How to Follow Up on an Application

So, you finally got the application finished. Your cover letter has no grammar or spelling errors. Your resume highlights how amazing of an applicant you are. And you’ve addressed the application to the right person, submitting it using their preferred method. You’ve done everything you can, now you just sit and wait for the call to come…

Wrong. You’re not done yet. Nothing about the job application process should be passive. You are actively trying to get this job, you are passionate, and you care. Which leads us to the next, and most delicate step of the application process… follow up.

Both after applying and after the interview you should follow up with the company. The art to this is making sure you do it, without over doing it. Remember that some hiring directors receive hundreds of applications for one position. Follow through is critical, but calling every day to see if you got an interview will not please them. And inevitably get your resume tossed into the “no” pile.

The main reason for following through with an application is to make sure it was received. This is also the reason you should never leave it to the last day to send in your application. In the event your application was not received, you want to have time to resubmit. If you wait until the last day and something goes wrong, you could miss your opportunity to apply. And after all that hard work you put into properly preparing your resume, you want to make sure someone looks at it.

Reason number two is to make sure they know you care and you want the job. There are a number of ways to follow up on an application. Some employers will email you and confirm your application has been accepted. If this is the case do not, I repeat, do not call or email to confirm your application has been accepted. If your potential employer however has not done this a quick phone call is best. Keep it short, introduce yourself, the position you have applied for and ask to confirm it has been accepted. Don’t try to get information about how many other applicants there are, these people are busy and will appreciate you being considerate. If you follow up with an email, follow the same form; short, sweet and direct.

And now you know your application has been accepted. Make sure you know if there is a cut-off date. This can give you some peace of mind, because you won’t be stressed out about not getting a call for the interview. In general employers will not schedule any interviews until after the cut-off date. This give them choice of the best applicants, which you are of course. So try and not stress.

Once the deadline for applications has passed make sure to check your email or have your phone on. You want to answer promptly when they reach out to schedule the interview. Also have an idea of your schedule so you know when you’re available for the interview. And make sure to thank them for considering you, either over the phone or via email this is important.

But in the mean time you are still not passive. There is more to be done to prepare for the interview. That’s next week’s blog, helping you prepare for the interview.

And see our training services page to find an interview preparation consultation workshop near you!