I know this isn't a pure consultancy question but it is related to consultancy in some ways. I applied for this internship position in this consultancy company, I'd like to refrain from saying which company. The vacancy notice for the internship came through from alumni from my school and my course who works there, through school's career office (top ranking school if it matters), and it is targeting current students on the course. I got in touch with this person from the company and we exchanged few very informal emails during the day and the following day I sent her my CV without cover letter or anything else other then CV, as suggested. Since I sent it, few days ago, 4-5 days, I didn't hear from her. Not even acknowledgment that she did receive my CV. Now I know 4-5 days isn't a lot, but we exchanged few emails in one single day and she was very prompt in getting back to me. So, why is she not prompt now? Should I send her an email saying something like "oh, I just wondered if you got my email" or something like that. If yes, what should I say? Or, :) should I just wait and wait? :) Thanks everyone.

Crispy, There's no harm in dropping her a line just to check if she has received it - do it!

I would drop her an email checking to ensure that she received it.But I would do it very politely, probably formally, avoiding phrases along the lines of:"I applied for this internship position in this consultancy company""I got in touch with this person from the company""oh, I just wondered if you got my email"I appreciate that she may well have been very informal, and perhaps told you to as well, but if I was the other person and received emails from a prospective employee along the lines of the above I would probably just bin the CV. You should be considering every interaction with her as part of the interview process.

OK, thanks guys. So what exactly should I say in my e-mail to avoid being rude and/or too formal. Perhaps something like "I was just interested to hear if you have had time to review my CV"? :) Help! :)

Crispy if the contacts to date have been informal in tone then continue that tone until you actually do begin a formal screening process with them. Shame to waste good rapport by coming over all formal - and this could convey a message (subliminally) that you see that person as being merely a convenient conduit. Hardly flattering.Send an email chasing up to see if they have had a chance to review your CV and ask (also nicely and informally) if there is anyone they coulod put you in contact with who could spare 30 mins for a coffee to discuss a particular area of interest in the firm, get an idea of what life is like there etc. Enthusiasm, good manners and a friendly tone are irresistable - and of course a little flattery now and then.

Hi XXXXThanks for taking the time to trade emails with me on XXXday, I'm really very keen to pursue the opportunity of an internship with XXXXX.I did send my CV over to you; have you had a chance to review yet?thanksCrispy.Don't say sorry to bother you, cos your not. Don't say I was just, because its more important than just.As Mars points out, warmal works. (warm and formal, see what i did there??).Mine isnt perfect, but may give you some ideas of your own, but if I got that in my inbox (and I do recruit interns/grads etc) I wouldnt be offended and would respond.

Thank you Mars and Shoe and others as well. This was very helpful indeed. :) xx

OK guys, so I sent an e-mail yesterday (Friday) morning and I didn't get a reply. Maybe she is out of office, or is it possible that she/they didn't like my CV and simply can't be bothered to write a few words saying that I didn't go through to the next round/interview or whatever was supposed to happen next? Thanks

I would personally try to phone, or post a copy as well. E-mail systems can have all sorts of complex spam filtering systems and your e-mails could have been caught up in them.Good luck!Jimmiewww.itbodies.co.ukYour Online IT Department

Thanks Jimmie, But I can't really phone them because she never gave me her phone number as we only contacted via e-mail and I'd feel kind of silly phoning the company and asking for this person's phone number and etc. I understand about e-mails and spams but it should be OK in that regard because we already traded e-mails few days ago and it seemed to work fine. I doubt that this time both my e-mail would go to some spam/junk folder or something like that. My concern is really if their practice is to remain silent if they don't like one's CV. Sounds a bit unprofessional but who knows.

Anyone? :)

Crispy, Why do you feel silly calling the company and asking to talk to this person? You already exchanged "a few very informal emails", it's not like you never spoke to them before and your only intenraction was limited to you sending your cv. You seem to care about this job, now show it to them and give them a ring. What's the worst that can happen? they'll tell you they already found someone else and the vacancy has therefore been filled - if anything, you'll point out to them that they could have informed you and make them feel bad about their poor communication. Mabe the person you spoke to has been ill or has left the company, and you won't know until you call them

Shoe I'm nicking 'warmal'

mars, reference previous chain about expensive training etc...£5000 + vat please.

Shoe cheque is in the post.

Crispy, If you don't ask you don't get. Give them a call if you really want the job.

Thank you guys for your advice, but I'd rather not call them since I sent an e-mail on Friday, but they can't be bothered to reply back so I won't pursue it any further. I would feel like a stalker if I did :)

Heh, I've been known to phone someone about 10 times a day just to get through to them.Persistence pays.

Crispz, grow some balls or you'll regret it. There could be an array of reasons why you've not heard back yet and it would be a shame to give it up. As I've got older I'm far quicker just to pick the phone up in cases like this - and I never regret it. There's nothing to lose (and looking like a stalker doesn't count!)Also, perhaps you could post your anonomised last email here, you may get some helpful advise but at least you'll satisfy my own curiosity and voyeuristic needs. Good luck

I'm with you dog balls.There are some pretty deep and meaningful reasons why you should call her Crispy. One of them is control; you need, for your own sanity and self-esteem to control the recruitment process. You need to understand your own value and what that means to a prospective employer and by bottling it because a junior HR clerk doesn't pick up her notes because she's too busy on facebook won't get you anywhere Hombre.To the point where, when you have called three times with no answer, escalate. Kindly, mind. "I don't if she's on leave but I have tried but havent had an answer....'I have a team here, if one them does that (and trust me they do) I don't kick them up in the air, just give them a nudge and they respond. You won't put them off if you're any good.

OK guys, so, I never heard back from this company, if you recall my story, and I was tired of waiting haha, so I sent another e-mail and this time they replied back. Haha. They said they were sorry for not getting back to me earlier and scheduled me for a quick phone interview for tomorrow and a real interview on Wed. Sounds good. So, what is this quick phone interview and why do it, if I am going to meet them on Wed? What should I expect? Also, do I ask them if I should come in for this interview formal or smart casual, or do I go formal without asking? :)

I do that quite a lot. The 'quick' interview on the phone isnt that at all, it's scene setting and getting a feel for the candidate. I will do it before I put the candidate in front of a partner so I can 'own' them a bit.Don't ever imagine you can go to an interview in MC without a tie on. Ever.We've had partner candidates show up before all open-necked and we thing, ooh get you charlie big potatoes. Shows a lack of respect.

Thanks, Shoe. One more thing. After the interview, should I send this person a "thank you for seeing me" e-mail? If yes, when? The same day or the next day, and what should it say-just thank you or something like "I hope to hear from you soon..."? :)Thaaaaanks Crispy

I'm neutral on this one.I think you'll feel it when you're there, but it's not essential.I've never been swayed either way by a thank you note but I have been prompted to do whatever it was I was going to do. So if it was a 'no' it has nudged me to actually do the note or make the call (which i prefer to do).From a control perspective, you might want to, but like I say, you'll feel it.

To me, it feels like sucking up. I doubt that if they like me or not, they will change their mind by reading my "thank you for seeing" me e-mail. Crispy

Personally I think its a bit desperate.Only if you get on REALLY well would you bother sending it. Like you say, a bit sucky. Or Licky.Licky. HAHAHHAHA

I've gotten that "thanks for the interview" email a few times, and yes it seems a bit desperate. However this being an internship you're better off seeming eager than aloof. See how the interview goes and make a judgment call. Just don't come across like a door to door salesman following up a lead.

Well, thanks guys. I had my interview today. It went really well, I think. When we were approaching nearly the end of the interview of the interviewers asked another interviewer if he had any more questions for me and the guy said "no, I'm happy" :) :) I know its an expression but it was nice. I won't send them a thank you e-mail because there were two of them but mainly because I don't see the point in it. They did however say that they have to interview few more people and will then let me know of the outcome. Informally, one of the guys told me that all other people are from my school and majority of them even from my course :) And yet, no one at school has been mentioning going to any interviews or anything of that sort. Neither have I, of course. But sneaky, isn't it? :)

you might want to consider sending them a nice bunch of flowers

Good luck with it.If the way you write is a reflection of your manner and style, I would say you stand a fine chance. You seem to consider what you are doing (maybe over analyse a bit) and you have a good level confidence.Maybe a note might not be a bad thing.

My view is that you should always call and not email. Emails are easier to say no to.

As suggested in the other thread about sycophantic behaviour, I believe the correct protocol is to take a long train ride to his/her house one evening and hand-deliver a bottle of champagne. LOL. I almost sprayed my monitor in coffee when I read that.Seriously though, phones are good: You get their undivided attention that way and they can't ignore you or come back with a one-liner brush-off so easily.