Is it OK to follow up on a job application?

Why should you follow up on a job application?

When should you follow up on a job description?

How do you follow up on a job application with no response?

How do I follow up on a job application with no contact information?

Should you call to follow up on a job description?

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How To Follow Up on a Job Application

So you’ve done it; you finished your resume, you wrote your cover letter, and you sent off your application. Now you wait. 
How long are you going to wait? It’s been two weeks and the online posting is still accepting applications. Does this mean you have been rejected?
Waiting to hear back from a job application can be agonizing. Sometimes, you might not even hear back at all. As part of our career counseling services, we offer a resume writing service that ensures your resume will generate interviews quickly. If you would like to know more about this, don’t hesitate to book a free intro call with me.
Is it OK to follow up on a job application?Of course. It is perfectly ok to follow up with a hiring manager if you have not heard back from an application. Hiring processes last an average of 6 weeks, which means that any delay in feedback could affect your application.

Why should you follow up on a job application?
Though it may seem imposing, it would actually reflect well in your application. It shows you are proactive rather than reactive - which is something most employers look for.Avoids lost applications: Today’s market is much more competitive than a few years ago; the number of job vacancy platforms has increased, attitudes towards career changes have altered, and remote working opportunities are much more common than even a year ago. This means you are competing with more applicants than previously, so following up on a job application gives you an advantage.

When should you follow up on a job description?
There could be multiple reasons as to why you haven’t heard back from them yet. Seasonality, end-of-month deadlines, and illness are all common reasons for delays in feedback.
Considering these factors, you should aim to wait between 1 and 2 weeks to follow up. If you follow up any earlier than that, you risk looking too demanding. The hiring manager will think you do not appreciate their schedule, and it will instantly harm your application. 

How do you follow up on a job application with no response?
Choose the right day
If you follow up on a Friday, you will not receive a response. Most people will leave it in their inbox until the following week. However, if you follow up on Monday, it will get lost in their inbox. If you want to follow up on a job application, you should aim for Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.

Choose the right time
If you respond later in the day, most people will already be preoccupied with other tasks. The best time to follow up is the morning, just before they start work, as this means you will be at the top of their inbox.

Be polite & professional: Remember, this email is a chance for you to sell yourself again. If you take a colloquial tone or express annoyance at the lack of feedback, you automatically weaken your application.Highlight your selling points: Choose a couple of relevant accomplishments from your previous experience, and highlight them in this email. Show them how you can help their business succeed. Our Resume Writing service can help you with identifying your selling points.
Example: 
Dear XXX
I hope you are well.
I understand you must be very busy, but I just wanted to follow up on my application to [position] at [company]. Do you know when we might hear back?
I am particularly interested in this opportunity as it aligns with my career goals, plus I do believe that my experience in [example 1] and [example 2] can support you in [company’s objective]
Let me know if you have any questions regarding my experience. I look forward to hearing from you soon. 
Best regards,
[name]
[email]
[telephone number]
For more tips on how to create a follow-up email, read Follow-up emails that will get you hired.

How do I follow up on a job application with no contact information?
Occasionally there is no contact information for the hiring manager or HR Business Partner. This might be to prevent cold calls from recruiters and other salespeople. 
Steps to follow if you do not know the hiring manager:

Company Website: Sometimes the relevant contact information will be listed on the company website, with their email domain.LinkedIn (or any other professional online network): Go to the company’s LinkedIn page, and search the head of the department in their employee list.Contacts: Go to the company’s LinkedIn page, and it will tell you which of your connections work there. It might be that you might have old colleagues or contacts that you can approach to find the relevant person.
Should you call to follow up on a job description?In most cases, it is easier to follow up via email as you have more control over making a good impression. However, you can also follow up on a job application via phone:Check the job description for the direct line of the hiring manager or HR business partnerIf there is no number listed on the job posting, then you can call via the company switchboard (found listed on the imprint of their company website) and they will redirect you to the relevant person. Make sure you know the department in which the position will be.When speaking, introduce yourself clearly and state the reason for calling. Example for calling the hiring manager directly:“Hi, my name is XXX and I am an applicant for the [position]. I appreciate you must be very busy right now, so thank you for your time. I just wanted to follow up on the application and see if you had the feedback..”Example for calling the switchboard:“Hi, my name is XXX and I am an applicant for the [position]. I applied 2 weeks ago and haven’t received feedback on the application yet. Would you be able to forward me to the relevant contact person? Thank you very much.”Takeaways:Timing is everything.Find the right contact personRemain courteousHighlight your selling pointsIf you would like to discuss this further, then don’t hesitate to book a free intro call with me!

So, how do you maintain a good impression over email?

Email templates to respond to an interview request:

How to handle any follow-up questions via email

What’s the best way to reschedule an interview?

Responding to an interview request via phone - tips and tricks

Takeaways: Responding to an interview request

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How to Respond to a Job Interview Request: Steps to Follow

Congratulations - you received your first-round interview request. What now?
Good impressions are crucial when it comes to landing that dream job offer, and that doesn’t just mean during the interview. From receiving your first interview request, each interaction you have with your potential employer has an influence on your application. 
So, how do you maintain a good impression over email?First, keep an eye on your emails and make sure that you are speedy with your response. The average duration of an application process is roughly 6 weeks, so you need to avoid any delays and subsequently any knock-on effects on your potential offer. 
When writing your response to the recruiter or hiring manager, there are some crucial things to remember:

Keep the formatting clean 
If the email is too long, it won’t be read, and it will make it difficult for the interviewer to pick out the relevant information to schedule the interview. Keep it simple and to the point, whilst also showing your interest.

Be courteous
Be polite and thank the interviewer for their consideration. Don’t be over-sentimental, but show appreciation for their time and your interest in the role.

Take advantage of scheduling tools
In the post-COVID market, most interviews now take place via different online channels. Familiarize yourself with the most popular channels (such as Google Meets, Microsoft Teams, etc.). This will ensure that you can access the interview smoothly without wasting time and will make sure you go in with a clear head.
As part of our career counseling service, we offer mock interview preparation where we go in-depth in different cases when responding to interview requests from different companies. If you would like to know, book a free intro call with me to discuss this further!

Email templates to respond to an interview request:
Template for Interview Acceptance:
Dear XXX, 
Many thanks for your email, and your consideration.
I can confirm my availability for an interview on XX.XX.XX at XX:XX, for the position of XXX. Please let me know of any further information, or required preparation, that I should know in advance. 
I look forward to speaking with you. 
Best regards,
[name]
[email]
[telephone number]

How to write an interview request rejection email:
There might be multiple different reasons you need to reject an interview. Perhaps you found something else, perhaps you aren’t interested after all. Whatever it is, you don’t need to tell them the specific reason, but you should respond politely. You may be in contact with them for future opportunities, or they could be your future boss in a different company, so it’s important to keep the door open. 
Template for Rejection:
Dear XXX
Many thanks for your message
I appreciate your consideration but unfortunately, I will have to decline your interview invitation, due to changes in my situation. However, I would like to stay in contact should the situation change in the future. 
Thank you for your understanding and best of luck with filling the position.
Best regards,
[name]

How to handle any follow-up questions via email
Sometimes, once you have written your interview acceptance email, the potential employer may respond with some follow-up questions. These are usually regarding salary expectations and any clarification points in your experience.
Don’t panic, you haven’t done anything wrong. This is a way for the interviewer to save time at the start of the process and filter out any candidates who don’t fit the role.
That being said, you must keep your answers professional, as any interaction will influence your performance. Treat this as an opportunity to sell yourself a bit further.

How to answer follow-up questions on salary expectations: 
In an interview process, you should only bring up your salary expectations if they specifically ask you first. If you mention it first, you risk looking too demanding. Before you do anything, make sure you research the market average salary for your seniority level.
There are three ways to answer:
Give a range: as you haven’t had the full opportunity to interview yet, you want to maximize your chances of being eligible for the position. Giving a range can help ensure that you meet their hiring budget, but the range must be something that you would definitely accept. Don’t sell yourself down, as this could backfire on you later in the process. To allow yourself room for negotiation further down the line, state the salary range and say that you would like to know more about the specifics of the role before narrowing it down. Negotiable: If you do not want to give specific figures, say that your expectations are negotiable and that you would like to learn more about the position before narrowing it down.Flip the question: You can always flip the question back to the interview, and say something like “What is the salary budget you had in mind?”. This allows them to tell you their estimated range without the risk of you stating something too high or low.How to answer follow-up questions on job history: If the interviewer comes back to you and asks you to clarify a few things regarding your experience, this is the perfect chance to sell yourself in writing and get a headstart.Step 1. Examine the job description.Most job descriptions list the requirements and characteristics of the ideal candidate. Note these down.Step 2. Tailor your answerYour response should highlight experiences that are relevant to this ideal candidate profile. Step 3. Highlight what you achieved:Don’t just say what your duties were, but explain what you achieved. How did you contribute to the success of the business? What was the outcome?What’s the best way to reschedule an interview?Sometimes you might not be able to make the suggested time slots work. There may be multiple reasons you can’t do that specific time, and you don’t necessarily have to give them an explanation. However, it is important to respond quickly to avoid delays, and to give multiple alternative time slots:Dear XXXMany thanks for your consideration.It would be a pleasure to interview, however, the suggested times would not work due to prior engagements. Would either of the following time slots work?[time] on [DD.MM.YY][time] on [DD.MM.YY][time] on [DD.MM.YY]If not, I am usually available from the hours of XX to XX. Let me know what works for you.Looking forward to speaking about the role in more detail.Best regards,[name][email][telephone number]Responding to an interview request via phone - tips and tricksSometimes the interviewer might email you asking you to call them and confirm the interview. Usually, this is so that they can save time and dedicate time slots to candidates who will definitely accept the interview request. TIP 1: Before you call them, make sure you email them first to give them a time, date, and the number you will be calling from.TIP 2: When you call them, introduce yourself properly and state your reason for the call. They will receive multiple calls a day from people they don’t know, so it’s important to be clear and concise.“Hi XXX. My name is YYY, and I am calling in response to your interview request via email. First, thank you very much for inviting me to interview for the [vacancy position], I would be available on the following dates…… Looking forward to speaking with you”Takeaways: Responding to an interview requestBe timely: don’t risk losing out to other candidates because you were too late to replyBe polite: Remember, any interaction between you and the employer will influence the hiring decision. Emails count in this!Be concise: Do not overload the email with irrelevant information. Just include your availability, gratitude, and a question regarding any required preparation.If you still have any doubts, you can book a free intro call with me, so we can go together through this process!

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Why Are You Leaving Your Current Job - Interview Question (+ Answers)


Why are you leaving your current job?
The question asked in every interview and the one that has a huge impact on your performance if you haven’t prepared it. 
I am sure if you are interviewing for another job, there are numerous reasons why you want to leave. You don’t like your current manager? You haven’t received validation at work in a while? Your salary isn’t high enough? You are being overworked?
These are all the most common reasons people leave. But can you say this in an interview? Not exactly - and here is why...
It can be very tempting to fully open up about the real reason you want to leave. We have all been there in an interview when a question throws us off guard, or it seems like the honest answer is the easiest. But the truth is, that’s not what they need to hear. Any negative reflections will leave the wrong impression:
Bad examples:
I didn’t get on with my previous manager...The job just didn’t suit me...I didn’t enjoy it at all…I didn’t have enough free time...
The person that you are speaking to could be your future manager, or your future colleague, and have a large influence on the hiring decision. If they hear you willingly talk negatively about your old employer, what is to stop you from doing that with future employers? 
So if you can’t state the real reason, how do you actually answer the question?

What are hiring managers looking for?
The first thing to remember is that, although HRs are asking why you want to leave, they are still interviewing you for their job. The trick is to give an answer concerning your current situation, but then relate it to what this company can offer you. 
You need to adapt yourself to the question: redirect it from “why do you want to leave” to “why do you want to join”. I guarantee this would have been their next question, so beat them to it.

So how do I answer this question?
When you begin your answer, the career change must seem desired, rather than circumstantial. For example, they want to see a desire to learn, to grow in your career. You don’t want them to think you are only applying because you need a new job ASAP. Even though you are a qualified candidate, if they think this is a hasty decision, then why should they offer you the job? They probably have multiple other candidates - so make sure you utilize this question and prepare correctly - as it is guaranteed to be asked:

Look at the job description: Extract aspects of the job requirements and responsibilities, and explain why this would fulfil your career goals. This shows that you directly understand the company’s need to hire - and explains why you are the best fit. Look at the values of the company: Every company has a mission statement that you can link to your own career goals. If you incorporate this into your answer, it shows you have done your research.Utilize this to personalize your answer. If you don’t link it back to the company and the job description, they will just think you are applying everywhere. That may be true, but we don’t want them to know that:For example: “I learned a lot in my current role, but I would really like to further specialize my skills in XXX. I think this position could offer that by XXX…”Loop in an accomplishment that you achieved in the past role, that would bring success to this new company. “I actually achieved XXX in my current position, and I think this could help me to excel in XXX”
If you link your own achievements and strengths into the answer, their next questions will dig deeper into these topics. Before you know it, you have redirected the conversation into your own personal strengths, rather than a rabbit hole of negative reflections. 

Takeaways
The market is being increasingly competitive, across all industries. In the post-corona world, remote working opportunities are everywhere, and subsequently, applications are not just from local regions but further afield. Therefore, for the interview questions that you can predict, make sure you prepare them in order to stand out from other applicants!
If you would like some support with preparing questions like this, then please book a call with me!



