How long before follow-up?

manda84

Hi all

I applied for a job last week and the closing date was friday.

Just wondering how long you would wait before you followed up the application (if at all)?

The covering letter for the application stated that due to the number of applications they would receive they will only contact the successful applicants, would you take it that if you hadn't heard by now you've not got an interview?

TIA x

t0rt0ise

Jobs I've applied for usually say something like.. if you haven't heard within 6 weeks of the closing date assume you are unsuccessful. So it's really impossible for anyone to say how long you are likely to have to wait for a particular job.

Bamber19

manda84 wrote: »

Hi all

I applied for a job last week and the closing date was friday.

Just wondering how long you would wait before you followed up the application (if at all)?

The covering letter for the application stated that due to the number of applications they would receive they will only contact the successful applicants, would you take it that if you hadn't heard by now you've not got an interview?

TIA x

If the closing date was only Friday then I wouldn't read too much into not hearing by Wednesday. No-one will have even looked at it until Monday at the earliest and even then it's not likely to be the one and only priority in the office. Most jobs i've had i've been given an interview date about 2-3 weeks after applying. On one occasion it was almost 2 months before they offered interviews.

heretolearn_2

Blimey you are impatient, they may not even have looked at many of the applications yet! It usually takes us around 2 weeks from the closing date to shortlist for interview. There's only little me here and I have to plough through every application somehow on top of every thing else I do most of the time....

Even with bigger firms I think it's very unrealistic to expect them to check all the applications, longlist, discuss, shortlist, and then get their answer to you within 4 working days!

manda84

heretolearn wrote: »

Blimey you are impatient

I know I am, I can't help it! Just so want to get out of the job I'm in now x

Gargatron

Unfortunately I think it's too difficult for employers to pick out exactly why certain people were not picked out for interview when they get so many applicants. Some are just thrown away because of a typo, or because of an untidy looking CV, or because they didn't like your font. I know the last job that I was asked to advertise, I would not have been able to give most people reasons why they never got to interview. Feedback to people that DID get to interview, that's much easier. I'd only ever ask for feedback after an interview.

manda84

Gargatron wrote: »

I'd only ever ask for feedback after an interview.

I see what you mean.

With regards to following up the progress of an application if you haven't heard about interview, does it make you seem keen or desperate?

And how long is the right time to leave it before following up, if at all? (Admittedly 4 working days is far too soon!)

KiKi

manda84 wrote: »

I see what you mean.

With regards to following up the progress of an application if you haven't heard about interview, does it make you seem keen or desperate?

And how long is the right time to leave it before following up, if at all? (Admittedly 4 working days is far too soon!)

2 weeks, but ask politely and in a 'just enquiring' way or yes, you will seem desperate!

I would usually only enquire *after* I've been shortlisted and interviewed. I wouldn't enquire after an application on its own, especially if it's a role to which lots of people may have applied. People are busy, so you *may* seem to be an annoyance if you haven't yet been shortlisted.

HTH
KiKi