Following up after applying for a job requires strategy and effort – just like every other part of the job-search process. There’s a fine line between showing your interest in the job after the interview, and being too aggressive and pushing the hiring manager away. Use these tips to follow up without annoying the hiring manager.

• Inquire About the Process

Your secret weapon to avoid becoming a pest? Never leave an interview or end an interaction without knowledge of the next steps. Always ask about how the process will go and an expected timeline so you can rest assured that you’re not going against their wishes.

• Send a Thank You ASAP

It’s rarely considered pushy or too soon to express your appreciation for the hiring manager taking the time to consider your application after you’ve met or interviewed with her. In fact, the sooner you can send a quick thank-you email, the better. It helps you stay on the hiring manager’s mind and shows that you’re professionally courteous.

• Check In According to Timeline

The risk of being annoying is at its highest during the waiting period between the initial thank you and hearing of a decision. Refer to the timeline that the hiring manager communicated to you and leave a one to two day buffer time in case the timeline got slightly delayed. If you don’t hear back after that time passes, it’s perfectly acceptable to contact the hiring manager and politely ask about the status of the decision and to let her know you’re still interested.

• Keep it Brief

Stick to the bare minimum during a follow-up. Follow-up emails or phone calls are not another chance to supplement your interview or extensively sell yourself. Hiring managers have a daily workload, so a candidate who expects to have a longwinded email read or to take part in a long, unscheduled conversation is likely to be categorized not just annoying, but also either clueless or even worse, disrespectful of their time.

• Know When to Move On

Hiring managers don’t typically forget about candidates they’re interested in, so all the following up in the world won’t help if you’re not the best candidate for the position. Sometimes you have to accept that you won’t be hearing back or receiving the answer for which you had hoped. Think of it as an opportunity for professional development – learning how to handle disappointment without burning bridges through excessive follow-up is an important career skill to have.

When you’re pursuing opportunities more strategically, you won’t be tempted to be overly aggressive. Find the jobs that are the best match with PrideStaff San Jose. As a staffing firm serving San Jose employers, we specialize in connecting candidates to the available positions that are the best fit. Search our database of current open positions to get started.