Recruiter Emails: The emotional equivalent of a text.

Recruiter Emails: The Emotional Equivalent of a Text That Just Says ‘K’…

You get the email:

“Thanks for following up! We’re still working through next steps and will be in touch soon.”

And just like that (oh yeah, I Carrie Bradshaw-ed this one, sure did), your brain decides to take a perfectly neutral message and turn it into a full-blown psychological thriller:

“Thanks for following up” = Did I follow up too soon? Do they think I’m pushy? Did they hate my font choice in the email signature?!

“Still working through next steps” = Are there even steps to work through? Did I mess up the interview so badly that they’ve created new steps to keep me out?

“Will be in touch soon” = Soon as in soon? Or soon as in we’re never emailing you again but don’t want to say that outright?

At this point, you’ve:

Reread the email 42 times like you’re trying to find hidden messages. (Or like a fixated psychopath, potato potahto)

Screenshot it for five friends: “Does this sound like a no? Or a maybe? Or a yes?”

Googled: “What does ‘next steps’ mean in corporate-speak?”

Call me: “Kate!!!! Tell me what this all means”. (Sometimes there are some clues actually, but most often not)

The truth? The email probably means pretty much what it says.

But when you’re job hunting, every interaction feels like life-or-death. Your brain latches onto the smallest (most absurd)details:

They used a period instead of an exclamation mark. Are they mad?

They didn’t mention my name. Do they even know who I am? Is this a bot? Do bots know my name? What is a bot? (Snap out of it and get out of this wormhole).

Here’s your permission to chill: Recruiters aren’t trying to mess with you, they’re busy humans juggling a hundred moving parts. The email isn’t a puzzle generally. It’s just…an email.

But hey, if you’ve spent three (ok 8 maybe) hours overanalyzing it, you’re not alone.

Overthinking recruiter emails is part of the job hunt misery.

Try to email and then let it go, until you revisit it for follow up.

#jobhunting #recruiter #overanalyzing #sometimesjustanemail #letitgo #overthinking #permissiontochill