 24 hours of the interview. A thank-you email is acceptable but consider sending a handwritten note via regular mail as well. (Think how you feel when you open your mail and get a handwritten note; that person stands out.) It’s a nice touch and can help you stand out.

When you follow up, be aware of your tone.  You want to get a job fast, but don’t be too demanding. It’s important to be considerate, structured and polite when asking busy hiring managers for updates. Try to keep your emotions out of it. (This is not an easy one but a must!) Too many candidates hurt their chances at this stage by getting overly emotional when speaking to hiring managers.

The way the hiring manager reacts to your inquiries at these various stages of follow-up can tell you a lot about where you stand. If the employer welcomes your call and asks that you remain patient as the hiring process progresses, chances are good you’re still in the running for the role—and your efforts to make your interest know may also speed things up on the hiring manager’s end.

However, if your contact seems reluctant to hear from you—or you can’t seem to get in touch with them, that might be a sign you need to move on.

Tip #3: Make it clear that your search is moving forward

There is no guaranteed method to help you get a job quickly; one last way to possibly speed up the hiring process is to remind the hiring manager that you are still on the search. Let your contact know you’ve received interest from and have been interviewing with other companies.

If you’ve put your job search on hold, start it up again. No matter how far you are along the path in the hiring process, continue to job hunt. (Each interview, each no, each time you apply; gets you closer to that yes.) Don’t slow your efforts until you have an offer in hand. There’s always the chance that a seemingly surefire opportunity falls through. Who knows, you may end up with multiple job offers to consider. And that will only give you more leverage and it is always good to have options.

Stay tuned for more job tips!