I've seen 100's of posts from applicants wondering the following and wanted to add a viewpoint from the Employer's perspective. Don't shoot the messenger!

1. Why does it take so long to hear back? Employers typically run a job posting and then collect resumes for the next 1-2 weeks. Initial interviews (usually by phone), are schedule to make sure the candidate is a good fit for the position, the organization, has the appropriate skills and falls within the pre-determined salary range for the position. Sometimes, the best candidate applies in the middle or the end of the process. Hiring an employee is one of the most important decisions that a company can make...so it stands to reason that they are going to take their time to minimize potential mistakes, right?

2. What should I do to let them know I'm interested in the position.
   Here's a novel idea, when you are done with the interview, take a brief seat in the lobby and complete a "Thank You" card that you brought with you, highlighting some of the key points that were discussed during the meeting. Canned thank you's with general comments should not be used. At the least, you should follow up with a "Thank You" email the same day of the interview. You'd be surprised how few candidates even do this!

3. I've left them messages, should I physically go down to their offices?

No. Not unless you'd like to meet my Security personnel. Showing up for the interview tells me you are interested. Getting your "thank you" card, confirms it. Recruiting for the position you interviewed for is not even 1/10 th of the things the HR professionals are working on. Besides, they are also behind the scenes collecting the feedback from the other interviewers before making any decision. If you leave more than one message or email, you'll "stand out" alright, just not the way you'd hoped.

4. I didn't get the position. It must be my "Age, gender, race, ethnicity....fill in the blanks here."

First, you generally have no idea how many applicants they are considering. Depending on the level of position, I'd assume 5-10 candidates. Therefore, mathematically speaking, you have a 10-20% chance of being their best candidate...but that doesn't mean they'll even hire the top applicant if they don't fit the culture or have the necessary skill sets required. Often times employers are trying to ensure that they do not repeat mistakes, so unless you know why the previous person has left this position, you often have little insight as to which 2-3 characteristics of your background are most important to them.

Assuming that you'll get an offer from every job you interview for is like expecting to get on base at every at bat in baseball. Batting 300+ gets you into the "Hall of Fame," so expecting better odds as a candidate is illogical.

My best advice: If you see a position you want, network your way in through contacts, family, friends and previous co-workers. Don't blindly send in resumes without doing your homework and expect to make it to the "Hall of Fame." Good luck!