How To Follow Up on a Job Application ( Tips & Samples)
After applying for a job, the hiring process can drag on for weeks (and sometimes months). If you really want to know if you’re in the running for the job, you should follow up on your job application you might contact the hiring manager to follow up on your application. Of course, you want to follow up without coming across as pushy during a time when many hiring managers already have their hands full. In this article we discuss how, when and why to follow up on a job application.
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What is a job application follow-up?
A job application follow-up is an email you send or a phone call you make to check in after submitting your resume and cover letter. A successful job application follow-up can encourage the hiring manager to pay closer attention to your resume, give your application additional consideration or contact you for an interview.
How to follow up after applying for a job
To make your follow-up successful, consider your message and the timing carefully. Use the following guidelines as you determine what to say when following up on a job application:
- Wait two weeks.
- Be brief and clear.
- Confirm your interest.
- Reiterate your top qualifications.
- Express your gratitude.
Job application follow-up tips
Keep these four tips in mind to create a positive impression when you follow up on your job application:
Contact the hiring manager
When following up on your job application, always contact the hiring manager rather than the human resources department. Since the manager takes responsibility for finding the right candidate, making a good impression is much more important than checking in with the HR department.
Be Professional
Just because you sent in your application or spoke with the hiring manager doesn’t mean that you’re bosom buddies. Being overly personal or casual is a mistake. Recruiters and hiring managers are friendly, and it is their job to talk to several people about a position. They don’t, however, have time to become personal friends with everyone they interview. Even if your initial interaction was excellent, be professional and respect personal boundaries when following up on job applications.
Use email to follow up your application
Most of hiring managers prefer receiving follow-up emails instead of phone calls. When following up on job application, send your email directly to the hiring manager if possible rather than to a general “jobs@xyz.com” email address when following up on job applications. Communicating by email allows hiring managers to track your conversation and lets them respond to you when they have information to share or when it is convenient to do so.
Time your call right
Plan to phone the hiring manager during the afternoon rather than the morning If you choose to call, as workloads are often slower later in the day. Schedule your follow-up call toward the end of the day to increase your chance of making a positive and memorable impression.
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Job application follow-up examples
Reading through a sample job application follow-up can help you create a useful script to follow. Use these email and phone call examples to compose your job application follow-up.
Sample job application follow-up email
If you’ve applied for a job and haven’t heard back after two weeks, it’s OK to send a professional follow-up email inquiring about the status of your application. You can use this sample email message as a guide to draft your own job application follow-up email.
Dear Mr. Peter,
On August 13, I submitted my cover letter and resume for the Accountant officer position advertised on Whizzem’s website. As of August 28, I have not received further communication from your office. I want to confirm that you received my application and restate my interest in this position.
I remain enthusiastic about working for Konga Company, and I think my Accounting and Risk management skills would be an excellent match for this Accountant officer role. My three years of experience working as a junior accountant for Mikoko Company have equipped me for this position and make me a strong candidate for this job with Konga Company.
Please contact me if you need additional references or other materials from me. I look forward to discussing this role with you further.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Sample job application follow-up call
If you haven’t heard back about your job application after two weeks, it’s perfectly acceptable to call the hiring manager unless the listing states otherwise. You’ll need a different strategy if someone picks up the phone and this is What to Say When Following Up on a Job Application through call.
“Hello, Mr. Peter. My name is Jesca Erick. I applied for the accountant officer position posted on Whizzem’s website on August 13. I am calling to confirm that you received my application and reiterate my interest in the position. I continue to be enthusiastic about working for Konga Company. I think my three years of junior accountant experience Mikoko company makes me an excellent candidate for this position. Please contact me at +225645-342-213 or jescaerick@gmail.com if you need additional information to process my application.
I look forward to discussing this role with you. Thank you again for your consideration.”
