Dear Uncle Akamai: I applied at a well-known local company and was called in for an interview. I thought it went well and they said I would be hearing from them. It's been three weeks and I've heard nothing and I still see the job I applied for in the newspaper. Does that mean I didn't get the job and they just didn't bother to tell me?? How rude!

Signed,
Offended On Oahu

Dear Offended: In the Olden Days (by which I mean, before the Internet), many companies prided themselves on responding to every applicant who sent a resume or completed an application.  Given the opportunity, I think many companies would still like to do this today!  Unfortunately, in these times of "blast faxing" and job boards that can be set to automatically send your resume to any company that remotely matches the type of job you're interested in, it simply isn't possible.  These days, companies receive hundreds - even thousands - of resumes for a single position.  sorting and screening these responses is one of the greatest challenges facing recruiters today.  So, two lessons here: Try not to inundate prospective employers by applying for jobs you're clearly not qualified for or know you wouldn't accept if a job was offered.  And don't expect to receive a personal response every time you apply somewhere.  This rarely happens anymore.

HOWEVER, once you've been called in for an interview, that picture changes.  You've taken the time to meet with your prospective employer and they owe you a response in a timely manner.  I suggest you ask at the end of your interview when you can expect to hear from them and request that you be contacted regardless of whether or not you're selected for the position.  (if you don't get the job, this will give you an opportunity to ask for feedback so you can improve your interviewing skills.)  You might also ask if it would be OK to call THEM  after a given period of time (two weeks is reasonable).

If you don't hear from them, by all means call.  Be sure and leave any "attitude" out of it - remember what Uncle Akamai always says: You catch more flies with honey!  If you're unable to determine the status of your application by calling, it may be a sign that this isn't a company you want to work for after all.  Avoid the urge to flame them with email or leave a nasty voice mail - it's a small town and you don't want to burn a bridge unnecessarily.  Plus, it's always good to keep your options open.  But it's also probably time to move on in your job search.

Got a tough employment question that you want to ask Uncle Akamai?  You can email Uncle Akamai at workforce@successhi.com