Page 165 - DENG101_Communication Skills-I

Communication Skills-I

Notes 14.4 Follow-up

If a resume has already been sent to a company you’d like to interview with and there is no
response from company. Then, what would be the next step? Here, it is suggested to make follow
up. To follow-up means to enquiring the status or position of the processing of your application.
This can be done in any form e.g. through e-mail or through phone or snail mail etc.
How to Follow-up: If there is no response from within two weeks, it may be beneficial to follow-

up. Employers and recruiters may prefer follow-up by email. If no email address is listed, try
sending a note or calling. In your follow-up you must prepare the questions you want to ask
them. It can be, what are the next steps in the recruiting process after the submission of the
resume. You may ask if they want any additional information. You can also ask them to arrange
interview, if possible. It will show the keenness and the eagerness of yours having a particular
job.

14.4.1 Follow up after Interview

It may not be the case that interview got over as soon as you leave the room. The next part is
the follow up. Following up the job shows prospective employers your interest in the company

and position – and gives you another chance to sell your qualifications. Some job-seekers fear
sounding desperate or annoying when making follow-up inquiries, but as long as you do it right,
you will come across as interested, not desperate. Once you have decided to follow-up, now you
have to decide the method.

14.4.2 Determining the Method of Follow-up

How you follow-up your job depends partly on how you initially contacted the employer, as well

as your own personal preferences. Some would like to follow-up via e-mail as they find it more
convenient but for some telephone is the best way as they have very good oral communication
skill.
By Phone: If you have decided to follow-up on telephone then following may provide guidelines
for doing that.
1. Develop a short script about what you want to say.
2. Keep a copy of resume nearby in case you need to refer to something on it.
3. Make the phone call from a place which is conducive to talking on phone. But avoid talking
from your current work place.
4. While following-up on phone be prepared for a short screening phone interview.
5. Always finish your conversation by thanking the hiring manager for his/her time and

asking about the next steps.
By E-mail:
1. Always address your email to the hiring manager.
2. Keep your email short and to the point. Simply again state your interest in the job and your

key qualifications for it.
3. Be sure to spell-check and proof read your e-mail before sending it.
4. Remember to check your email regularly.
5. Because e-mail is such a one-way communication, and you don’t really know if your e-mail
is even being read, consider asking for a phone number so you can then follow-up by
phone.

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