Is he going to help me?

Had a partner at a consulting firm refer me for an interview, I've been updating him in the recruiting process, telling him when I had the conversation with HR, when I had my first round interview. But I haven't heard back from the first round (they said 2 weeks, it's pushing 3) which I assume is a bad sign.

I just got an email from the partner asking if there are any "updates". Should I reply and slyly ask if there's some way he can put in a good enough word to move me to the second round (not sure how I would do this smoothly).

Edit: I should add this is a pretty big firm, so not sure if he actually knows the person I interviewed with or the HR person...

 
Best Response

I don't know if you got dinged or not, but never use someone as a reference if they dinged you. They didn't like you and don't know you very well. You have no idea what they would tell others. How could that help?

I would only use recommenders who knew me very well, that I coached on how I am positioning myself for the role, that present themselves well, and I had absolute confidence in.

 
SirTradesaLot:
I don't know if you got dinged or not, but never use someone as a reference if they dinged you. They didn't like you and don't know you very well. You have no idea what they would tell others. How could that help?

I would only use recommenders who knew me very well, that I coached on how I am positioning myself for the role, that present themselves well, and I had absolute confidence in.

I think you are misinterpreting what he said. The guy who asked for updates wasn't the same one who "dinged" him, it was his other contact. As far as the contact knows, OP has an offer already, and just wanted to see how things were going.

OP, to answer your question I wouldn't ask for a job or anything, just say you haven't heard back yet and are looking into other opportunities. If the contact likes you, he may put in calls and ask what others thought of you and try to get an update. He also may help you find opportunities at other shops. Bottom line: If he reached out to you unprovoked he probably likes you and cares (at least a little) about how everything went.

 

Ok, I re-read it and maybe you're right (still can't tell for sure). I would ask the original contact if he knows of anyone else I should speak with in the industry. I'm not sure why this partner referred him, but it seems to me if he was 'really' pulling for you, he would know the answer already. He could have called someone. OP, why was this guy helping you out and is it possible he felt obligated to go through the motions of 'helping' without actually being very helpful?

 
SirTradesaLot:
but it seems to me if he was 'really' pulling for you, he would know the answer already. He could have called someone.

Very true, this explains all the magic coincidence I had. Sir, if I have this GUY "really pulling for" me (just use your words), and I got dinged by someone else and this GUY knew about it from the HR. How to ask this GUY a favor next time without being annoying/awkward, since his group is hiring in December. Don't want to waste a great, maybe the best, contact :(

The Auto Show
 
huanleshalemei:
SirTradesaLot:
but it seems to me if he was 'really' pulling for you, he would know the answer already. He could have called someone.

Very true, this explains all the magic coincidence I had. Sir, if I have this GUY "really pulling for" me (just use your words), and I got dinged by someone else and this GUY knew about it from the HR. How to ask this GUY a favor next time without being annoying/awkward, since his group is hiring in December. Don't want to waste a great, maybe the best, contact :(

Not sure I understand the question.
 

The fact that he e-mailed you back means he's on your side. E-mail and say something like "no I haven't heard back. Do you know when they get back?" (Even though you know). If he's really trying to help you out, he may even e-mail HR and ask them about your application, which could change your fortunes.

Again, not likely but why waste a perfectly valuable contact.

 

Yep, I found him through my school's alumni database, had an informational phone interview with him, and he said he would act as my "referral" for the interview, and yes the follow up he just sent was unprompted, I replied a little while ago saying I hadn't heard back yet, but still haven't gotten a reply from him, hoping he's poking around at HR throwing his weight around, but who knows....

 

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