Keeping in touch following a Skype interview

[Tolman's Rat]

I think the title speaks for itself here. We all get a little bit neurotic waiting for decisions, but it can be especially frustrating when you get a taste and then don't hear much for a little while. 

 

How long have you typically waited after a Skype interview before hearing anything back? Did the time that it took to hear back vary by whether it was good news or bad news? Did you reach out to gather more information, and if so, how did you go about this? Is there a way to check on your status without being annoying?

[foreignstudent]

I just had an interview and was told that results would be out in a months time..and judging by the tone I knew my result immediately!!.. You could always make out that way...

[Tolman's Rat]

I just had an interview and was told that results would be out in a months time..and judging by the tone I knew my result immediately!!.. You could always make out that way...

So nice to have a definite timeline! Mine went quite well, and we actually ran out of time at the end with the conversation going so well. I had a few more questions that I sent via email (as per her request) and she said that they would be best answered in a follow-up call or visitation. She then said she'd "be in touch soon." Much more ambiguous than your situation, but as good as I felt about it initially, I've started to overanalyze every part of the conversation! 

 

Given the ambiguity of the situation, I've really had to fight the urge to get in touch (or try to find a more casual way to do so). 

Edited February 4, 2015 by Tolman's Rat

[gubidal092]

If it has not been too long after the Skype interview, you can always send a follow up thank you note if you have not already (but you did send one, right?). It is a gentle reminder to the committee that you are still interested (and still waiting) and gives them the opportunity to respond if they want (though they might not). Much more than that would be pestering, I think. But, if you have legitimate questions about the program or something else you talked with the interviewer about that you could follow up on via email, that is another way to open the communication channels and try to feel out how things might be going for your application. 

[Tolman's Rat]

If it has not been too long after the Skype interview, you can always send a follow up thank you note if you have not already (but you did send one, right?). It is a gentle reminder to the committee that you are still interested (and still waiting) and gives them the opportunity to respond if they want (though they might not). Much more than that would be pestering, I think. But, if you have legitimate questions about the program or something else you talked with the interviewer about that you could follow up on via email, that is another way to open the communication channels and try to feel out how things might be going for your application. 

I did send a thank you, almost immediately after the interview. It was only with my POI, so I'm unable to get in touch with anyone else. 

 

My only idea was that I've been in touch with her grad student about adding additional measures to a study I'm running, so there are natural lines of communication there, but it doesn't really help me in terms of getting an update on my status. OR WAIT! Stream of consciousness here...would it be overkill to get in touch thanking her for putting me in touch with her student, indicating that he has really helped me with obtaining the measures I needed for my research, etc.? Or does that sound entirely reasonable?

 

Yeesh. I thought I would calm down after getting accepted. Not the case at all!

[foreignstudent]

I have not the sent the thank you note yet !! and the POI did tell me to mail if I had any questions.. Would it be ok if I send some demos or stuff that I make to strengthen my chances?? I have a feeling that I would be rejected by the way the talk ended...

[Tolman's Rat]

I have not the sent the thank you note yet !! and the POI did tell me to mail if I had any questions.. Would it be ok if I send some demos or stuff that I make to strengthen my chances?? I have a feeling that I would be rejected by the way the talk ended...

I would definitely send the thank you note, at the very least. You could probably attach demos if you talked about them during the interview (e.g., "I've also attached X and Y, some of the things I've been working on as we discussed during our interview"). 

 

I'm probably the wrong person to ask, though, as I do have some boundary issues and am extremely neurotic about this stuff. I generally ask my girlfriend before I send out emails, and she will tell me if I'm being annoying or not! But definitely send the thank you!

[foreignstudent]

@Tolman's Rat

 

I sent my thank you mail now and yes I did send a link containing my work and told that it would be updated with implementations of other techniques discussed over the talk... Hope it doesn't sound like I am imploring for a place or any such things

[Tolman's Rat]

@Tolman's Rat

 

I sent my thank you mail now and yes I did send a link containing my work and told that it would be updated with implementations of other techniques discussed over the talk... Hope it doesn't sound like I am imploring for a place or any such things

From the sounds of it, this is a natural line of communication and doesn't seem to be forcing anything. A thank-you note is customary, and if you discussed your current work, it is natural to follow up on that.