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It’s a story that is all too common. After weeks of searching online for job openings, you believe you’ve finally stumbled on the perfect position and enthusiastically grind through the laborious job application process. You’ve submitted your resume! Then you sit back and wait for your Destiny with a big “D” to call. And wait.
And wait.
And wait.
Did you do something wrong? Did you click all the right buttons? You haven’t heard back from anyone, you have no idea if an actual person has seen your resume, and you feel as if your entire candidacy has disappeared into an electronic black hole. Is it okay to call the company and check on your status?
It’s natural to panic when you think you’re not getting a fair shot, and a little bit of follow-up is appropriate. But before you start wearing out your phone, please note that the most important phrase is, “a little bit”. You want to follow up and the good news is that you can, but it’s a delicate play that can work against you if you take it too far.
Remember that everyone who makes up the hiring chain are busy – hiring authorities, recruiters, and HR representatives are juggling many things at once and have limited time. So, what is appropriate? What can you do while maintaining sensitivity to work realities and keep in the good graces of all involved?
Be judicious with your contacts. That means a single follow up with one person is appropriate. You do not contact multiple people and you should probably not contact anyone more than once, unless you’re actively engaged in a conversation about your candidacy. Fair or not, to follow up a second time may accomplish the opposite of your goal – getting a new job – as enthusiasm for your candidacy, and as a possible co-worker, will wane with each extra call or email.
Be judicious who you contact. If you interviewed for a job that involved multiple people (e.g. hiring managers and recruiters), give some thought to who is the best person with whom to follow up. Will you get more mileage out of the recruiter, who most likely is working on many job openings at once, or with the hiring authority, who is a manager with an even more hectic schedule? Ideally, you want to reach the person with the most influence over the decision to hire you.
Be concise. Be strategic in your email or voicemail. Here’s how the formula “Be concise” breaks down into three sentences – Sentence # 1: Who you are and the position for which you applied. Sentence #2: Reason you are following up. So, for example, “I understand you have a busy schedule so I appreciate any status update you may be able to provide me.” Sentence #3: Use your big finish as an opportunity to reiterate your qualifications for the role and the added value you will bring to the company. Then say thank you. Always be polite. That goes a long way.
Know when to walk away. There are a lot of companies out there that do not place a priority on contacting candidates during the job hiring process, or they’re just plain bad at it. After you play your follow-up card, if you don’t hear back within a reasonable time frame, cut your losses and move on. Don’t look back. You will quickly reach a point of diminishing returns. Time spent chasing updates would be better spent focusing on other job opportunities.
Philip Roufail contributed to this article.
Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.
