Intelligent Ways to Follow-up during Your Resume

So you’ve posted your resume, now what? Good follow-up skills are just as important as having a great resume and cover letter, and they are a crucial part of securing an interview. Instead of twiddling your thumbs while waiting for their response, here’s what you can do to follow up on your job application!

Tips on How to Follow up on Your Job Application

Did you know you’re expected to follow up after applying for a job? In addition to the common job interview tips for preparing before, during, and after the interview, here’s a detailed action plan on how to follow up.

Do Your Research

Do your best to find out the hiring manager’s name. If you can address your resume and cover letter to that person, you have a better chance of your application not getting lost in the shuffle. If the job posting didn’t specify, check the company’s website and try to find the name and email of the person in charge of the department to which you’re applying. This will also tell you who to follow up with after you’ve submitted your resume.

Follow Up by Email

If you have the email address, then go ahead and make a single phone call about a week after you’ve submitted your resume. Inquire about the status of your application and when the company expects to select qualified candidates for interviews. Be polite and thank the person you speak to for their time. (Yes, this may seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people call to check the status of their application and have a less-than-enthusiastic tone or are borderline rude).

Send an Interview Follow-Up “Thank You” Letter

This is perfectly acceptable to send via email. Surprisingly, very few people use this important additional step. Many hiring managers appreciate the power of follow-up, especially when it’s done right. For instance, an HR Manager received over 60 applications initially for a job. Only 4 received interviews, and only 2 of those 4 got second interviews. After a few weeks, the said manager chose the candidate who sent the follow-up “thank you” email. There is a fine line between effective follow-up and being a nuisance.

Read the Job Posting and Follow the Application Instructions

Many hiring managers request “no calls, please.” If that’s the case, refrain from calling every day to check the status of your resume. However, you can still show your interest and enthusiasm for the company and the position by following up occasionally and in a respectful manner.

Here’s another scenario: imagine yourself as a jobseeker who really wanted an information technology job with a specific company. You emailed about bi-monthly to check in and express continued interest for several months. The hiring manager admired your zeal to join the company and conveyed this to the information technology department head. As a result, you landed the job for the next opening in the information technology department, and it’s all because of effective follow-up.

Bottom line: Address your resume to the hiring manager if possible. Follow up by email about a week after you’ve submitted it. If you secure an interview, send a thank you email 1-2 days later, and lastly, follow the application instructions.

Now that you understand the importance in your job search, go ahead and start following up!

Image Supply: William Krause of Unsplash

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