The 3 Most Effective Ways to Follow Up on Your Application

Most of your time spent after submitting an application is used playing the waiting game. Each employer’s hiring process is different and some take longer than others to review applications, and then there are those who never respond to your application at all. It's difficult as a job seeker to not hear anything back. You're left wondering about the status of your application and whether or not the job has been filled yet.

So what do you do?

Of course, if you want an answer about your application status, you’ve got to reach out to the company’s Human Resources Director. You may be hesitant to do this. You may feel anxious about coming off as annoying or desperate to the prospective employer. That's to be expected.

While some ways are better than others to reach out to an employer, here are the 3 best ways to follow up on your application without stepping on anyone's toes.

1. Be persistent

The key to getting the answers you need about your application is to be persistent. But being persistent doesn’t mean calling or emailing every day. Don't call every day - it will only make you look disrespectful to the company and give them more reason to not consider you for an application.

Be respectful to whomever you contact and speak with - you are speaking with your potential employer, after all. When you do follow up, it will make you look professional and show the employer that you are definitely interested in the job. Contact the employer in a professional and respectful manner as it will certainly make you and your application stand out from the rest.

Reassert yourself as a great candidate for the position

If you contact them multiple times (within a reasonable space of time) and there’s still no response, it may be time to give it a rest for a while. You've made your calls and emails, but once again, you have to play the waiting game just a little bit longer. When you respect their time (especially when they get so many emails each day!) eventually they will respond to let you know the status of your application or when you can expect to receive an update.

2. Change things up

When you follow up, don’t send the exact same email every time. If they don’t respond at first, send a follow-up email to your initial email. If you send the same thing each time, you’ll only look like a robot and the employer will be less likely to respond. The same applies if you call and no one answers. Don’t keep calling at the same time - chances are you’re catching them at a bad time. Change things up! Call at different times of the day and the week, and don't forget to state your name.

Another good piece of advice, don’t send a quick follow up email on your phone (especially if the email sends with a note that the email was “Sent on my iPhone/Android”). It's easy to do, but your email will look more professional when sent through a computer. Take the time to think out a professional response that is not only specific to the position but reassert yourself as a great candidate for the position.

Be respectful to whomever you contact and speak with

3. Make an impression

One of the most effective ways to stand out is by getting creative. You’ve sent in your application which highlights your skills and experiences, but when you follow up on an application, this is your opportunity to really make an impression with the people who matter. Following the guidelines in the first two steps above, now is the time to dig a little deeper.

Think about the company you're applying for and ways that you could benefit them and help them reach their goals. Offer up your thoughts, ideas, talents and expertise that would be valuable to the company by including them in your follow-up email. If your ideas are in line with the company's current objectives, they will definitely take notice of your email and they will be sure to respond, leading to an additional interview where you can explain more about your thoughts and how you could best help them in the position you applied for. It’s most important to accomplish this in a professional and respectful way while offering your own skills and talent to really make an impression.

The ultimate thing you’re trying to achieve when following up on your application is proving to the employer that you would be a useful asset to their company. By making an impression, being persistent and changing things up in your phone calls and emails, you should eventually receive a response from the employer about your application status and get a foot in the door.