Is there a way to politely chase up an application?

[Grabbing2023ByTheBalls]

Applied for a job that I would really love, closing date was a couple of weeks ago.

Hiring manager emailed to confirm receipt of my application and said they'd be in touch once the shortlisting had taken place, but I've not heard anything 🤷🏻‍♀️

I understand I may not have been successful and they just haven't contacted me, or they haven't shortlisted yet, but is there any way to politely email and chase it up?

Yeah I think a follow up email would be ok at this stage! Just a polite, short email enquiring about your application.

@Mumofoneson5 how would you word it? I've got as far as:

'Good afternoon Mrs X,

I hope this email finds you well.'

And that's it! 🤦🏻‍♀️

No I wouldn't chase it up after only two weeks. Sounds a bit desperate I think..

Positive, cheerful, brief, use any reference numbers they gave you. Ask when they might be able to give you an update about whether your application is likely to progress. This is completely reasonable to ask after 2 weeks.

Why would you chase them? They’ll shortlist once they’re ready. So I’m not sure your email would do anything other than possibly irritate them.

good luck with the job application.

Hmm mixed responses...

I'd chase them up. If they want you then they are not going to be irritated by a chaser and if they dont then the chaser won't matter and at least you will hopefully find out!

Good applicants are scarce, there is a massive labour shortage. Applicant has upper hand. A polite follow up is very appropriate.

Also telling. If they don't reply or can't give you a timescale for when they will make next decisions, don't you prefer to work for a more organised/polite employer? You get to decide about them, too, after all.

@lljkk that's kind of how I see it! They're after someone to start as soon as possible, so I assumed the shortlisting process would happen quicker than this.

I think I'll try and think of a polite message and send one today. The fact is, if they've already shortlisted and I wasn't successful, and I've feel through the net in terms of contacting me, I'd rather know now so I can forget about it and concentrate on other applications.

I’m a career coach. Have worked with literally hundreds of people.

I would call. It’s much more personal and Friendly. You can demonstrate enthusiasm.

I popped over an application for you xx role. Wanted to check in as I am really interested in your work on /in your industry …. Etc

so can I check in on timelines?

Nothing wrong with following it up. You’ve the right to know and I think it shows that you are keen!

” Dear [hiring manager name],

In regard to my recent application on [date] I was just wondering if you have had a chance to look into this as I haven’t yet received an update. I would extremely grateful if you could please provide me with an update on my application.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely ,
[your name] “

I’d write something like that. It’s not rude, it’s not demanding and you’re giving them their place whilst being polite but showing your interest in the status of your application.

I would chaser it up , as a interview I like it when people follow up after a week or two , it shows genuine interest ( I deal with a lot that are just box ticking to be able to stay on benefits )

I would email something like ;

Good morning / afternoon xxxxxx

I applied for xx job and attended a interview on xx date at xx time .
I was just wondering if you have had a chance to review my application yet.

If you have any further questions please email me at xx or phone me on xx, alternatively I could come back to xxx so we could discuss my prospects / talk in more detail about the position .

I look forward to hearing from you
Kind regards

Grabbing

Thanks all!

Will definitely contact them to chase it up what's the worst that can happen?!

I wouldn't call. I would send a follow up email though - 'I applied for the position of x that closed a few weeks ago and wondered if you could advise whether the shortlisting had taken place. I'm very keen on the role and would be interested to know if my application is being taking any further.'

But if the closing date was a few weeks ago I'd be surprised if shortlisting hasn't taken place already. And if it hasn't, that would be a bit of a red flag to me. It shows they are a bit disorganised. No harm in asking though!

The worst that can happen is that they either don’t reply (yes - it happens!) or they will reply and say that they’ve decided not to take your application further.

If they don’t reply then it’s just downright rude and id just move on and forget about it. However, it could be the case that there just has been a genuine delay in the recruitment process (e.g. the person doing the hiring could be off sick) and that’s maybe why you’ve not heard back

@asblindasabat I think we are cut from the same cloth 😁

Lol! Must be! 😂

I think a follow up email is fine. I had to do lots of interviewing last year (combo of people going on mat leave and leaving) and a couple chased up applications which was fine. Personally I would have hated to be chased via phone. Any delays to applications were out of my hands so a phone call would have annoyed me (versus an email that I could then use to chase HR or wherever else the delay was, and then respond to the applicant).

I do a fair amount of recruitment and it often does take at least two weeks to shortlist - accounting for shortlisters being on leave / off sick / busy. I personally wouldn’t chase, but wait another week or two.

I wouldn't after 2 weeks but as you say what's the worst that can happen.

OP, did they give you an exact date/timeframe as to when you could expect to hear back by? If so, leave it until after that date or if not, yes I’d say between 2-3 weeks after the interview is fine
to start chasing it up. Even if someone was off sick, somebody else in the HR department should get in touch with you.

Just a quick email saying you would like to reiterate your interest in the vacancy should do it.

Good luck x

No date when I should have heard by.

And I haven't interviewed yet, this is the shortlisting process for the initial interview.

Were any timescales given on the recruitment process? Personally now the deadline has passed, I would send an email and follow it up - it expresses that you are interested in the role. If you get no response. I wouldn’t continue to send emails - let them contact you.