When to Follow Up

A member of the Morton Philips team was asked this question recently so they posed it more broadly at the staff meeting. Of course, all the answers were different but we thought we would provide some guidance.

Following up on a job application can be a delicate balance - too soon and you risk seeming impatient, desperate or over-eager; too late and you might miss your chance.

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Here’s a good general timeline for follow-ups:

If you have not already heard from the hiring manager/consultant, we recommend one to two weeks after submitting your application to follow up, this will show your enthusiasm/passion for the role.

When to Follow Up - After you Apply for a Position:

• After 1 week: If the job posting has a rolling deadline, you can follow up within a week. This gives the consultant or hiring manager enough time to review applications.
• After 2 weeks: If there was a specific deadline, wait until that date has passed before following up.

How to Follow Up

• Email is best: Unless the job posting specifies a different method.
• Be concise: Mention the job title, company or department, when you applied and express your interest.
• Stay professional and polite: Hiring processes take time, avoid being pushy and try not to assume where the process might be up to.
• Offer to provide additional information to support your application.

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When to Follow Up - After an In-person or Online Interview

After an interview: Follow up within 24–48 hours with a thank-you email, then check in after two or three days if you haven’t heard back from the consultant/hiring manager. Keep in mind that interviews are often spread out over multiple days (depending on availability), meaning the interviewer/panel may take a week or more to make a decision on next steps.

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Regardless of the outcome of the specific process, consider connecting with that person on LinkedIn, follow the business and similar industry organisations on social media, this will help you to stay informed of trends and opportunities.

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Contact us today for a confidential discussion about executive recruitment processes or the potential next steps in your career.

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