"The recruiter said she'd get back to me today but hasn't...what should I do?"
"Hey Tessa - The recruiter said she'd get back to me today to schedule my next (or final) interview...but I still haven't heard anything from her yet. What should I do? Is it okay to follow-up again?"
This is one of the most common questions I get — especially right now.
In this ultra competitive market:
Recruiter req loads (fancy word for jobs) are exploding
People teams are shrinking 🤏🏽
Layoffs are live
And timelines are...a fluid, nice-to-have (at best)
And you? You're the job seeker. The unfortunate soul stuck in the middle just trying to navigate all of it without overstepping, disrespecting, or completely burning out.
And me? I'm Tessa - former tech recruiter and talent strategist with over 12 years of industry experience here to guide you through it.
(I'm also you're career and job search strategist, just a WhatsApp message away—at least...for my Gold clients)
So let's simplify this whole thing, yeah?
FIRST. Do NOT Panic.
(I repeat: do NOT panic.) Reasonable timelines are kind of a pipedream right now, so it's not just you.
Hiring is taking longer across the board because:
It's an employer's market (so...less urgency from their side)
Companies are more cautious, overall
And recruiting teams are leaner with higher job loads
Just last week, a client of mine heard back weeks after a “I’ll get back to you by…” deadline because the department head had been traveling.
Things are moving slower than they should and the communication isn't always clean. And yeah, sometimes it does mean you're getting ghosted or an auto-generated rejection email is headed your way.
But that's not the only possibility.
And jumping to the worse-case scenario immediately does nothing but stress you out and cloud your judgment.
Which brings me to my second point...
SECOND. Control What YOU Can Control
Before. During. After...always.
My clients hear this on REPEAT. We focus on our side of the street — what we can control. In your interview process that's:
Prepping and sharpening your interview skills
Asking for a timeline & repeating it back
Getting clear on next steps
And confirming when you should follow back up with them
Now does it guarantee the outcome you want? No — but it gives you a little slice of reality to anchor yourself in when things get a little...quiet.
(or...ghosty)
And just as important: you keep building momentum. Other conversations stay active and no single opportunity carries ALL your hopes and dreams.
Succinctly: we've got irons in the fire, babe. So take breath...
Now: if you haven't heard back, then...
THIRD. Yes, You Should Follow Up
If a recruiter gave you a timeline and missed it you absolutely can (and should follow up).
You might feel like you're being annoying or pushy or unreasonable, but you're not. As long as it's simple, direct, and neutral—it’s professional. You're good.
Here's how it can sound:
Hi [Name], hope you’re doing well. I wanted to follow up on next steps for the [position] we discussed on [date], based on the timeline we aligned on. I’m still very interested and happy to share availability for the next step.
Please let me know if you need anything from me—I look forward to your update.
That's it—send and keep it moving.
FOURTH. Revisit Your Strategy
NOW—you’ve done everything you can. So instead of spiraling your way into a full crash-out, here's what I want you to do:
Redirect that energy.
Go back through the roles you've already applied to (I KNOW you're tracking them in a spreadsheet 😉).
Send the follow-ups you haven't sent yet
Re-engage where it makes sense
And revisit what I call your "Pieces of Flair" folder (wins, impact, results...everything you’ve done well)
(if you don't have one, MAKE ONE.)
It's one of the first things I build with my clients early on in my Gold coaching program. Not just because it helps keep your LinkedIn and resume current (which it does)—but because it's one of the fastest ways to ground yourself when uncertainty hits (which it will—this market's tough).
Because yes...you ARE that B. 😏
Bless & Release 🕊️
You cannot control if a company delays, ghosts, or changes direction entirely. But you can control how you respond.
So now? You let it go.
THIS is why having a job search strategy and someone to guide you through it are so impactful. People get stuck here—defeated, beat down, discouraged because literal holy hell-on-earth, what is this job market—and without a strong strategy and support, it's easy to stay here.
This is the work I do with my clients.
Helping you stay grounded, strategic, and actually move forward—especially through the uncertainty. And if you’ve been waffling on getting support, waiting for the “right time," or hoping for a break in this market?
This is it, babe.
If getting one-on-one support has been on your mind, now's the perfect time.
Book a free Clarity Call with me and we'll talk more about your goals, challenges, and how I can help⤵️
👉🏽 P.S. Want more insights like this from my side of the table? Check out my TikTok or book a FREE Clarity Call with me.
