5 Things To Remember While Following Up On Your Job Application

Waiting it out after applying for a job is undeniably the most agonizing thing to do. But then, “how” you wait it out can greatly influence your chances of landing the job you’re really hoping for. Here are five things that you must keep in mind while following up on your application.
 

1. Send in a thank you email – One way to impress upon your interviewer/ recruiter that you are really looking forward to their response (and hence the possibility of joining them) is to send in a thank you email as soon as you are through with your interview. Communicate to them that it was nice to be able to interact with them, thank them for the time they invested in you and that you look forward from hearing from them.
    

2. Patience is an underestimated virtue – Once you’ve sent in the above email, all you can really do is wait. Usually, they tell you how long they’ll get back to you in, but even if they don’t, consider seven – ten days as the standard duration of time. It might feel like it’s been ages since you’ve been waiting for them to get back to you, where it’s only been a day. We feel you, but being hasty or impatient at this point of time could probably end up costing you more than just being patient and waiting it out!
    

3. Mind your language in your follow-up correspondence – Once the standard waiting time has lapsed, and you feel like checking in and enquiring regarding the status of your application, ensure that you enquire in a formal and polite manner. Refrain from using any words which may communicate your impatience, or may come across as rude.
    

4. You’re “one” of the several applicants – To understand why it is important to hold on to your patience while you’re waiting, you must understand that you aren’t the only applicant for the job. Before they arrive at a consensus on who to zero down on, a lot of things need to be discussed internally – which takes time. The process needs to be iterated for each candidate who has been shortlisted. Therefore, bear in mind that you aren’t the only one. Also, this should give you some solace that you aren’t the only one who is waiting!
    

5. Getting in touch with the right people – Checking in constantly with your recruiters won’t help you, if anything, it’ll make matters worse. What you can do however is, figure out a way informally (and carefully) to find out the stage your application is at. Maybe get in touch with a fellow candidate and ask casually how they’re doing on the application front? Or maybe you could connect with someone you know at the organization and enquire if the position has been filled? And if not, when you could possibly expect the results.
    

When you are following up on your application, ensure you adhere strictly to the instructions for communication. Get in touch with the person who is taking care of the hiring process, before establishing premature contact with anyone else. Also – we can’t seem to stress it enough – the name of the game is patience!