Quick ways to Follow-Up Job Application

The question remains: should you write by e-mail or call? This is a difficult choice because different hiring managers may have different expectations, companies may have different cultures, or your personality may not match one of these options. The decision is yours, so here’s how to do both.

1. Email

Writing an email has some clear advantages as well as disadvantages:

Benefits of Email Tracking

  • The easiest of all options (since you probably already wrote to the company by email before)
  • The fastest way to write and the fastest way to contact the interviewer
  • The most reliable way to make sure that your next steps will be noticed

Cons of Email Tracking

  • It may seem that you are not making as much effort as you could
  • May seem informal to some interviewers or hiring managers
  • Easily overlook errors and submit without a complete review

Check out our email example below for detailed instructions and a format for writing your own follow-up:

Example Email and Writing Guide

Email Address: hiringmanager@mrjobsnaija.com

Message Subject: Emmanuel Eze-Just checking on my application – 1/21/2018

Dear Mr. Udechukwu,

I’m just writing to find out the status of the application that I submitted at mrjobsnaija.com January 14, 2018. Your job posting directed me to send to this email address, so I wanted to make sure that it wasn’t in your spam box mistakenly.

In the vacancy announcement, your company pointed out the need for skills, from strong communication and writing to developing a powerful network of industry contacts. These are just a few of the necessary skills that I have developed over the years as a writer and career consultant, and I feel that I am great for this position.

My experience as a hiring manager at Pepsi Inc gave me a great idea not only about how potential employees should approach a job search, but also about what HR specialists are looking for. During my time at Pepsi Inc, I received more than 750 resumes and conducted more than 60 interviews. This large number of contacts with candidates taught me to distinguish trained and competent candidates from those who were not so strong.

I am familiar and pleased with many of what has already been stated in your CV “how to write a CV.” Indeed, I have played an important role in compiling a Pepsi Inc compilation guide covering most of the same content.

I really hope to hearing back from you as soon as possible. I am sure that I will be a great addition to your team, and I am very happy at the prospect of joining you. Thank you again for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Ajebo Victory

How to write your own email:

  • Subject: make sure it’s fast and attractive, but also professional and related to your message.
  • Re-introduction: Re-introduce yourself and ask about your application status.
  • A summary of the key points of the cover letter and vacancy announcement: rewrite some of the information that you sent earlier. Remember to indicate why you are best fitted.
  • A polite conclusion awaiting an answer: ask them to write an answer, even if they decide not to invite you for an interview. Thus, you can delete their company from the list and seriously move on to the next.

Also remember:

  • Keep your font no more than 12 points and at least 10 points.
  • Use a professional font like Arial, Times New Roman or Verdana.
  • Avoid everything except black text: emojis, fluorescent colors, backlighting, and all capital letters are sticky
  • Brevity is good, but you should write more than one or two lines

Tip

When writing a subject line, be straightforward and clear: indicate the purpose of the letter. And last, be sure to include your name!

2. phone call

Making a phone call is a little more pushy, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Here are a few pros and cons of making a phone call:

Advantages of a subsequent phone call

  • Interviewer can hear your voice
  • Meets as direct and self-confident
  • Shows effort

Cons of subsequent phone calls

  • May be a little awkward
  • Interviewer may not be available.
  • If you are not available, it is difficult to know when and if to call back

Remember:

  • If you can, ask the hiring manager by name. Do your research. If you do not have their name, ask for a “hiring manager.”
  • Be friendly.
  • Identify yourself immediately. Indicate your name and then the purpose (in this case, the call to verify the application).
  • Avoid the “vomit word.” You are likely to worry and tangle your tongue a bit. But be careful, wait until they finish talking, and don’t drag out the conversation.
  • Call at a time convenient. Best in the morning or in the middle of the day. Do not call at 4 59 p.m.
  • If this helps, prepare a script. But avoid reading directly from it. Think of it as “notes.”
  • If the hiring manager or interviewer is not available, leave a message and do not call back at least a day or two.

Tip

If the manager is not there, instead of calling back, consider writing an email and letting you know that you called. You will receive a credit for making a call, and your message will certainly reach the interviewer.

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