So, you crafted your resume following everything you have learned from the resume writing course in Skill Success. You submitted your application, and waited. It can be frustrating not receiving a response weeks after you sent your job application, especially if you have been eyeing and preparing yourself for that position. If you have not heard back from the employer for weeks or after the application deadline, then consider sending a follow-up email after application.
When should you write a follow-up email after application
Most of the time, employers don’t always keep their applicants informed on the status of their application. There is also no fixed rule on when you should follow up on your application. A useful rule of thumb is that you should send your follow-up email after the deadline of application.
But what if the deadline is not stated in the job posting? According to an Accountemps survey of more than 300 human resources in the United States, thirty-six percent of the HR respondents answered applicants should follow up one to two weeks after submission. Twenty-nine percent of the respondents answered less than a week. Twenty-five percent answered two weeks to less than a week. And ten percent answered three weeks or more.
Sixty-four percent of the HR respondents also answered that the best way to send a follow-up email after application is through email.
Tips in sending a follow-up email after application
Before you send your follow-up email, here are a few tips you should consider to make sure that sending a follow-up is the right thing to do.
1. Review the job posting
Again, pay attention to the employer’s timeline if they mentioned when the application window closes. You don’t want to follow up prior to the closing date. Instead, you can use the waiting time to send your applications to other companies to have more options.
2. Be respectful
If the employer wishes that applicants must refrain from reaching out, then you should abide by their request. As much as you want to follow up with them, you should not ignore their request because they will think that you are not following the instructions.
3. Choose the right day
The best day to send follow-ups is Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. You should avoid sending your email on Monday because it is often a busy transit day since most human resources just got back from the weekend. Friday is also not an ideal day because if the person did not see your email, chances are, your email might get buried with other emails over the weekends.
Tips in writing a follow-up email
Here are some pointers to help you write an effective follow-up email.
1. Be professional
Even if you have met and spoken to the interviewer several times, it doesn’t mean that you are bosom buddies. Although some recruiters are friendly to the applicants and your initial interaction with them was excellent, you should still appear professional and respectful. You should still introduce yourself professionally in your email because they might not recall you with hundreds of applicants they have spoken to.
2. Be brief and concise
Keep your message short. One to three paragraphs is fine. Avoid unnecessary topics or filler sentences, and your topic should be straightforward. Employers are busy and usually don’t have time to read long emails from applicants. Thus, don’t add to the recruiter’s workload and get your message on point explaining why you are writing.
3. Emphasize your skills and qualifications
Try to throw a line or two of your skills and qualifications in your follow-up email. You can also demonstrate your passion, why you are a great fit for the position, and your interest in their company. Emphasize why you are the right candidate and why they should hire you.
4. Ask any questions
You should not feel compelled to ask questions if you don’t have any. But in case you have queries, like the application process and its timeline, you can consider asking them at the last part of your follow-up email.
5. Use an easy-to-understand subject line
In subject lines, include your name and the job title you have applied for [Full name – Job title]. This allows the employer to know the purpose of the email right away.
6. Say, “Thank you.”
End your email by saying “Thank you” to the employer. This shows that you are polite and gracious. Even though they have not yet released the result of your application, showing your appreciation and gratitude for their time and consideration for your application is a good professional closing.
7. Proofread your follow-up email before sending
Make another good first impression on the employer. Make sure your email is professional and thoroughly checked. Proofread and spell-check your email first. If you want to convey professionalism, your email should be as pristine as possible. Your email says a lot about you, and the person reading your email might not take you seriously when they see grammar and spelling mistakes. Proofreading your email demonstrates that you are a detail-oriented person.
Also, since the reader can’t hear your voice’s tone and see your facial expression, you must be careful in choosing the words in communicating your message.
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