Following up on a job application ......

NoseyMike2010

Just a few questions,

1) How long should you wait before following up on a job application.

2) What should you say?

3) If you get a negative response but are really interested in the company what should you say that might get them interested in you.

4) Any other ideas !!! Thanks


NoseyMike

Malice

NoseyMike2010 wrote: »

Just a few questions,

1) How long should you wait before following up on a job application.

What I generally do is ask the interviewer when I should expect to get feedback from them. If they say a week then I start calling them after a week. If they say two weeks then I start calling them after two weeks etc.

NoseyMike2010 wrote:

2) What should you say?

You should have gotten the name of the person who interviewed you so you call up the company and request to speak to that person. "Then you say Hi, this is NoseyMike2010. You interviewed me on <date> for the position of <job title>. You mentioned that I would get feedback after <length of time> so I'm just wondering if there is any update with that?".

NoseyMike2010 wrote:

3) If you get a negative response but are really interested in the company what should you say that might get them interested in you.

Well it depends how negative. If they've rejected your application because you're dangerously unqualified or because you got a bad reference from a previous employer there isn't a whole lot you can do over the phone. Maybe try to become specialised in a particular area that's of relevance to the company you're applying to?

NoseyMike2010

Not at the interview stage yet ... Just after sending the CV about 2 weeks ago stage.

Malice

NoseyMike2010 wrote: »

Not at the interview stage yet ... Just after sending the CV about 2 weeks ago stage.

Okay well some of my previous post should still be applicable.

When I'm applying directly to a company the first thing I do is get a person's name. I hope you did that instead of starting with "To whom it may concern" or "HR manager" or something. I send an e-mail and hard copy of my CV plus a cover letter to them.

Assuming you have a name, give them a week then call them up saying Hi, I'm <name>, I sent my CV into you regarding the positions of <position>. I'm just wondering if there has been any progress with my application?" If you just get voicemail, leave a message with your number on it but also call them back again the following day. Basically be persistent so that they will want to deal with you just to get you off their back.

penexpers

Malice wrote: »

You should have gotten the name of the person who interviewed you so you call up the company and request to speak to that person. "Then you say Hi, this is NoseyMike2010. You interviewed me on <date> for the position of <job title>. You mentioned that I would get feedback after <length of time> so I'm just wondering if there is any update with that?".

I wouldn't go calling up and asking for the person who interviewed you - all communication should be done through HR.

Malice

penexpers wrote: »

all communication should be done through HR.

I don't agree with blanket statements like that. Not every organisation has a HR department or person. Even if the organisation you've applied to does have a HR person, what if they're off sick or something? Should your application remain in limbo or get passed from person to person? As far as I'm concerned in an interview I establish how long I will be waiting for feedback. If I don't get it within the declared timeframe then I will go looking for it regardless of who I have to call up.

If the person (or people) who interviewed you can't or won't take your call and won't explain why then you may well have found a place you wouldn't want to work for.

penexpers

Malice wrote: »

I don't agree with blanket statements like that. Not every organisation has a HR department or person. Even if the organisation you've applied to does have a HR person, what if they're off sick or something? Should your application remain in limbo or get passed from person to person? As far as I'm concerned in an interview I establish how long I will be waiting for feedback. If I don't get it within the declared timeframe then I will go looking for it regardless of who I have to call up.

When organisations do have a HR department, then I take that as an indication that all communication should be done through them and that anything outside of that (communicating with the interviewer directly) would not be looked on too favourably. I am in agreement that not getting interview feedback in the expected timeframe is not a great experience, but contacting the interviewer directly is not the way to go about it.

Malice

penexpers wrote: »

When organisations do have a HR department, then I take that as an indication that all communication should be done through them and that anything outside of that (communicating with the interviewer directly) would not be looked on too favourably. I am in agreement that not getting interview feedback in the expected timeframe is not a great experience, but contacting the interviewer directly is not the way to go about it.

Maybe it varies by industry then. I'm a software developer and I can tell you honestly I've rarely had to contact HR to get interview feedback. It's nearly always been either the person that interviewed me or the person that I contacted initially about the role.

That's not to say that HR people haven't contacted me with feedback obviously.

Miss Olenska

Malice wrote: »

Assuming you have a name, give them a week then call them up saying Hi, I'm <name>, I sent my CV into you regarding the positions of <position>. I'm just wondering if there has been any progress with my application?" If you just get voicemail, leave a message with your number on it but also call them back again the following day. Basically be persistent so that they will want to deal with you just to get you off their back.

Sorry to bump an old thread but could you do this for an academic job? I applied though a HR system, but know the name of the Professor I would report to.

Malice

I would do it if it was me.

Miss Olenska

Malice wrote: »

I would do it if it was me.

I think I've decided against it because I read back on the email I received as confirmation of receipt of the application and it says: "We will be in contact with you once a shortlist has been agreed."

Perhaps I'm too trusting but I'm going to take their word for it!