How to Follow Up on a Job Application

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7 min read. Updated on October 26, 2016

Jen David (TR)

Itching to follow up on a job application? Do it the right way!

You finally found a job posting that looks like the perfect fit. You fill out the application, paying close attention to every detail. Then you craft a brilliant cover letter, wrap it all in a bow, and send it off to the hiring company.

And then you wait.

After that, you wait some more.

It’s torturous!

If you’re wondering how to follow up on a job application, you’re in the right place.

Is it OK to check on the status of a job application?

When you find a job that really gets you excited, it's hard to sit back and wait for a response.

Have you already been ruled out?
How long will you have to wait?
Did they even get your resume?

You want to get in touch with someone and ask, but can you do that without being a pest? Yes, you can! By following a few basic rules, you can follow up politely and possibly even get your name to the top of their list.

First things first – follow their rules

When considering whether to follow up on a job application, pay close attention to the original job posting. If they included a note like “No phone calls, please” or any other phrasing that discourages follow-ups, play by their rules. If they are making a specific effort to get that message across, you won't win any points by ignoring it. In fact, you'll probably take yourself out of the running for the job.

However, if the job posting includes a phone number or email address, consider that an open invitation for a simple follow-up.

Who do you contact?

The most critical detail related to how to follow up on a job application is to make certain you’re connecting with the right person and type: entry-hyperlink id: 7sc6cf3fyH6hWLEB84AiFm. The company could make it easy by having that information on the job posting, but that's not always the case. However, it doesn't take too much time or effort to find out who you should be addressing with your follow-up email or call.

Check out the company's type: entry-hyperlink id: 29pPjI5ogL8itOgWPaEMqh. Is there someone in charge of personnel or recruiting? Do you have any other contacts at this business who you know? If so, reach out and ask questions about the position. You may even end up with an inside champion who could help your cause.

If you can't find out any other way, simply dial up the company's reception desk and ask the person who answers. They'll likely have the information you need.

How long should you wait to follow up on a job application?

There is no absolute answer here: different hiring managers have different thoughts on this. However, if you send in your type: entry-hyperlink id: 2hUVWM6owg1AuaLMjRjAGi and haven’t heard anything for seven to 10 days, you're in safe territory. You want to give them enough time to look through the applications, but not wait so long with a follow-up email or call that you've missed your chance.

If you found the job listing online, keep an eye on it. If the job posting is still out there, they probably haven't moved on the position yet. Once it's gone, that's how you know they are starting to process things.

How should you contact them?

You have a choice of follow-up: phone or email. An email is usually the preferred option, but if you prefer calling don’t rule it out.

How to follow up on a job application via email

In today's technology-driven business world, a follow-up email is your safest bet. An email sent directly to the person hiring for the job can get you noticed without disrupting their day.

In your follow-up email, introduce yourself, state that you have applied for the position, and are very interested in the job. Here's where you can sell yourself a little.

Take one or two sentences to tell them why you think you would excel at this position and with their company. The key is to sound enthusiastic but not desperate. It's a big difference and hiring managers can tell.

Then, ask about the hiring timeline and invite them to contact you to discuss your application further or to arrange an interview. Be sure to make it friendly and relaxed. Even though you want them to respond and tell you where they are in the hiring process, you aren't in a position to make demands.

How to follow up on a job application by phone

Some people don't mind a quick phone call following up on a job application. Others don't want to talk to someone they don't know and feel that a phone call is too intrusive. Unless you see a phone number displayed on the job listing, assume that phone calls are unwelcome.

If you do decide to follow up by phone, you should aim to cover similar ground to a follow-up email – but keep the conversation natural. Say you’ve applied for the position, sound keen, and ask when you can expect to hear their decision. If you get the opportunity to sell yourself into the position do – but try not to sound arrogant. If you’re not sure how to call and follow up on a job application, email is a safer bet.

How to follow up on a job application in person

It’s unwise to attempt a follow-up in person, as not many people enjoy being put on the spot or having their day interrupted. In offices especially, you’re unlikely to get an audience and trying to do so would seem inappropriate.

How to follow up on a job application using gifts

What about an attention-grabbing greeting card? Risky. Some people may love it. It's out of the box and it does stand out. There's a good chance, though, that it will come across as gimmicky. The same goes for any sort of gift.

Expert tip: When following up, keep it concise. Whether you're on the phone or sending an email, you don't want to eat up much of their time. Keep it short, sweet, and to the point – they'll appreciate that.

When should you follow up again?

It’s usually okay to follow up one more time after the initial follow-up. You’ll want to avoid bombarding the hiring manager and staff with repeated attempts to contact them, so keep your follow-ups to no more than two for each role you apply to. For the second follow-up, you’ll want to wait about a week after the first mostly so you don’t seem desperate.

A polite follow-up could help your cause

Job hunting can be very stressful. Filling out forms, digging through your work experience, and playing the waiting game gets old fast. Unfortunately, there's no magic trick to make companies look at your application and reply right away, so keep applying to multiple jobs and keep track of when you apply to each. Then, when the time is right, create a follow-up plan that can help you jump to the top of the resume pile.

Follow-up good, pushy bad

Following up on a job application can give you a huge boost, but only if you do it right. Beware of being too persistent or pushy or you may hurt your chances of landing the gig. But when you follow up thoughtfully, you can get the answers you need and make a great impression as well.

Will your resume stand out to a hiring manager? Find out with a free resume review from the experts at TopResume and get more positive responses.

This article was originally written by Tyler Omoth and has been updated by Jen David.