Going In-House - Having Patience

In-house interviewing is a long, tedious process. It is also more random and less predictable than the process for firm interviewing. Your interviewers have obligations to the company, they have unexpected deadlines, and they often travel on short notice, so it is not uncommon for them to put the interviewing process on hold for weeks after having met you the first time. Be patient and do not try to pressure them into making you an offer quickly (unless you need to respond to another offer). Reiterate your interest every three weeks or so. Remember to write down your impressions about the interviewers and what was discussed. These notes will help you remember critical job-related information when deciding whether to accept an offer, and they will be handy when you start writing your thank-you letters. For in-house interviews, these letters are crucial. They can be brief, and you can e-mail rather than mail them. But do not be surprised if you do not hear anything back from them right away. Even if your interviewers liked you, they will be hesitant to establish a dialogue before a decision is made to hire you.