When and How to Follow Up on Job Application

  Tracking a job application is an email you send or a phone call you to make to check-in after submitting your resume and cover letter.  The successful follow-up of a job application can encourage the hiring manager to pay more attention to your CV, give your application more attention or contact you for an interview.

  It is well known that a job seeker should follow up with him after the interview, but did you know that it can be extremely beneficial to pursue your job application as well?  It might be nerve-wracking to be the first to establish contact after the anonymous online job application process, but standing out from other candidates early makes all the difference.  Knowing how to follow up on a job application increases your chances of being hired.

  There are a few things you must do before continuing.  First, check the job listing, as well as any emails or other contacts you have with the hiring manager or employer.  Check if any of this correspondence includes information about when you expect to receive a response from the company.  If they offer you an appointment, be sure to wait until after that date to follow up.

Is it OK to follow up job application?

  Even before submitting your job application, you can plan time to follow up on your cover letter.  For example, it might include at the end of your cover letter that you will call the company office within a week to follow up.  However, if the job listing specifically states that applicants should not call or email, do not include this in your cover letter, and do not proceed.

You may also like this; Online Business Ideas You Can Start Tomorrow

  When considering pursuing a job application, pay close attention to the original job posting.  If they include a note like “No phone calls, please” or any other wording that discourages follow-ups, play by their rules.  If they make a specific effort to get that message across, you won’t earn any points by ignoring it.  In fact, you will likely get yourself out of running for the job.

  However, if the job posting includes a phone number or email address, consider an open invitation for a simple follow-up, such as an email message.  Following up on a job application too soon only harms your chances of getting a job.  Hiring managers need some time to review all the apps so you’ll need some patience.

How long should I wait before I follow up on a job application?

  Wait a week or two after submitting your resume, according to a hiring manager survey.  After that, it is perfectly fine to proceed with the job application.  Moreover, all interviewed HR managers encourage candidates to do so!  Most of them describe email as the best way to communicate with a potential employer.

How to Follow Up on Job Application

Check out the job listing

  If the list is omitted, it could be an indication that the company has found a candidate or candidates and has made progress in the hiring process.  This does not mean that you can still proceed, but you need to understand that it is likely that the employer has not just selected you for an interview.

  If the job is still listed, clear the ad for any follow-up instructions.  It may explicitly state that you should not select or select the preferred connection mode.  If not, respect the instructions and do as the list says.  The list may also indicate how long they expect the process to take, in which case you should wait for this length of time to continue.

Find out who to contact

  When enough time has passed that you can proceed, try to find a direct contact.  This might be a specific person in the company’s human resources department, or it could be a hiring manager.  It might take some searching on your part, but try to find a name and email address.

Find out how should you contact them

  In today’s technology-driven business world, a follow-up email is your safest bet.  An email message sent directly to the hiring person can grab your attention without disrupting the person’s day.  Yes, you run the risk of disappearing into your spam folder, but even that is better than not following up at all.

  Some people don’t mind making a quick phone call to follow up on a job application.  Others don’t want to talk to someone they don’t know and feel the phone call is very intrusive.  Unless you see a phone number displayed in the job listing, email is a much safer bet.

Use a clear subject line or write to the existing thread

  If you previously email your resume, just find this message, hit “Reply” and type your follow up to the current topic.  This provides the recipient with a context where they can see your original message and recall you faster.  If you are emailing the hiring manager for the first time, write a clear subject line: “Continue to [Job title] application”.

Include a polite and formal greeting

  Greet the hiring manager by name.  Depending on the level of formalities in their company or industry, your greetings can range from “Dear” to “Hello.”  If you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, a general “Regards” is appropriate.  However, we encourage you to do some research and learn their names.

Send your materials again

  When sending a follow-up email, be sure to include your application materials again for easy reference.  (After all, you don’t want to get an HR professional or hiring manager to work to figure out why you are a good fit for the job.) As our guide points out, “They might have a pile of apps they didn’t have viewed, and you want to make it as easy for them to review your article as possible”.  Let them know your documents are attached.

Check your spam folder

  Many organizations receive a record number of requests these days, and there is often no time or staff available to provide live updates to each applicant.  Check to see if the organization has an online order status tool.  Many web-based systems provide real-time updates on application status, but sometimes you have to search to find them.  Also, check your spam folder.  Many systems will produce an automated note confirming receipt of an application, or provide information about public schedules, but you will not see it if it is detected by a spam blocker.