Daily Archives: August 7, 2014

Tips for Sending a Follow-Up Email after Sending a Resume

Posted: August 7, 2014 at 8:10 pm

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Some potential employers are good at following up with job candidates and some aren’t. It’s inevitable that you will send out a resume and a cover letter then hear crickets, maybe not on every job application, but at least on some. So how do you follow-up with these potential employers by e-mail without blowing your chance at getting the job?

The answer is it depends on the situation.

If the job ad you responded to listed a deadline or a target date for deciding on the winning candidate, then you’ll want to follow-up immediately following that date if you haven’t heard back from the hiring manager. The reason is, they may be close to a decision and will make that decision soon, so that is a good time to put your name in front of them again. But how you do it makes a big difference.

What you don’t want to do is resend your resume. This implies that you think the hiring manager is irresponsible or disorganized. Instead, send a simple e-mail that is positive in nature and that doesn’t make you sound desperate. Your e-mail should be short, simple, and make it easy for the hiring manager to respond. Start your e-mail this way:

Dear (name of hiring manager),

Remember me? I sent you my resume for the __________ position on (date). I’m writing to see what else I might need to do to make your hiring decision easier. Will you be contacting candidates directly or do I need to take any further necessary steps? If you need additional information about me or my background, I’ll be happy to provide it promptly upon request.

If you are expected to visit the company’s facilities before a hiring decision is made, state your available times for such a visit and let the hiring manager know you are eager to meet them and see their facilities. Bring the e-mail to a graceful close and provide your contact information at the bottom of the e-mail for convenience sake.

What If There Was No Application Deadline?

If there was no deadline or target date for the hiring decision, then wait a couple of weeks before following up.

Following up by e-mail is extremely important. If you follow-up by snail mail, the company could hire someone before your letter arrives and you have wasted the two or three valuable days it takes your letter to move through the postal service. Besides, most hiring managers prefer to receive follow-up letters by e-mail, so work within those preferences.

One mistake many job applicants make with follow-up letters is not doing it. Sending a follow-up e-mail shows that you are determined, and employers like that. Don’t underestimate the positive impact a simple follow-up e-mail can make in the hiring process. It isn’t necessarily the most qualified person who gets the job. Hiring managers look for a total package that includes communication skills, personality, professionalism, and tenacity. Your follow-up e-mail is a good opportunity to demonstrate those qualities.