Madeline Mann* says there are three questions people should ask themselves before they follow up on a job application.
You’re in the interview process with a company. The fact that you landed an interview with them means they see the value in you.
But you haven’t heard back since the interview. It’s been several days or even weeks.
Here’s how to follow up and actually get a response.
I’m Madeline Mann, a Human Resources Leader and Career Strategist who has helped thousands of people land career defining jobs.
In my career on the frontline of hiring, I’ve uncovered clear patterns and systems that lead to high success in the job search process.
And I wake up every day excited to pass along those insights to ambitious people like you.
In my LinkedIn Learning course, How to Follow Up on a Job Application, you’ll learn how to turn situations around in the job search, how to reignite the stalled interview process, how to still land a job despite a hiring freeze and finally, how do you position yourself to be considered for roles even after a rejection.
In this post, we’ll cover the three things you should ask yourself when following up with a company that hasn’t gotten back to you.
1) When exactly should you follow up?
If they tell you a date when they’ll get back to you, follow up the day after that date.
If they say “Let’s talk in a few weeks,” or “a couple of weeks,” follow up in two weeks.
And if they give you no timeframe, follow up every five to eight business days. It’s incredible how effective this is.
2) What should you keep in mind if they don’t get back to you as expected?
In times like these, the company may feel as excited about you as you are about them, but they may be experiencing hiring freezes or any number of internal distractions.
If you’re emailing during a sensitive time such as you suspect a hiring freeze or if in general the economy is in a tough spot, email them in a way that doesn’t require a response.
Such as, simply notify them that you are still interested in the role and that they should feel free to reach out to you if they need further information to make their decision.
Be sure to check out the LinkedIn Learning course to get this email template and others that you can use word for word.
This response shows that given the uncertainty of everything going on that you understand if they have any delays then offers to provide any additional information and reiterates your enthusiasm for the opportunity.
3) How many times can you follow up without feeling like you’re bugging them?
You should follow up at least three times.
These emails should be framed as an update, such as updating them on your timeline, informing them that you’re nearing the final rounds with another company, filling them in on any recent projects or skills you’ve been building, or simply letting them know that you continue to be enthusiastic about the opportunity.
When you frame your follow ups as an update instead of expecting a response, you do several things.
You show empathy for the fact that the company has a long list of things going on.
You reiterate that you’re a candidate who’s really invested in the opportunity, because companies want people who want them and you come across as confident.
You aren’t sad or nagging. You’re simply updating them and expressing interest.
Who wouldn’t want to hire you after that?
*Madeline Mann is a Talent Development and Human Resources professional
This article first appeared at linkedin.com.
