Hi all,
Can any one advise on this please ?

I sent an application to a job I saw on a Canadian company website (online application) and received an email reply from a guy in the company asking me to ring him for a quick chat about the position.

When I rang we just chatted very briefly (10mins ?) about my background, the outline of the job itself and my availability which was more or less the notice period of my current job in the UK. Everything seemed fine and he said he would at least get his technical hiring manager to give me a call to talk a bit more about how much I know in more detail to gauge my suitability no doubt.

A couple of days later I didn't hear anything so I sent an email thanking him for the chat reiterating my suitability of the job and fexible availability. Since then I've still heard nothing and it's now a week and a half ago since we spoke.

What should I do ? Should I email again ? Call ? If so, when ? These things happen so rarely and I'd hate to miss out on any opportunities such as this one. I'm eager to get in touch but don't want to be seen as 'pestering' him. Advice ? Suggestions ? Anyone been through something similar ?

I don't think it would be at all unreasonable to give him a call. You certainly wouldn't be "pestering", just following up on your conversation. He may simply be a busy man and may well appreciate a reminder that you're still interested in the position.

Defo give them another call, after all what harm can it do

Thanks for the replies guys. Much appreciated.

With respect to your answers, I was thinking of calling 2 weeks from our initial phone call which will be next tues. Do you think this is reasonable or should I do it immediately (tonight) or leave it longer that 2 weeks ? Just don't want to scare them off.

By the way, wouldn't a prospective employer (of a pretty large company) have at least emailed me to say if there was a problem if it was going to take a long time to reply (ie. he's on leave or the guy who was supposed to phone was on leave/ill/very busy etc.) ? Suspicious ?

I just don't wanna lose this miniscule opportunity I've been thrown. I've applied to loads of jobs whilst in the UK and this is the first time someones personally replied from abroad !

Also, when I do call him, how should I approach it as I don't want to sound desparate or pushy (as I presume it will put them off) yet still show eagerness and enthusiasm. Some people say you should be cheeky (assertive ?) in trying to get an answer. Is this good advice ?

Your words of wisedom are more than appreciated as always guys !

Canadians do tend to take longer to reply I found. If they're not interested, they often dont reply at all.
However, if you dont have an LMO, isnt this all a bit moot? Some provinces have really tightened up the LMO process because of the amount of Canadian job losses/current economy etc.

Hi Jerico. Thanks for the reply. I don't know if it makes a difference but I have Canadian PR status and a SIN. Would this still come under the requirement of an LMO ?

Also, anyone have any advice on what I should say in my phone call (as per my comments above Jerico's comment) ?

Personally, I'd call today. I'd just say that I'm following up on our previous conversation and wondered if there was any further developments. The fact that you're calling shows that you're keen and that you're being assertive, but the fact that it's being a few days means you're not being pushy. Pushy is when you call the very next day, what you're doing is taking the initiative and saving the other person from doing all the following up.

Good luck!

Ah in that case, shut my mouth!

A major Canadian employer called me more than two months after I applied. When I already had something else in hand. Two weeks reply time would be pretty short, I think.

My suggestion would be to call him back, what have you got to lose?

Try not to e-mail as the Canadians like the more personal touch.

Hey Jerico. You weren't to know my situation but I got what you were saying. Valid point

I must say, I have heard Canadians have a habit of taking a long time (not like they do it here in the UK) to respond to job applications. It's just this one asked me to call and I did. He said he'd get one of his guys to call me back but hasn't. I just wanted to tread carefully and make sure I don't upset them.

Would be good if someone has gone through somethign similar but all coments are welcome.

I may well try tonight (although I'm a bit bunged up with cold at the moment) !

This is my point of view.

If you call the guy back and just say you haven't received a call and you were just wondering when it will likely to be. To me it makes you look interested in the position.

On a seperate note I had to do the same thing with my job here in Canada.

I didn't hear from the manager after I went to an interview for two days. He said he was going to get back to me the next day. In the end I went back into the store and asked him what was the matter. It turned out he had too many full time people and wanted part time workers and had past my application onto another store.

I told him that I didn't mind working part time then the next day I got the job. If I had left it I wouldn't be working there so the motto is to always follow it up and any problems they have with you, you can try to clear it up with them.

Good luck and I hope you get it.

My OH is currently awaiting his formal job offer after 7 months of interviews and 'waiting'. At times it's driven us crazy, but things are moving now! Formal contracts have been posted and employer references are being taken.

It seems things can be slower. It may depend on how many they are hiring and again if they are busy doing their day jobs. I also think the process can be very different from here in the UK where we tend to have a recruitment deadline. We tried to keep on their radar every couple of weeks...nothing too pushy, just asking about the next stage in the process.

Best of luck, Lynsey

We came over last January, got a formal written job offer in around Feb/March and then was twidling my thumbs while the LMO came through.

There was a period towards the end where I couldnt get the employer or their lawyer to get back in touch with me. I seriously thought the LMO timeline had put them off and they'd decided not to wait any longer.
After about 2 weeks of unanswered emails (which was strange because they'd previously responded quickly) I gave them a call to check everything was OK. Fortunately, it was and the LMO came through not long after.

I know how you're feeling. The not knowing is worse than the knowing.
As others have mentioned, give them a call. You have nothing to lose...

Hi all,
Well I rang him and it wasn't good news. The guy basically said he'd spoken to the hiring manager of that dept and he wanted someone with more 'in-depth' experience in a particular part of the job of which I only have a vague knowledge of. I said why not get him to ring me just for a quick chat ? Nothing to lose ? With the experience I had I could adapt very quickly and easily but he was adamant and gave me the old "We'll keep your details on file for future opportunities..." (ie. file under bin ! ).

It's annoying that they just don't email you to tell you they don't want you instead of leaving it in the air, but I suppose that's how they are (is it) ?

So where do I go from here ? I'll keep trying but maybe I should keep 'his contact details' on 'my' file so i can ring him when I'm actually there. Is this how networking works ? Schmooze ?

Anyway, thanks VERY much to all that commented and advised. it was much appreciated and helpful. ...onwards and upwards as they say !