Answer:

When you are the one seeking a job, the wait seems endless and the decision-making process seems mysterious. Let's take a look at what actually happens behind closed doors, when a hiring decision is made.

Usually, the manager who is hiring the new employee is very busy because not only is the regular workload demanding, but now that there is one less person to help, the work is backing up and piling even higher.

In the case of a manager hiring an administrative assistant, imagine what his/her workload looks like without an assistant to help. Most people rely on their administrative assistant to set up interviews, sort through correspondence, schedule meetings and tackle projects. Without this help, the manager has to do it all him/herself.

In addition, the candidates that are being interviewed must be scheduled in between meetings and ongoing work, and the candidates themselves may have scheduling difficulties. In other words, it takes longer than you might think, when you're waiting for a response on the outside.

Regarding the manager getting back to you about the status of your candidacy, unfortunately, many companies don't do a very good job of letting people know if their resume has been received or even if they are still being considered following an interview. There are two sides to this issue. In the candidate's perception, the company appears rude to the interviewee when they aren't kept in the loop, but the other side is that most departments today don't have a lot of administrative help to send out these kinds of communications, so they don't get done, even though they are the right thing to do.

It's impossible to know if you are going to be hired. But it's a good sign that she told you she was still thinking of you. In fact, it's a good sign that she even took your call (unless of course, without an assistant, she has no one to screen callers).

A good thing to say when you check on the progress of the hiring decision is, "I can understand that hiring the right person takes time. Is there anything else I can send you, or any questions I can answer, that will help you with your decision?" This approach sounds helpful and empathetic, not pushy.

The wrong thing to do is to keep calling on a daily basis to inquire. It will make you look demanding and naïve about what really goes into a hiring decision, especially since in your case you are applying to work in HR. As you know, HR is intimately involved in hiring decisions, so you need to show that you understand the process.