WHAT YOU CAN DO TO FOLLOW UP YOUR APPLICATION FOR JOB

A lot of of job seekers are in dilemma that their applications for job  have not been yielding positive results, one, two or three weeks after posting and don’t know what to do next.  Some have accepted this dilemma in good faith while others who know what to do but are afraid of the consequences of making any attempt to follow it up.  There is this fear that it might jeopardize their chances of being invited for interview.

However, contrary to this school of thought, according to the outcome of opinion  conducted by one of the Human Resources’ experts, Alison Doyle.  This study reveals that 81% of senior hiring manager interviewed agreed that there was nothing wrong in the job seekers trying to follow up their applications, if after waiting for sometimes and there is no reply, unless it is expressly indicated in the ads that no further communication would be entertained for now and only applicants, who meet their requirements would be contacted for the interview for the interview. (jobsearch.about.com). At any rate, the number of time to do the follow up should not be more than once or twice.

However, below are the tips on how to follow up application for job and the four main methods are:.

The four major methods you can follow up are:

·         Phone Contact

·         E-mail address  

·         Making a personal visit to the company.

Using phone Contact, you should bear in mind that:

·         You have to be polite and show courtesy in your approach. 

• When calling for the first time, mention your name, reasons for the call and the best time to call again.

·         Ask for what would be the next process whether all the candidates are going to be contacted for interview.

• You don’t have to feel shy or nervous and speak out your mind.
• You have to jot down the key points you want to discuss on sheet of paper and keep by your side for reference purposes
• Also have a copy of your resume very close to you in case there is need to make reference to it.

·         Emphasize your interest in working in the organization and more about how you believe your skills and experience you have acquired, over a period of time, in your former work would be assets to the organization.

·         You can briefly mention your specific skill that you believe is going to add much value to the organization.

·         Focus and stress more on the benefits the organization is going to derive from hiring you

•  polite, calm and show courtesy in your approach. 
• Let them know how much you are interested in working with them and how you are convinced that your skills and experience acquired over time in your former workplace would be an asset to add value to the organization.
• Focus more on the how organization is going to benefit from hiring you
• Ask them if you can forward additional information pertaining to your qualifications
• Find out  what is going to be the next line of action such as when to expect the invitation for interview and whether all of the applicants are going to be invited.
• At the end of discussion, thank him for taking his time off out of tight schedule to talk to you on the phone  and confidently ask him when to expect the call for the interview.

• Use of E-mail address

Through E-mails address

If you are a shy or nervous applicant, this option may be good for you. 

Again you have to be brief, sweet and straight to the point.  Avoid grammatical and spelling mistakes.  A good example of how to write e-mail to follow up your job application can be like this:

Subject Line of E-mail business:

Data Processing Officer -  Biodunsho

Body of Message

Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms./Dr./Prof. and Chief last name (if you don’t have the name) to Hiring Officer.

I refer to my application for the post of Data Processing Officer dated (quote  date) and up till now have not heard any reply.  May I confirm if it is received?

I am still interested in the job and strongly believe that my skills and experience acquired from my former job will be a good match for my new job.  Kindly let me know if you need any other information on my candidature.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

(Sgd.)

Your Name

Phone Number

Signed

Personal Visit to the Company

This option can be adopted especially if the company is not far away from your house.  Find out from any of their staff if you can approach the contact person in office for the follow up and the best time for this.  Otherwise, go for any of the other two options

I am sure by the time you use any of the aforementioned methods there is very likelihood that you would be invited for interviewed