At some point, waiting too long can feel like waiting forever.

One of the most frustrating aspects of job hunting is the slow pace at which things move. You spend half an hour to an hour filling out an application, then wait a week or more for a potential interview, and after the interview, you might be left waiting for what seems like an eternity. I once had an interview that went well, but didn’t hear back for four months, and by then, I had already moved on to other opportunities!

If you have your eye on a particular job, it’s understandable to wait for a reasonable amount of time, but there comes a point where you need to follow up. If you haven’t heard back after a couple of weeks, it’s appropriate to send a follow-up email to check on the status. While it’s possible that the company is busy with many candidates, you have the right to request updates. If they continue to keep you waiting for weeks on end, it may be time to explore other options.

While some companies may genuinely be swamped with work and are unable to provide timely updates, there are others that engage in a practice called “breadcrumbing,” where they prolong the hiring process unnecessarily. If, after months of job hunting, a company finally reaches out to resume discussions, you should carefully consider if you want to continue pursuing an opportunity with them. Working for a company that leaves candidates in the dark for extended periods may not be the ideal situation for you.