How to Follow Up After Applying for a Job

One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a job seeker is failing to follow up on your application. If you don’t follow up, you won’t know if the recruiter has received your application, or any reasons why you might have been rejected. When you do follow up, you will be one of very few, which will make you stand out.

Why You Should Follow Up on a Job Application 

Following up on a job application can increase your chances of getting noticed by hiring managers. It demonstrates professionalism, enthusiasm, and genuine interest in the role. A well-timed follow-up also helps keep your application top of mind and gives you an opportunity to reinforce why you're a strong candidate.

Here are some of the key benefits of following up on a job application:

• Shows you're proactive. Taking the initiative to follow up demonstrates motivation, confidence, and a strong work ethic—qualities employers value in potential employees. Very few candidates take them time to follow up, so if you do - you instantly set yourself apart from many others.

• Confirm receipt of application. A lot of importance is placed on the ATS and of course, this is one aspect that can reduce your chances of reaching the recruiter, but there are many others. In a pile of applications, yours could simply get lost, or a technical glitch could prevent it from reaching the Hiring Manager. Following up gives you the opportunity to ensure that the recruiter did receive your CV.

• Gain Feedback. You might not get it but it is worth asking for some general feedback if you have applied and received a rejection - especially if it seemed to be instant. 

How to Follow Up on a Job Application

There are various steps you can take to follow up on your job application, without being too much of a burden to the recruiter.

• Send email - If there is an email address on the job advert then use this to follow up. You can always call up but it is best to try and follow up in writing first so you are not catching the recruiter unaware.

• Add connection - One of the most effective methods to follow up on an application is to add a connection on LinkedIn. If you are applying for a job with a small company, you can search for the Director on LinkedIn. For larger organisations, you might want to try and find someone from HR or recruitment. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and ask for feedback. The worst that can happen is that they ignore you,and the best outcome is that you grab their attention and end up with an interview!

If you are applying for jobs without success and are not quite sure where to go from here, we can help with our one to one consultations. You can order your one to one consultation or contact us for more information.