What is The Right Amount of Follow Up?

Searching for a job is almost like walking a tightrope. You want to show you are interested, but you don't want to annoy the recruiter by following up too often. It's a delicate balance you need to master if you want to come across as a confident professional. If you are concerned about following up too quickly after an interview, follow these tips to stay in control of your job search.

1. Wait a Week

Recruiters have multiple positions to fill, and they often interview at least three candidates for each position. Even if you are the top candidate, it takes time to conduct reference checks and make sure everything checks out with your professional background. Following up after one or two days doesn't give the recruiter enough time to complete the process. Wait at least a week before you call or send an email inquiring about your status.

2. Keep Interviewing

Don't pin all of your hopes and dreams on one job opportunity. Following up with recruiters is a must, but it shouldn't keep you from searching for other opportunities. If you receive more than one job offer, you can always choose the job that comes with better work hours or more money.

3. Ask for a Schedule

Instead of following up with the interviewer at the wrong time, ask for a hiring timeline. If the interviewer says it takes two weeks to make a decision, don't call two or three days after your meeting. Some companies make decisions quickly, but others take months to conduct interviews and screen candidates thoroughly.

4. Write a Letter

Following up via letter is less intrusive than calling a recruiter to inquire about your application. If you send a letter, the recruiter gets to decide when to read it. Phone calls interrupt the recruiter, taking her away from other responsibilities. After your interview, write a letter thanking the interviewer for her time. Close with a paragraph affirming your interest in the job and reminding the recruiter of your qualifications.

5. Leave a Message

If you prefer to follow up by telephone, leave a message and wait for the recruiter to call you back. Don't listen to outdated advice that says you should keep calling to demonstrate your enthusiasm. Calling too often makes you look insecure, especially if the recruiter told you to wait a week before checking on your status. If you decide to call the recruiter, don't call on a Monday. It's better to wait until later in the week.

Following up with recruiters is an important step in your job search, but you need to do it the right way. Instead of pestering recruiters about your candidacy, ask for a hiring timeline and schedule your follow-up calls accordingly.

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