Hmmm...I am not sure how to interpret the following situation, I applied for a job and after an initial email contact, silence from the employer's side. I am growing so anxious by day, not sure what to do next...

So, here is how the series of email correspondences went:

• I send an email to a prof. expressing my interest in a position (day 1)
• Her secretary writes back and asks me to suggest timing for an interview (day 2)
• I write back and she replies that the suggested timings are not possible i.e. prof is busy and I should suggest an appointment time two weeks from now (day 3)
• I write back saying I can come anytime during that week (day 4)
• Not having heard back from her, I write again (day 6)
• Today is day 10 and I haven't heard back anything from her :S

phone them?

One thing I noticed is that people here are often not quick to respond by e-mail. Moreover, it is vacation time the time where professors and all University personnel mysteriously vanish . . . . .I would call as instructed above and keep in mind that the chance both the secretary and the prof might be on holiday.

Thanks for the suggestion

I am always hesitant to call a prospective employer, thinking that I might be bothering them and thus, affecting my chances of getting interview etc.

So I did gather the courage and called...

The secretary is not in the office today (off just for today), left a message with someone who was covering her place, asking if she could either email back or call me tomorrow.

Hopefully I will hear back something tomorrow *fingers crossed*

Thanks again

Good luck. Hopefully you'll hear back really soon. Let us know how it goes

well if its for a prof. and you are doing it through a school system good luck. the school i go to will never respond to emails, and if they do its months later with incorrect meeting information. its how they do business...

Never be afraid to call a perspective employer ESPECIALLY when they have already made contact with you to arrange an interview time. It shows persistance and drive.

Good luck with your job stuff.

It's true — I once hired the woman who ended up being the hardest working member of our staff BECAUSE she called me DAILY after her interview, politely asking whether we had made a decision yet.

Thanks so much, everyone!

So, the secretary writes back:

"Is the July 17th, 2008 10:00 a.m. possible for you? I can pick you up at the main entrance in the ***, 8091 Zurich. "

Thanks again
PS: *I am happy*

Congrats. . . rub some of that good karma off on me if you don t mind

You're damn right, persistence pays off. I once got a job because I waited until the end of the final interview that the "big boss" was carrying out with the last candidate to say thank you for seeing me (It was an interview where they had three candidates in at the same time and we all met three different people on a rotation basis).

Manners do maketh man after all (or woman )