How To Follow Up on a Job Application

So you’ve done it; you finished your resume, you wrote your cover letter, and you sent off your application. Now you wait.

How long are you going to wait? It’s been two weeks and the online posting is still accepting applications. Does this mean you have been rejected?

Waiting to hear back from a job application can be agonizing. Sometimes, you might not even hear back at all. As part of our career counseling services, we offer a resume writing service that ensures your resume will generate interviews quickly. If you would like to know more about this, don’t hesitate to book a free intro call with me.

Is it OK to follow up on a job application?

Of course. It is perfectly ok to follow up with a hiring manager if you have not heard back from an application. Hiring processes last an average of 6 weeks, which means that any delay in feedback could affect your application.

Why should you follow up on a job application?

1. Though it may seem imposing, it would actually reflect well in your application. It shows you are proactive rather than reactive - which is something most employers look for.
   
2. Avoids lost applications: Today’s market is much more competitive than a few years ago; the number of job vacancy platforms has increased, attitudes towards career changes have altered, and remote working opportunities are much more common than even a year ago. This means you are competing with more applicants than previously, so following up on a job application gives you an advantage.
   

When should you follow up on a job description?

There could be multiple reasons as to why you haven’t heard back from them yet. Seasonality, end-of-month deadlines, and illness are all common reasons for delays in feedback.

Considering these factors, you should aim to wait between 1 and 2 weeks to follow up. If you follow up any earlier than that, you risk looking too demanding. The hiring manager will think you do not appreciate their schedule, and it will instantly harm your application.

How do you follow up on a job application with no response?

Choose the right day

If you follow up on a Friday, you will not receive a response. Most people will leave it in their inbox until the following week. However, if you follow up on Monday, it will get lost in their inbox. If you want to follow up on a job application, you should aim for Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.

Choose the right time

If you respond later in the day, most people will already be preoccupied with other tasks. The best time to follow up is the morning, just before they start work, as this means you will be at the top of their inbox.

1. Be polite & professional: Remember, this email is a chance for you to sell yourself again. If you take a colloquial tone or express annoyance at the lack of feedback, you automatically weaken your application.
   
2. Highlight your selling points: Choose a couple of relevant accomplishments from your previous experience, and highlight them in this email. Show them how you can help their business succeed. Our Resume Writing service can help you with identifying your selling points.
   

Example:

Dear XXX

I hope you are well.

I understand you must be very busy, but I just wanted to follow up on my application to [position] at [company]. Do you know when we might hear back?

I am particularly interested in this opportunity as it aligns with my career goals, plus I do believe that my experience in [example 1] and [example 2] can support you in [company’s objective]

Let me know if you have any questions regarding my experience. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best regards,

[name]

[email]

[telephone number]

For more tips on how to create a follow-up email, read Follow-up emails that will get you hired.

How do I follow up on a job application with no contact information?

Occasionally there is no contact information for the hiring manager or HR Business Partner. This might be to prevent cold calls from recruiters and other salespeople.

Steps to follow if you do not know the hiring manager:

1. Company Website: Sometimes the relevant contact information will be listed on the company website, with their email domain.
2. LinkedIn (or any other professional online network): Go to the company’s LinkedIn page, and search the head of the department in their employee list.
3. Contacts: Go to the company’s LinkedIn page, and it will tell you which of your connections work there. It might be that you might have old colleagues or contacts that you can approach to find the relevant person.
   
   

Should you call to follow up on a job description?

In most cases, it is easier to follow up via email as you have more control over making a good impression. However, you can also follow up on a job application via phone:

1. Check the job description for the direct line of the hiring manager or HR business partner
2. If there is no number listed on the job posting, then you can call via the company switchboard (found listed on the imprint of their company website) and they will redirect you to the relevant person. Make sure you know the department in which the position will be.
3. When speaking, introduce yourself clearly and state the reason for calling.
   

Example for calling the hiring manager directly:

“Hi, my name is XXX and I am an applicant for the [position]. I appreciate you must be very busy right now, so thank you for your time. I just wanted to follow up on the application and see if you had the feedback..”

Example for calling the switchboard:

“Hi, my name is XXX and I am an applicant for the [position]. I applied 2 weeks ago and haven’t received feedback on the application yet. Would you be able to forward me to the relevant contact person? Thank you very much.”

Takeaways:

• Timing is everything.
• Find the right contact person
• Remain courteous
• Highlight your selling points
  

If you would like to discuss this further, then don’t hesitate to book a free intro call with me!