Following Up

Following up means taking action and not waiting for the job to come to you. Follow up shows your interest, your initiative and your sense of responsibility — qualities that employers love! It means thanking employers after interviews and calling them after applying for jobs. Here are some suggestions to follow up successfully.

Phone Calls

Any calls to employers should be positive, brief and infrequent. Do not bug the secretary; it only hurts your chances!

After Applying

A week or so after you submit your application or résumé for a position, follow-up to check its status.

• Identify yourself and the position you've applied for.
  
  
• Ask if the employer received everything you sent and if everything is in order.
  
  
• Ask when interviewing might begin.

After the Interview

After you've sent the thank you note, wait a few days before you call.

• Identify yourself and the position you seek.
  
  
• Ask when the decision might be made and if the employer needs anything else from you.

Thank You Notes

Thank you notes can get you jobs but most people still don't write them. Be different! Send thank you notes after the interview, after an information interview, after an especially helpful phone call — whenever you like.

After the Interview

Send a thank you note within 24 hours after the interview. Mail it, fax it or hand-deliver it depending on how much time you have before the employer makes the decision. Make your note handwritten, typed or emailed depending on the mode of communication the company prefers.

To maximize its effect, say more than "thanks" in your note.

• Repeat your interest in the job or say that you want to withdraw from consideration.
  
  
• Emphasize or correct a point that you made earlier.
  
  
• Add information you forgot to say in the interview.

Be careful, though. A sloppy thank you note can do more harm than good. For more about contacting employers after the interview.

After the Job Fair

Job fairs are a little unusual. You may get a mini-interview with a recruiter but since you didn't go through the usual screening process, follow up is necessary. In this situation, the thank you note is more like a cover letter.

Send a thank you note that:

• identifies the position you seek;
  
  
• expresses your interest in the job;
  
  
• explains how it would benefit the employer to hire you;
  
  
• includes a copy of your résumé tailored for that job.