03:35 PM EST on Sunday, January 8, 2006

BY CAROL KLEIMAN
Chicago Tribune

One of the most frustrating experiences job seekers tell me they run into is trying to follow up with potential employers after going through an in-person job interview.

The problem, even if they do manage to capture someone's attention for a few moments, is that too often they get only vague answers that tell them nothing about whether they will get the job. They can't find out if someone else was hired -- or even if no decision will be made for a while.

And just as often, they complain they can't talk to the hiring officers who always are "on another line" or "out of the office."

Worse still, they often get no response to their phone messages, letters or e-mails. No wonder they're frustrated. So what's a job seeker to do? Is it possible to get through this barbed wire barrier?

"Yes, it is possible, said Ford R. Myers, president of Career Potential, a career consulting firm in Haverford, Pa.

And here's where you begin: "You should ask about how to follow up at the end of the job interview -- but most people don't even ask," said Myers, who has a master's degree in adult and organization development and has been in career management since l983.

"You can't force the interviewers to tell you something they don't want to tell, but what I have found is that more than 50 percent of the time, if you ask, you get an answer," Myers said.

But for many job seekers, trying to get that all-important information is daunting.

"It's something you should expect -- it's part of the game," said the career consultant, who also runs the Executive Career Network, a local group that meets weekly and has 55 members.

"Remember the days when after you applied for a job, you would receive a letter, phone call or a postcard whether you got the job or not, and people on the hiring side were polite and gracious? But the world has changed and all that is gone."

Among the reasons you may never hear back, according to Myers, is that there often are thousands of applicants for one job, especially through the Internet, and the attitude toward résumés of not responding to all of them spills over to follow-ups.

What's more, there are fewer job openings and "companies no longer have the manpower or time to maintain this etiquette anymore. So don't take it personally."

Instead, there are some things you can do to position yourself to get a response, according to the career expert.

"Have a follow-up strategy before the interview -- set the stage for an effective follow-up," said Myers. "Then, confirm the next steps before the interview is over. Next, follow up promptly, within 24 hours. Remember, every follow-up letter is a chance to build your value."

He says to "be persistent but not a pest. Call about once a week for one month."

If you still are getting no response, "leverage your outside resources," advised Myers. "If you know people outside of the company who know the executives of the company, ask them to put in a good word for you."

And if none of this works, don't be upset.

"Accept rejection gracefully," said the career consultant. "You can't force the employer to hire you. But turn defeat into a potential victory and be the best back-up candidate they have.

"There's always a chance you might still get an offer," he said.

And even get a response to your question about the possibility of getting the job.

Carol Kleiman is the workplace columnist for the Chicago Tribune. Send e-mail to ckleiman@tribune.com.