This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Following Up Just Enough Without Stalking

My clients often wonder how soon and how often to follow up after an interview or a network meeting. The 3X3 Method Follow Up Process may be for you.

Last time I suggested being mindful of the words you use and how much you talk in a networking meeting or interview. This posting is about how to follow up without feeling like a stalker. 

My friend, Steve Rosenblum, an HR professional here in Chicagoland offers a procedure for job seekers to follow up. Steve’s calls it 3X3 Networking process. Steve suggests working through the a company’s HR organization and not view them as the enemy.

The basic premise is to wait three business days after the initial contact or application and follow up with someone in the company, either the hiring manager or HR staff contact. If you are leaving a voice mail or talking to the person on the phone your message is the same. It has three parts:

Find out what's happening in Lislewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  1. Acknowledge that they are busy and probably received a lot of responses to the open position.
  2. Ask if they received your application or resume. (This is the purpose of your call.)
  3. Ask if there is anything that can be done to improve your chances for the opportunity.

If you have left a message and don’t hear back, Steve suggests that you wait three days from your last contact and call back. Then, if you don’t hear back on the third day call again. Still if you haven’t heard back follow up one more time. If after three follow ups from your initial contact or application they haven’t connected with you, place them in a holding file because you never know when someone might contact you and you should never really give up until you get a definite, “No, thank you.”

Mr. Rosenblum’s process covers following up prior to an interview. How about after having an interview, how long should someone wait to follow up?

Find out what's happening in Lislewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

I  teach that once you’ve had an interview, the following up process changes from three business days to a week to ten day waiting period. After an interview, either for a job opening or an informational interview, call the person the next day and thank them for their time; also reconfirm that you are interested in the opportunity if that is appropriate. (Informational or networking interviews probably don’t have a job opportunity right away, but may later.) Then call back every week to ten days to let them know you’re still interested in the opportunity and are looking forward to moving ahead. You may keep calling until you get a definite yes or no without being considered a stalker.

In addition to a phone call after an interview go ahead and send a hand written thank you note. You wouldn’t believe it, but over 60% of people don’t follow up after an interview and even more don’t follow up after network meetings. I look at it this way... if you don’t follow up, then your efforts in your job search to get the interview are wasted. Don’t waste your hard work. Network - Interview - Follow up - Land the job!

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?