I Haven't Heard Back After an Interview. What Should I Do Now?

Question:
 
I interviewed with a law firm over two months ago. I thought it went very well and the initial feedback I received was very positive. I haven’t heard from the firm since then, however. At this point, I assume I didn’t get the job. Is there something I should have done differently? Is there any way I can salvage this?

 

Answer:
 
First of all, I understand how frustrating it can be to feel like you had a good interview and then hear nothing but silence from the law firm. You invest a lot intellectually and emotionally when you decide to interview for a new position and then actually do the interview. I’m sure there are lots of questions running through your head – did I say something wrong? Is my experience or skill set deficient? Did they hire someone else?
 

• See What Should I Do If I Didn’t Hear Back After a Good Interview? for more information.

Unfortunately, this happens all the time. Before we answer your questions about what you could have done differently or how you might salvage your chances of getting the position, let’s consider what might be going on behind the scenes.
 
The first possibility is that the firm may just not do the best job of communicating rejections to candidates. I’m not saying it’s right but, due to the large number of applicants that a firm receives for any given position, sometimes it can be a challenge for the firm to respond to everyone.
 
Second, it’s possible that, for some reason, the hiring process for your position has simply stalled. This could happen for a variety of reasons: maybe the partner leading the hiring process is swamped or on vacation or maybe some action item with respect to the hiring the process has simply slipped through the cracks.
 
Third, perhaps the law firm’s circumstances or workload changed and they are reassessing whether there is still a hiring need. This happens often as law firms have become increasingly cautious about hiring post-Great Recession.
 
Fourth, it’s possible that they’re still interviewing candidates for the position. Even if they meet someone they like very early on, law firms often continue to interview looking for the person they view as the “perfect fit.”
 
Fifth, and probably the least palatable possibility, is that the firm has decided to hire someone else and they are simply waiting for that person to accept their offer, clear conflicts, or start work before sending formal rejections to other candidates.
 
So, now that you know the possibilities, what could you have done differently? I definitely encourage candidates to follow up with the firm’s recruiting contact (or whoever arranged your interview) a week or two after your in-person interview, to touch base, reiterate your interest in the position and ask about their timeline for making a hiring decision.
 
While this interaction will likely not be enough to sway your candidacy one way or the other, it’s another opportunity to make a positive impression, express your enthusiasm for the position, and also glean some information about what to expect going forward. A phone call is typically the best way to handle this, as emails are easily ignored. If you’re unable to reach your primary recruiting contact after a few days, you can always reach out to one of the more senior attorneys with whom you interviewed with the same message.
 
I would encourage you to take this exact action now. While it’s my guess that you’re unlikely to get the answer you want to hear given the amount of time that has passed since your interview, at the very least you’ll get some peace of mind and closure. With any luck, you might get some valuable feedback you can take into your next interview process.
 
Finally, going forward, I would encourage you to use a recruiter when applying to a position, as we can help you navigate the process and advocate for your candidacy. Recruiters can often also get valuable information from law firm recruiting contacts that they may not share with you directly, making the interview process much less stressful for you as the candidate. A recruiter can ask some of those direct questions about the hiring process and your candidacy that may feel too awkward or uncomfortable for you.

Summary: I haven’t heard back after an interview I had with a law firm about two months ago. What should I do?