How to Follow Up on Your Job Application

Sending your resume in only to never hear back can be, to put it lightly, discouraging. Fortunately, you don't have to just sit there nervously waiting to get a reply. If you have recently applied for a job and haven't heard back from the hiring manager within a week or two, it is fully within your rights to follow up on your job application. That being said, you need to go about following up on your job application the right way.

When following up on your job application, you need to keep in mind that you're about to ask the hiring manager a question that could be rather annoying: "When will you be making up your mind?" Rather than seeming impolite or pushy, you want to follow up in a way that is professional. After all, not following up might mean that another potential candidate could fill your spot.

Today, we'll be talking about some of the proven methods you can use to follow up on your job application in just the right way. If you play it right, you can dramatically boost your chances of getting hired. In this guide, we'll provide you with a formula for following up on your job application and give you specific examples that will represent you in the most professional manner.

As always, to further boost your chances of landing the job, be sure to register for free to BuzzCV where you'll be given access to the best CV templates that you can use to land a job interview! With that, let's get started.

The Basics of Following Up on Your Job Application

Once you've submitted your resume, you're just beginning the hiring process. Unfortunately, the very first step tends to be the hardest: waiting. We know this is a frustrating thing to deal with. After all, you've put in all of the hard work of doing your research, creating your CV, and submitting your job application. Sometimes the return on your investment in time isn't encouraging. Still, you have to give the hiring manager some time to review your application before you actually follow up.

If you're feeling a bit nervous to actually follow up on your job application, please keep in mind that following up is more than okay. Further, it's absolutely essential. If you're wondering about just how long you should wait before following up, however, a recent study may have the answers that you're looking for. According to this study, one to less than two weeks seemed to be the most appropriate window for following up. When asked if it is appropriate to never follow up on a job application, respondents said you should always follow up.

As you can see from the results of this study, following up on your job application is essential. That being said, knowing when to follow up is a question that can sometimes feel hard to answer. While there is no fixed rule on this, the general takeaway is that you shouldn't follow up any sooner than a week. This means that if it has been two weeks or longer and you haven't received a reply, it's time to follow up.

But how should you go about following up on your job application? Let's talk about the basics.

1. Don't Be Afraid to Use Your Connections

The first thing you should keep in mind when following up on your job application is that using your connections to your advantage has its benefits. When working with someone you know from the company you're applying to, for example, you can really speed up the process while keeping things professional.

Go through both your business and professional contacts to see if you know anyone from the company. If you do, ask that they inform the proper hiring manager about your application, or ask that they put you in contact with someone at the company who is in charge of recruitment.

2. Have the Hiring Manager's Contact Details On-Hand

If you don't have any contacts to use to your advantage when following up on your job application, don't worry! The next step you should take, in this case, involves getting the hiring manager's contact details. It's essential that you have these details on-hand when following up. But how can you find these contact details?

First, check to see if these contact details are enclosed in the original job listing. On the other hand, if you've applied for the position via a job board and there is no direct email address in the posting, check the company's website to find the contact details in question. If you still don't have any luck, call the company's main desk and simply ask. They should be able to help you out.

3. Write a Follow Up Email to the Hiring Manager

Once you've gotten your hands on the hiring manager's contact details, it's time to craft a follow up email that you'll send directly to the hiring manager. Be sure to use a clear subject line to improve the chances that your email will be opened. For example, use something like the following: "Following up on a job application for [job position title]".

In the body of your message, be sure to keep the tone polite, humble, and professional. Reiterate that you're still interested. Take this opportunity to explain why you're the perfect fit for the position as outlined in your CV. Lastly, be sure to keep your follow-up email short and concise as you follow up on your job application.

Let's take a look at a sample of the perfect follow up email:

Hello [Hiring Manager's Name],

Last week, I applied for the position of [job position title]. I wanted to take this opportunity to kindly ask if you could provide me with your decision timeline.

I am both enthusiastic and excited at the prospect of joining your team at [Company Name]. It is my feeling that with [your specific skills, knowledge, experience] I could really make a difference in this position. For example, I believe I could [what profit you bring to the company].

Please feel free to let me know if you need any additional details about my job application. I look forward to speaking with you and sharing my ideas surrounding how to help [Company Name] with its upcoming challenges if hired.

Kind regards,

[Your signature]

[Your LinkedIn profile]

[Your phone number]

4. Make a Phone Call

Has another week gone by since sending your follow up email and you still haven't heard any response? No worries! Now is the time to follow up with a phone call. When calling, begin by asking whether or not it is a convenient time for the hiring manager to speak with you. If it isn't, ask when you can give them a call back.

If they connect you with the hiring manager, start by addressing them by name before introducing yourself. Let them know when you put in your job application and go on to tell them that you wanted to follow up as you hadn't heard anything from them yet. Additionally, let them know that you're still interested in the position.

Now is not the time to reiterate that you would be a good fit for the position. Again, you want to be respectful of the hiring manager's time. Instead, tell them that you'd love to speak with them more in-depth about the company's unique challenges. In closing, ask that they let you know if they need any additional information from you.

5. Continue Job Seeking

Even if you feel as though this position is perfect for you, you shouldn't give up on applying to other jobs in the meantime. While waiting for a response, continue job seeking and follow the above steps to follow up on those job applications as well. It is a good idea not to obsess over a single job listing. Don't narrow your options! After all, no matter how good of a candidate you are, you may not get a job interview based on reasons outside of your control.

When Exactly Should You Follow Up?

Following up on your job application has two important purposes: 1) to remind the hiring manager about your candidacy, and 2) to help you put an end to the uncertainty. Rather than sitting around and asking yourself whether or not your job application made it to the hiring manager and whether or not they've reviewed it, take the important step of following up!

Again, we highly recommend following up on your job application one to less than two weeks from the time you submitted your application. This gives the hiring manager sufficient time to review your application but allows you to keep yourself fresh in their minds.

Key Steps to Remember When Following Up on Your Job Application

So, what should you remember when following up on your job application? In closing, here are the key steps to follow:

1. Follow up at least one week after applying.
2. Find the hiring manager's contact details and write a personalized follow-up email.
3. Be sure to reiterate your interest in the position in your email.
4. If another week goes by with no response, call the company to identify whether or not they received your application.
5. Continue job seeking in the meantime!

Using the steps outlined in this article, you can successfully follow up on your job application without coming off irritating and unprofessional. We hope you utilize these tips the next time you find yourself applying for jobs.

By simply following these guidelines, you can put an end to all the unnecessary waiting around while reiterating why you're the perfect fit for the position! Good luck and check back to BuzzCV for more career and CV tips!