Answered by Traci, Hiring Expert at Accenture, on Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Unfortunately not every company or recruiter works on the same timeline. The position may be one that needs to be filled very quickly or they could be starting a search for an anticipated vacancy in the coming months. Did you ask at the end of your interview, or were you told, what the timeline would be? If they said they would be in touch within a few days to discuss possible next steps, but you haven’t heard in a few days, it’s quite alright to reach out and check in. Use that rule for each situation. If they told you they would be in touch in a day, a week, a month, etc. If they have given you that information and you haven’t heard, feel free to reach out and check in, but don’t nag. A short and polite message to check on next steps is fine, but don’t make it sound like you’re impatient. A great way to phrase this first check in would be to ask if you can provide them any additional information about yourself to help them make their decision. In your case, after you have completed your final interview, it’s perfectly fine to reach out after a weeks time, but also just to check in on the process. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes trying to get candidates interviewed, gather internal stakeholder feedback, determine fit, etc. Patience will pay off in the end!