What Happened to the Follow-Up? Help Job Seekers Land Their Big Opportunity

 

This post was updated in September 2022

Too many candidates are failing to make a follow-up effort with employers after making contact with them. CareerBuilder found that 37% of job seekers don’t follow up with an employer after they have applied, and 57% of job seekers don’t send thank-you notes after an interview.

This lack of engagement can hurt their chances of getting offers and advancing in the hiring process. Here’s how you can guide job seekers to make the most out of their follow-up:

After Applying

Make it clear to candidates that applying for a job is not enough anymore. Many feel desperate, so they get bogged down in stress and frantically fire off applications without looking back. This will eat up more time and lead to settling for less-than-ideal companies or offers.

Instead, it’s better for them to get creative and organized. Help them take a structured approach in following up on jobs for companies that really matter to them. Make sure they pause after they hit the “Apply” button, and get things in order to make an impression on the hiring manager.

Find Contacts:

But first, they need to know who to talk to. Help them find a person to contact so their application is not lost in the black hole of a company’s ATS. Despite using keywords and phrases that would show up when a hiring manager searches their ATS, the candidate still runs the risk of not standing out.

Help them find contacts in the organization by researching the company online for hiring managers and HR professionals. Encourage them to use LinkedIn to find names and positions within the company. They may even have second or third-degree connections working there already.

Their professional network offers some of their best opportunities. Job referrals are one of the surest ways to get hired. Show your candidates the value of their connections and how they can politely inquire about getting introduced to someone else working at the organization or even get an insider’s email or phone number.

Take Action:

If they can’t find a hiring manager’s email or direct line, they should mail their resume and cover letter to the company. It’s old school, but resorting to direct mail shows their enthusiasm for getting an interview.

If they get a hiring manager’s information, they should write a short and professional email and send their resume and cover letter as an attachment. Do not rehash the contents of the application documents in the email correspondence. They can also call the number to introduce themselves. However, let them know they should anticipate a phone interview so they aren’t unprepared when the hiring manager starts asking questions.

Stay Organized:

The whole follow-up process can get messy, especially if your candidates are reaching out to multiple employers every day. Candidates need to organize their entire job search, and all it requires is a spreadsheet.

Encourage them to create a simple log where they can record the date they applied, the company and role they applied for, who they contacted, how they sent their follow-up, and when they plan to send more follow-ups. This log should align with their job search strategy and prioritize the companies they want to work for, paying careful attention to deadlines.

After the Interviews

Your candidates should be well prepared for all kinds of interviews. It’s always a good idea to ask about a timeline at the end of the interview before they leave. This way, they aren’t left in the dark. But their efforts don’t stop there — they need to know how to follow up the second they leave the office or hang up the phone.

Be Prompt:

Teach your job seekers to express gratitude immediately after they leave. Help them draft a short email or write a concise letter thanking their interviewer as well as anyone else involved, like an office manager who coordinated the interview or a contact who referred them. They need to send this immediately, before the end of the day.

Stay Connected:

Your candidates should connect with interviewers and other contacts within the company online through LinkedIn. They should first send an email asking for permission to connect through LinkedIn, giving them a logical reason why they need to connect.

Once they approve, it’s best to tailor a short message when they send the request. Make sure they don’t bother them by asking if they got the job. Instead, job seekers should engage with their company contacts on shared interests. For example, send them an interesting article they might like on an industry trend.

The art of the follow-up is important because it keeps job seekers engaged with potential employers, and companies love to see that passion. This will greatly increase their chances of getting hired.

How are you helping your job seekers master the art of the follow-up?