Unanswered E-Mails: How Far Can You Push?
You've interviewed for a job, but your follow-up emails are going unanswered. You've just made a huge sales presentation, but the client isn't responding.
What's your next step? You don't want to appear pushy. But you need to know where you stand.
It's a great question to ponder because many of us have been in this same situation, and seemingly there are no easy answers.
But there is an easy answer, says management consultant Peter Bregman. On HBR.org he offers the points of view both of someone angry about not being responded to, and of the person on the other side who gets 200 e-mails a day and will answer when she is good and ready.
His advice. After the big event, send an immediate follow-up message to the appropriate person. Then assume the worst.
"If they do call or email back, it will be a nice surprise and you can discuss how to proceed. If they don't reach out, you haven't stalled in your other work, knocked your head into a brick wall, or wasted any energy stressing about it."Bregman's belief is that if they really want you, they will be in touch. Only negative things can happen from badgering.
Have you been on one side or the other of this question? Share your thoughts on how it feels to be a hounded decision maker or frustrated applicant.
(Impatient woman image by meddygarnet, CC 2.0)