Golden Rules for Applicant Follow Up

You inquired about a new job and now you’re wondering when and how to follow up. It’s a big conversation, but here are the basic golden rules:

1) If you haven’t heard whether your resume was received, follow up in a few days by email. If you got an email confirming that you applied — which usually happens if the company uses an automatic resume screening app — wait a little longer.

2) Ideally, track down the email address of the hiring manager or recruiter and contact them directly.

3) Don’t reach out more than once every few weeks.

And always look for specific instructions in the job description or application about when and how to reach out, in case these general guidelines don’t apply.

Further, Based on a recent survey, HR interviewers believe you should follow up if you don’t hear back on an application at these intervals:

• Don’t follow up: 0%
• Less than a week: 19%
• One to two weeks: 43%
• Two to three weeks: 30%
• More than three weeks: 8%

If you work with a recruiter like myself directly, we can typically advise you on the best way to follow up, and/or do it for you. As a recruiter for 25+ years, I have a lot of experience communicating with hiring managers with effective tact & timing.

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