The Importance of Following Up
After you submit your application or have an interview, the application process does not stop there. It’s easy to get a bit lazy or let following up slip through the cracks, but doing so can cost you the job. Impress the boss by making a phone call or sending an email to inquire about the status of your application.
Here are some tips to help you follow up and get the job you want.
Time Frame
If you haven’t heard anything from the employer a couple of weeks after you submitted your application or resume or had an interview, it’s time to follow up. You don’t want to ask about the job the day after you have an interview, though. That’s too soon. However, waiting a month can mean that the job has been filled.
Communication Method
- Stick to the mode of communication you originally established with the potential employer. For example, if you applied for the job via email, and all your communication has been via email with the hiring manager, email to ask about the job. If you walked into the office to submit your application materials, then a phone call or a quick in-person visit might be appropriate. It’s no big deal to make a quick, follow-up phone call if you’ve emailed before, but if the manager has expressed a preference for communicating by email, honor that wish.
- Keep your follow-up short and to the point. You might say something like, “I’m just following up on the status of my application.” If you hear that the job has been filled, take advantage of the opportunity to improve your job-seeking game by asking what you could have done to make your application or interview more appealing to the employer. This feedback can help you when you apply for the next job.
- Stay professional in all of your communications. If you’re emailing, use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation in your message. Avoid writing in a less-than-professional tone. If you leave a voicemail, speak directly, leaving your phone number a couple of times, and speak in a clear, understandable voice.
Following up means that you have taken the initiative to pursue a job that you really want, and it demonstrates that you are persistent and detail-oriented. A hiring manager will remember that you were the applicant who left a voicemail asking about the job, and forget other, less-determined job seekers.