So you’ve applied for a job: What next?

Posted on 9/09/2019 by Breeanna Noske

You’ve sent your CV and Covering Letter off into oblivion. Now what?

Assuming that you’ve done your appropriate research into this organisation and role, you are certain that it is the right role for you. So after having sent your application, what more can you do to place yourself in good stead? And how should you approach the follow up? As Recruiters, let us give you the insight into what works and what doesn’t.

If you have applied to a role through Entrée Recruitment, you will receive notification as to the success of your application whether or not you obtain an interview. Unfortunately, you won’t always be so lucky, as many Recruiters and organisations will only contact applicants that they wish to interview. This can make it hard to know where you stand and whether an application warrants a follow up phone call or not.

Typically, we advise applicants that they will have responses from us within a week for permanent positions and within 48 hours for immediate temporary roles. And this can be a good guide to go by in relation to follow up phone calls. If you have had no response after these time periods, put in a call to enquire about the progress of the recruitment process.

What not to do:

Don’t call an agency or Hiring Manager immediately after submitting your CV expecting feedback on your application. We aren’t always sitting at the computer reviewing applications as they arrive in our inbox. Okay, sometimes we are – but not always! Please understand that we receive hundreds of applications each day.

Upon enquiring, should your application still be under consideration, you might use this phone call to ask some questions about the role: i.e. the culture of the organisation or the reason for the need. Questions like these can give your call more of a purpose and demonstrate your interest in the position.

What not to do:

Don’t call an agency or Hiring Manager to enquire about a position and not have any questions to ask. Also ensure that your questions are not covered off already within the job advertisement!

Did the follow up phone call reveal that your application was unsuccessful? Use the call as an opportunity to gain feedback! What do you think of the format of my CV? What did the successful applicants possess that I did not? What types of roles WOULD you consider my details for?

What not to do:

Don’t argue with the Recruiter or Hiring Manager. We have been known to change our mind about applications based on discussion and clarification of points within a CV, but never has an argumentative approach convinced us to interview a person!

These follow up phone calls can be a really great way to make yourself known to a Recruiter or Hiring Manager. You never know what opportunities might come from the conversation, and you might even learn further information about the role that either solidifies or lessens your interest in the position.

What not to do:

Don’t visit the office of the Recruiter or Hiring Manager expecting to meet with them to discuss your application and its progress. A phone call or email will suffice, and it can appear a little forward to arrive without an appointment. The Consultant will likely be in interviews or off-site vising with a client anyway!

Our last piece of advice? Keep up your job search and continue applying for roles. Job searching can sometimes be a numbers game – especially in such a competitive market as Adelaide! We completely understand that it can be very easy to fall in love with a job and an organisation and pin your hopes and dreams on landing that role – but you’re best off having a number of applications pending to give yourself the best possible chance of obtaining something. Remember, a job application is not a commitment or acceptance of a job offer. It is an expression of interest. An invitation for a conversation. You might end up loving a role so much more than you thought you would based off of a job advertisement. And vice versa! What might sound like your dream role might not actually be the case after you have attended an interview.

Good luck!!