How to Follow Up on a Job Application (with examples)

Days after sending a job application, you can wait a bit further to receive communication from the hiring company. Alternatively, reach out to the appropriate talent acquisition executive to get information on your recruitment situation.

Many job applicants opt to reach out to the relevant hiring organizations since waiting it out can be quite frustrating. But even with that said, it is essential to understand that following up on a job application is quite a delicate affair. You do not want to come off as impatient to your potential boss; so, it is necessary to be crafty when soliciting information regarding the state of your application.

For starters, you need to check the position’s description to ascertain whether communicating with the company after submitting your CV is required. See, some will specify when to contact their officials, making it clear for you to know the perfect moments for making your inquiries. Others expressly forbid any form of communication intended to gather information on the status of your job application. So, you must play by the set regulations.

That said, following up on a job application comes down to two ways; phone call or email. Right below, we are going to delve deeper into each of these means of following up.

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How to Follow Up on a Job Application by Phone

A short phone call to the talent acquisition executive in a company you have interviewed with might be what sees you land your dream employment opportunity. Each day, hiring executives to have to go through hundreds of applications, meaning it is easy for yours to get lost or worse still, forgotten in their inboxes. As such, by making a phone call, you can get the recruiter to pay attention to your resume. Nonetheless, only make a phone call after waiting for between five and ten days of sending an application. 

So, exactly how do you go about it? The first thing is to make the telephone call acceptably early in the morning or late in the day as hiring personnel are less likely to be in conferences, seminars, and so forth at those times. If your call is not answered, ensure that you try one last time before leaving a message containing your name and the role you want. Then, you can finish by giving thanks to the recruiter for considering you and say that you will be happy to get any feedback regarding your application’s status. Most importantly, ensure that you provide your number to make it easy for company human resource executives to communicate with you.

When conversing with the firm’s executive, go straight to your intent. Tell the person about the position you intend to fill and specify your name. After that, ask them politely if they can reach out to offer relevant information regarding your recruitment state. Finish your correspondence by thanking the hiring executive for their time and giving your telephone number for further communication from them.  

Here are important considerations when calling talent acquisition executives in organizations that you want to be employed in:

Ask Whether Your Call Is Convenient

Begin the phone call by inquiring if the employer can speak to you at that time.  If they cannot at that time, ask them if they want you to call some other time again.

Highlight Your Competencies

Ensure that you tell the talent acquisition executive about your skills and experiences and how they will be of advantage to their organization. Just like in an interview, they are some issues you should never say during the call. Take a minute to familiarize yourself with them to avoid them in the future.

Example of a Follow Up Phone Call

Below is an excerpt of a speech indicating how to follow up on a job application via phone call:

Hello [Hiring Manager’s Name], I am [Your Name]. I sent my resume to apply for a job [XYZ] a fortnight ago. I’d like to ascertain whether my application was received and also inform you of my continued interest in the role. I will appreciate a chance to converse with you regarding the issues affecting your firm. If you require some more details on who I am, kindly let me know, I am ready to avail all the necessary information to you.

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How to Write a Simple Follow-Up Email

Assuming, you have submitted a great resume, and after a long wait, the firm you dream of joining hasn’t contacted you. The wisest path to take in this scenario is to use a follow up letter to get an answer from the company’s HR via email. Ideally, a good follow up email sticks to a proper and formal design. First, it must feature a precise subject, e.g.:

“Follow up for an application for [Position Title]”

Such a subject immediately tells the recruiting manager why you’ve written to them. On the body of the email, add a short salutation, followed by the intended recipient’s surname. If you don’t know the person’s gender, it’s fine to use their two names (first then followed by last). Kindly declare that you still want to be considered for the open position that you applied for and submit the reasons you think make you a wonderful fit. Keep your email short and to the point. Remember to be polite throughout.

Wrap up the email by thanking the recipient for their time and put your signature. Last but most importantly, proofread what you’ve written word by word to detect and remove any grammatical mistakes you may have made. Check out an ideal example of an email following up on job application:

Subject: Following Up on [Job Title] Application – [Your Name]

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I applied for the position [XYZ] that was listed on Prime Newspaper a few weeks ago and would like to inquire about your decision timeline kindly. I am excited at the prospect of working in your firm and assist in bringing in new customers/ developing world-class products (mention what you’ll be doing in the new role) alongside your team.

Kindly contact me for any more details you might require from me.

I am eager to hear from you.

Regards,

[Your Name]

[email protected]

333-444-5678

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Job Application Follow Up Email Sample Directly to the HR

Sometimes, an email or telephone contact isn’t listed on the company page. If that is so, you can opt to craft a letter following up on a job application and send via mail. The letter should adhere to the accepted formal structure. At the top, write your details. Then, skip a line and follow up with the date when you are writing the letter. Below this information, put down the talent manager’s name, their title, the company’s physical address and finally, the salutation.

Move on to the body of the letter, where you should describe the purpose of your writing. Wrap it up by showing your appreciation for their time, followed by your signature, official names, and contacts. Take a look at a great sample illustrating how to write such a letter:

[Your  Name]

XX City, NY 01234

333-444-5678

[email protected]

September 26, 2019

 

[Hiring Manager’s Name]

Hiring manager

[Company Name]

ABC Street

Niagara Falls, NY 56789

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I am writing to you to inquire about the receipt of my resume and letter of application for post [XYZ] that I submitted to your office address earlier this month. I was informed that I would receive a response in about two weeks. However, I am yet to get any communication.

I, again, take this opportunity to retaliate my interest in role [XYZ]. I have capabilities and experience to carry out the responsibilities that come with this opportunity effectively. I have four years of working experience in a similar capacity in company X and received commendations (state your relevant achievement or skill).

Please reach me at [email protected] or 333-444-5678 for any more information.

I am much grateful for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Signature

[Your Name]

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Is It Okay to Follow Up Much Earlier?

If you have been contacted by a different employer and still awaiting communication from your favorite option, it may force you to follow up right away. Consider sending them a letter saying that another offer is on the table and that you’ll be willing to forfeit it if they’re still considering you. Also, note down the date that the company offering you employment has asked you to communicate a decision. This move might land you an interview with your number one choice.

Now, even though following up on a job application may feel a little unusual, recruiters expect job candidates to do it. Therefore, don’t refrain from it thinking that you’re either disturbing or annoying the potential employer. A well-executed follow up will likely boost your chances of securing that coveted posting. Remember, wait a week after applying. If you don’t receive communication after another week, call up the company.