It can be exciting to apply for a position that perfectly matches your skills. It’s a great way to advance your career and build on your job experience, which is why it’s important to follow up on your application. This can help you ensure that you stay current on your application process and maintain regular communication with the hiring manager. Here’s how to follow up on a job application the right way.
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How to check up on a job application
Here are the key steps for checking up on a job application:
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Read the listing.
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Be professional.
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Ask follow-up questions.
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Be brief.
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Choose the right time.
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Email the hiring manager.
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Give them a call.
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Use social media.
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Tell them you’re in demand.
When you find the right job opportunity, it’s important to use it to your advantage. These tips will help you to easily follow up on a job application in a professional way.
1. Review the listing
Before you decide to follow up on your job application, take some time to read the job description again carefully. Pay attention to any timelines or dates that were given with the description, as many job posts often mention a timeline in terms of responding to applications. Sometimes there may be a date when the window for applications closes. Until then, you might not hear back from the company.
If applications are still open and you haven’t heard back from the hiring company, you can use this time to apply for other positions and keep your options open for now.
2. Be professional
Keep in mind that even though you may be considered for a position or have to speak with one of the hiring managers, you should remain professional at all times. Recruiters and hiring managers are in the business of speaking to various candidates daily so they will appreciate a professional follow-up.
Even if you’ve had positive feedback from a recruiter, always be professional, and respect personal boundaries when asking about a job or following up on your application.
3. Ask follow-up questions
Although you just want to follow up to find out if you are on a shortlist for the job, asking a question is a good way to justify your follow-up. For example, if a potential employer is still receiving applications, you can ask them when they expect to narrow down their decision or when they expect interviews to begin.
The answer to this may give you some insight into when you can expect to hear back from them. It can also keep you in an employer’s mind, which might encourage them to schedule an interview with you.
4. Be brief
Before you follow up on a job application, it’s always good to know exactly what you want to say before you send a message. Whether you call the hiring manager or send them an email, always be brief. Remember that recruiters and hiring managers work with candidates every day, and they sometimes get dozens of emails and messages at a time. They will appreciate a quick follow up message that is clear and to the point, while also showing your interest in the particular position.
Being brief is key to a successful follow-up message. Your message should preferably be about your continued interest in the job. You can also ask about when you can expect to hear about the next steps, but again, always be professional.
5. Choose the right time
If no timeline has been given in the job post and you are wondering when you should ask about the status of your application, give it at least one to two weeks. If you haven’t received a response by this point, it’s a good idea to follow up. This will give the hiring manager enough time to look through most of the resumes they receive, and you may receive information about the timeframe in which the position is expected to be filled.
6. Email the hiring manager
One of the best ways to follow up on a job application is to email the hiring manager. Be sure to use a clear subject, be polite in your message, and keep the email short. In your message, reiterate that you are very interested in the position and why you are a great fit for the company. Remember that good communication is fast and effective, so always be friendly and professional.
If you’ve written an email to ask for a follow-up and haven’t received a response, it might be time to give the hiring manager a call.
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7. Give them a call
In general, if you haven’t had any response to your job application after two weeks, it’s acceptable to give a potential employer a call. Be sure to go through the job listing again to confirm that there aren’t any dates associated with the application. When calling the hiring manager or recruiter, a good example of what to say can be something such as, “Hi, I’m following up on my application for the open project manager position at your company. I’m very interested in this position, and I just wanted to confirm that you’ve received it.” This way you’ll be able to find out if the recruiter is still sorting through the resumes they’ve received or if the position has already been filled.
If they confirm that they are still in the early stages of sorting through candidates, you can ask if they have a timeline for when they’ll be in contact with candidates. If they give you a timeline and you don’t hear back from them during that time, there is a chance that the position has already been filled. However, you can still contact them after this period to verify.
8. Use social media
In today’s job market, companies are looking to hire people with a specific skill set and someone who will fit in with the company’s culture. That’s why social media can be an advantage to you when you want to follow up on the status of a job application.
Follow any of the company’s social media profiles you can find. This way, you’ll also be informed when they post any updates on their vacancies or make any specific announcements. When you follow, like, and comment on their posts, you’ll show your enthusiasm about what they are doing.
9. Tell them you’re in demand
You can also let a hiring manager know you’re in demand when following up on your application status. If the company has shown interest in you for the position, let them know if other companies have contacted you and are interested in you. Simply state that you are very interested in the position but are also exploring other opportunities. If done professionally, this can be a gentle way to help speed up the process.
I hope you find this article helpful.
