Almost everyone has experienced the hustle and bustle of job hunting season. Waiting in the lobby for your interview, totally forgetting everything you rehearsed when faced with the hiring manager, and the agonizing wait for a result.
After scrying the yellow pages for the Right Job, most job seekers will then focus on crafting the flawless resume and surfing the net for Interview Questions & Answers, then proceed with stuffing all the knowledge in their heads. That Is all good and a very good display of initiative, however, there is one thing missing.
What do you do when the hiring manager tells you "We'll get back to you" or "Please wait for our call." Of course, you smile politely in agreement then shake their hand before leaving the room, but then what?
Now you find yourself in the waiting in agony for an answer. You are unsure if you should star applying for another job, or keeping your fingers crossed as you wait for that call. In this situation, there is still something you can do besides that.
There is a neat thing we call a 'follow-up email.' No, this does not mean that you go and send them a quick "Hey Bro, Any update?" email. That's just wrong. One of the things that companies want is an employee who knows how to establish a connection with communication skills that are effective. Surely if your resume is well written, you have included that bit somewhere in there. Now is the time to demonstrate just how much of a great communicator you are.
Of course, the good people in the hiring department have enough on their plate, and surely their inboxes are erupting with unread emails. How will your follow-up email stand out? How will you get their attention? The Muse has shared three wonderful email templates that will surely grab their attention and get you a reply! Hopefully a positive one!
First up, is you have to show them your worth after you apply, this allows you to instantly create an email thread to keep communication open and easier to backtrack. The best time to send this one in is one to two weeks after you've sent your resume.
Subject: Why I'm Worth Contacting for the [Title] Position
Hi Emily,
My name is Lauren Hamer and I recently submitted my application for the [position title here] role. I'm excited about the opportunity to work for a company so heavily invested in [what the company is invested in]
Here are three reasons why I should be considered for this role:
1. I am known as [ 1 to 2 examples of soft skills: a talented mentor and trainer, highly regarded for building trusting relationships with clients and employees.]
2. My previous experience as a [relevant previous position title] will allow me to quickly learn your processes and succeed in the role.
3. I'm engaging and enthusiastic about sales and thrive in high-pressure environments.
In addition to submitting through the careers page, I've attached my resume and cover letter further detailing my qualifications and experiences. I hope to hear from you soon.
Talk soon,
Lauren
Let's say the first email got you a reply and you were able to go in for an interview and had a nice long chat with the hiring manager. However, you got the standard "We'll call you" answer instead of the golden buzzer "You're hired" that you so desperately want to hear. What do you do then?
To ensure that you aren't forgotten along with other applicants, send in an email to the same thread after your interview. It is also a good idea to thank the hiring manager for their time, this can cause them to think of you as a positive force and might sway them to wanting you in their company.
Subject: Thank you, Emily!
Good morning Emily,
Thank you again for your time today, I really enjoyed learning more about your experience at [Company Name] and how you're working toward [event/goal discussed]. I really believe in your product, and I would love to prove to you and the team that I'm a great fit for the role.
Here's the additional information on the warehouse acquisition we discussed earlier. Please reach out if you have any questions or need anything else on my end.
Thanks again for chatting today, and I look forward to talking more in the future.
Lauren
P.S. Enjoy your upcoming vacation to New Orleans-the food at Manning's is incredible!
The added personal statement about an event or common interest proves you were listening intently and shows an ability to forge relationships with new people quickly.
After the interview, the hiring manager should have given you an ETA for their decision. If not, please ask for one since it is totally acceptable, and demonstrates your sincere interest in the post you are applying for.
In the event that the deadline has passed and you have yet to receive any word about the application, it is time to send in another email. It is best to send this three to five days after the supposed deadline.
Subject: Still Interested in the Position!
Hi Emily,
I hope this note finds you well. Your recent blog post regarding energy-saving tips and tricks was outstanding, and one that I thoroughly enjoyed reading!
You mentioned that you'd be making a decision for the sales position by the end of last week. Do you have any updates on the role? Please let me know if there's anything I can provide to assist you in your decision-making process.
Thank you,
Lauren
The hiring department is sure to have a lot of things included in their daily tasks and they can't be blamed for missing an email or two. A handy tip is shared by Hubspot, and they said that 33 percent of recipients open their emails based on the subject line alone. With that being said, one must have an attention grabbing opener.
However, keep the subject short, since 40 percent of emails are opened on a mobile device, and that means only the first seven words will be visible to the reader. It's one thing to have a meaty body of text that simply explains all the reasons why you must be hired, but it is another thing to get someone to actually read it.
