Rare is the job offer that presents itself in the form of a smile, handshake and “sign right here” moment at the end of the big interview. More likely, the job candidate finds himself out on the sidewalk in front of the building he or she hopes to call home, waiting for a call-back, an e-mail, a follow-up . . . something.

The fact that we’ve all been there is not really that comforting.  What to do while we wait?  Take in the dollar movie?  Visit Mom and Dad in Utah?  Redo the landscaping?  Get a dog and take walks in the park?

According to Robin Ryan, author of the updated edition of  60 Seconds & You’re Hired,  the best thing to do while waiting for the offer is to keep on looking for a job. Says Ryan:

Even if you’re certain an offer is coming, do not stop hunting. These things have a tendency to fall apart.

Ryan says to follow up with the hiring manager and then follow up on what you learn in the follow-up:

A hiring manager may be stalling you while an offer is out with someone else for the same position.  You also may be promised a job only to learn that the funding  for the job is no longer there.

While the waiting game is not easy to play, the time the potential employer spends analyzing your worthiness and determining whether you’re a fit is also a good time for a little self-analysis of how you’ve done so far.  It will make you more fit for the follow-up interview, or, if things don’t work out, interviews for other positions.

It’s important to keep in mind that hiring decisions are not easy, especially in large companies where the bureaucracy can add weeks to the process.  Not only are you being reviewed; you’re being compared and winnowed.  Pleasant thought, but someone — maybe you — will get the job.

Here are five smart things to do while waiting:

• Keep up with your industry — read newsletters, join professional organizations.
• Check out conferences — you never know who you might run into and where it may lead.
• Enhance your skills — this is a good time to consider additional degrees or certifications.
• Connect — yes, some time interacting on the industry blogs and within the social networks is helpful.  You won’t feel as forgotten.
• Get coaching — be open to feedback and direction from career placement professionals.  They make their living by successfully placing the right person in the right position.  Practice a little humility and you may gain confidence in the process.

Ronnie Ann, on her blog, Work Coach Cafe, suggests volunteering as a fulfilling way to pass your time as well. She says:

I often suggest volunteering as a great way to try out a new career path or simply direct our energies to something we care about other than our full-time job, if we’re lucky enough to have one. It’s also useful in helping keep ourselves feeling good about ourselves while looking for that next job.

And what if you do happen to receive an on-the-spot offer at a job interview? Dr. Robert Hanzen, the Career Doctor, says that you should still wait — take a little time to think it over.

My advice for all job-seekers would be to ask for time to consider the offer — if only to give you some time to think about it with a clear head. The stress of job interviews is enough to push some of us over edge, but combine that with the excitement over getting the offer, and you have a job-seeker’s brain which is not function at peak capacity.

Looking takes time . . . waiting takes time.  The important thing to remember is that it is your time . . . and you decide how to use it.

May the wait be short and the rewards great.

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