Time-saving strategies for a faster job search

You have found a job you want, done all the research, and spent time and energy writing an excellent application. But, first, you have to wait to hear if you can come for an interview, and then there is another wait until you find out if the job is yours or not.

But remember that the process is not just theirs. You are also an active part. Just because the application is submitted or the interview is over does not mean that your chances of influencing are over. If it is done correctly, you can gain a lot from following up.

You get along easier if you are both proactive and patient. This also applies after sending a job application or going to a job interview. By following up and keeping in touch, you can reinforce your image, respond to any objections, and get valuable feedback for future applications. And not least: You also ensure that it is the right job for you. Follow-up is not just about asking how it is but about ensuring that it feels right.

Always follow up:

• after the initial contact
• after the job application
• after the interview
• when you have something to add
• if you received a no

Applying for a job is not a one-time event. You may get the first job you are looking for, but it is not likely. And even if you were to get it, you would rather have choices both now and in the future. 

A good job life is a life project. Whether you get the job you applied for or not, follow-up is a valuable opportunity to develop your method and understand more and more about yourself and the labour market.

Use your priority wish list to mark all the jobs you have applied for and write down the status right now. Write down points about what is said when you contact recruiters and employers. Write down who you talked to. Make a note of the date of the last contact and write down the date of the following contact.

Remember not to have too many applications out at the same time because then you will not be able to follow up as effectively, not to keep them apart, and not to know which one is which if someone calls you.

When should you follow up on an application? As with most job searches, there are no exact answers. You do not want to be perceived as desperate or overbearing. But you also do not want to let it run into the sand or appear uninvolved. If we make a parable of dating again: Most people have experienced that it is difficult to know when you should contact each other again after a date or two, whether it felt good or not. Am I too anxious? Is it better for me to wait? Do I seem uninterested then?

"But please, can you say something about when its right to follow up?"

Okay, here are some rules of thumb:

• Is it an advertised job? Wait 3-4 days after the application deadline has passed. The employer has then had time to start looking through all the applications in many cases. After that, its easier for them to say something. And your call may come at just the right time for your name to be remembered.
• Is it a job where it says that the recruitment takes place on an ongoing basis, i.e., the employer will hire someone as soon as they feel they have found the right one, without waiting for the application period to expire? Then, of course, you need to be faster. So submit your application and get in touch within 1-2 days.
• Is it a job that is not advertised? Wait a few days, up to a week. Then, call and tell them that you have submitted an application and would like to come and introduce yourself or be reviewed over a more unconditional coffee.

When you come for an interview, typically 97% of all those who have applied have already been sorted out, and you have thus already created an excellent first impression on the employer. This gives you more freedom to follow up because they now know who you are and play a more prominent role in the recruitment process. They do not want to lose you until they have made their decision.

Following up the interview with a short email or via instant message, the day after, you thank those who were present during the interview is natural and expected.

A few days later, also follow up by, for example, asking additional questions that were not raised during the interview, or to supplement something in the picture of yourself. It is generally good to wait a few working days after the interview to leave room for the employer to think, gather his thoughts, and complete interviews with other candidates.

Always ask where they are in the process, what the next step is and how long it may take before you are given a final answer.

Both when you follow up immediately after a call, an application, or an interview - and when you follow up in other situations in the process, it is good that you try to be as relevant as possible. Of course, sometimes it is in place with a simple: How are you in the process? What is the next step? But in most cases, it is better if you can take the opportunity to ask a good question or add something about yourself.

As a rule of thumb, always have a case at each contact, in addition to just hearing how it goes. For example, ask a relevant question, where the answer has not already appeared during the interview or in the job advertisement. Or compliment something in the image of yourself.

Think of a purpose for the follow-up before you contact. Do not follow up on your application just for the sake of it, but see it as a chance to show interest, find out more about the service and get answers to your thoughts. Therefore, make sure that you have prepared concrete and relevant questions about the job or the recruitment process that are not already found answers to in the job advertisement. Read about the employer and the role, think out what to say, and write down questions to ask.

Ask a relevant question where the answer did not already appear during the interview or in the job advertisement, or tell concretely if you want to supplement or further develop something you mentioned during the interview.

Not getting the job or not being allowed to come for an interview can feel challenging. But instead of seeing it as a defeat, you can follow up your job application and interview and take the opportunity to evaluate your method, learn about yourself and draw conclusions about the labour market.

Was there something missing that you can supplement to move on if you were to apply again in the future? What were your strengths in this recruitment? What were your weaknesses? Or did they choose someone internally instead? Or did they decide not to hire at all?

Many people find it challenging to get feedback from employers and recruiters. This is partly because those responsible do not take the time or do not prioritize giving answers. But its also a question of what to expect when you ask for feedback. Many times, the reasons for choosing one candidate over another can be challenging to pinpoint. You often have a better picture of why you chose the one you decided than why you did not select someone else. And perhaps most importantly: In recruitment with 100 applicants, it is not easy to remember you.

The more your question is specifically about you, the more difficult it is to answer and the more demanding it is. It is more difficult because it quickly becomes personal, and it is inconvenient both for the recruiter and you. And demanding because you have to think back, remember or even pick up notes or ask colleagues.

So, how do you get something out of it? Two tips. First: Make a good start, show that you are curious because you want to learn, not because you question their choices. For example: "I always want to improve and try to learn from every application. This was one of the jobs I was most looking forward to, so Im, of course, curious if you have any tips that can help me in future processes. Do you have any feedback I can get that can help me get this type of job?"

Secondly, since it is more difficult to answer the more specific your question is about you, you can turn it around and instead ask about the person who went on and about them and the job in general. Or ask some more general questions about those who applied or who usually apply for this type of service: "Do you feel that it is usually about the experience? Which experiences are usually most important?"

Here are some situations that can quickly arise:

• We chose a person with more experience in this area. To understand this in more detail, you can ask, for example: "Is there any way for me to compensate for this in future applications? Maybe some course or certification I can take to compete with the one who has more experience? With that type of question, you can get an idea of ​​what experience it is about". You can also indirectly find out if it is about the experience: If there is no way for you to supplement, then maybe it is to process something else behind it.
• We have chosen to make a judgment based on the situation that made us move on with another candidate. So here, you should change focus. Ask no more about yourself, but ask about the person who got the job. For example: What did you think was particularly strong about the person who got the job? What do you think stood out the most with the person who got the job?

It is not certain that you can get such a concrete answer, but try. And regardless of whether you learn something from it, you can get a more amicable ending and strengthen the relationship before any future applications.

In a perfect world, everyone who applies for a job is informed about how the process is going. But depending on the employer and the situation, it will take varying amounts of time to be notified. For larger organizations and companies with hundreds of applicants, it is natural that it takes a long time to go through all the applications. For small employers, minimal resources can mean that they only can provide information to a few of those who applied. Or standardized emails are sent automatically to everyone who applied.

Of course, you "should" get feedback. You have put time and energy into an application and probably have high hopes for that particular job. So it is clear that it will be frustrating not to hear anything. But whatever it is, it is essential to have patience and understanding of the situation and learn to move on.

If you have followed up a few times, sought contact without getting an answer, and time starts to roll away, you need to drop that job and move on with the next one. If you want, you can send one last message and write something like: "Hello! Its been a while since I heard from you. I understand that you have a lot to do. I need to move on to other jobs now, but Im still interested in the job, so feel free to contact me when you know more".