How To Follow Up On A Job Application

You may choose to follow up with the hiring manager after submitting a job application. After sending your resume as well as a cover letter, you should follow up by sending an email or calling the hiring manager to see how things are going.

Although it is not necessary, following up might show that you are interested in the job and set you apart from other applicants.

The process of responding to a job application could seem like walking on extremely thin ice. If you do, you don’t want to come off as pushy or impolite, and if you don’t, another applicant might take your place.

Fortunately, there are certain tried-and-true methods for increasing your chances of being hired after submitting a job application.

You would like to keep up, of course, but you also don’t want to seem aggressive at a point in time when several hiring managers are already having a lot going on.

However, you are able to follow through with your job application in a few different ways without jeopardizing your prospects of finding a new position.

When To Follow Up On A Job Application

Read The Listing Again:

Reread the job description thoroughly before taking any action.  Be mindful of any deadlines or dates mentioned in the posting. A corporation may specify the deadline for applications in the job announcement.

 You wouldn’t want to follow up before that date once you’ve applied. Instead, take advantage of the chance to continue your application for jobs.

Show Respect:

In rare cases, the job description may request that candidates not phone or email about their status. If so, you should respect the employer’s desires and desist from contacting them.

Even though waiting things out can be frustrating, even if you really want to, you shouldn’t follow up.

The recruiter will assume you did not thoroughly read the job description or that you have poor direction-following skills if you choose to ignore the request.

Time It Properly:

How soon after filing a job application should you call? After submitting a job application, you may want to follow up right away, but you should usually wait a little longer.

 If you decide to contact, schedule the call for later in the day because the hiring manager’s workload is frequently lighter. To enhance your likelihood of leaving a lasting impact, plan your follow-up contact for later in the day.

Choose The Proper Day:

Mondays and Fridays are the days to avoid getting in touch with someone. People usually go again into work mode on Monday, which can be a busy day. On Friday, your email can be buried behind the weekend’s worth of emails if the recipient doesn’t notice it. Ideally, follow up on employment applications from Tuesday through Thursday.

Make Use Of Your Network:

It’s possible that one of the executives at the new business you wish to work for is friends with your former coworker. Check with your personal and professional connections to see whether you know someone who can assist you acquire a job or make your resume put at the top of the list.

Describe the position you’re seeking and all of the factors that make you a good fit for it, including your training, skill set, and career history. Don’t just stop there, be sure to help the person as well. By doing so, they could be more willing to assist you as well.

You may use internet-based networking platforms such as LinkedIn to check whether there are any individuals within your network who may have a link to the company where you wish to be employed.

If you find any such connection, you can communicate with them and inquire if they have any confidential information about the job. Depending on your association with that person, you might be able to request a suggestion or ask them to speak positively about you.

How To Follow Up On A Job Application

Give At Least Two Weeks:

It is normal to be eager to advance the hiring process immediately after submitting an application for an appealing job. Nonetheless, it is advisable to wait for two weeks before reaching out about your application.

This gives the hiring team sufficient time to go through and evaluate all submitted applications, improving the likelihood that they will have relevant details to provide about the interview process.

Maintain Professionalism:

Simply submit your application or having a conversation with the hiring manager does not establish a close relationship between you and the recruiter.

It is not wise to be excessively friendly or informal as it may not be appropriate. Recruitment personnel and managers are approachable, but their responsibility is to communicate with many individuals about a job opening.

They do not have sufficient time to develop personal relationships with each applicant.

Hence, even if you had a great first impression, it is essential to maintain a professional demeanor and recognize personal limits while pursuing job applications.

Keep It Short And Simple:

To follow up with a potential employer, aim for brief and clear communications. The objective of the follow-up is to remind the hiring team of your suitability for the job, as you have already submitted your application.

Limit your email to three brief paragraphs or keep your phone call under three minutes.

Be Sure To Find The Official Email Address:

To effectively follow up on job applications through email, it is advisable to send your message directly to the hiring manager instead of a generic email address like “jobs@abc.com.”

The email address of the hiring manager may be available in the original job listing, but if not, you may need to do some extra research to locate it.

Attempt to find the email address of the hiring manager (or someone with a similar job title if you don’t know their name) by visiting the company’s LinkedIn page and selecting the “People” option.

Check if the hiring manager has listed their email address on their profile.

Reiterate Your Interest:

To initiate a follow-up for a job application, it is important to first express your continued interest in the position. You can begin by acknowledging your previous application and reaffirming your enthusiasm for the job.

Reiterate Your Qualifications And Competitive Advantage:

Once you’ve expressed your interest in the job, summarize your main qualifications for the position. Emphasize your standout skills, certifications, or experiences to effectively demonstrate your candidacy as a strong contender.

Follow Up With Questions:

Certainly, your main objective is to know whether you have been selected for the job or not. However, to explain the reason for your follow-up, you can ask the employer a question.

 For instance, if they are still accepting applications, you can inquire about when they plan to start shortlisting candidates and conducting interviews. This will provide you with an estimate of when you can anticipate a response.

Connect With The Company On Social Media Platforms:

Get on board with social media and show your support for the company by liking its Facebook page and following its Twitter feed. Nowadays, businesses seek employees who possess the appropriate professional skillset and can blend in with their corporate culture.

 To demonstrate your interest in the company, you can interact with them through social media by following their LinkedIn and other profiles, and also by liking and commenting on their posts.

 Doing so will convey your enthusiasm towards the company’s activities and indicate that you are engaged with their team.

Choose Email Over Phone Call:

It’s preferable for hiring managers to receive follow-up emails rather than phone calls. Email communication enables hiring managers to keep a record of your conversation and respond to you at their convenience or when they have information to share.

Inform Them That You Are Highly Sought After:

If a company has shown interest in you for a job but has not communicated since the initial contact, you can try to speed up the process by informing them that other companies are interested in you, but only if this is true.

If you have other companies interested in you, but you are interested in a particular position, you can gently remind the company of your interest while also mentioning your exploration of other opportunities in your job application follow-up email.

It is important to avoid using threatening language and appearing egotistical. Subtly informing the company that you are in demand can be a wise strategy as it may lead them to consider you more seriously and accelerate the process.

Show Gratitude:

Conclude your follow-up by expressing gratitude to the hiring manager for their time and consideration. Encourage them to move forward in the hiring process by suggesting that they may want to verify your references or arrange an interview.

Be sure to share your contact details to facilitate easy communication with the hiring manager as needed.

Ensure You Are Not Going Against The Job Posting Rule:

Before following up with the hiring manager, it is important to check if the job listing includes a request for candidates not to contact the hiring manager after applying. Making contact in this situation could potentially harm your application or decrease your chances of getting an interview.

Conclusion:

One week after submitting your application, make sure to follow up by sending a personalized email to the hiring manager. In the email, express your continued interest in the job and highlight your qualifications for the position. If you don’t receive a response after another week, consider calling the company to confirm that they received your application. If you receive an offer for another job, promptly inform your preferred employer and emphasize that they are your top choice, while also informing them of any response deadline.