The art of following up with hiring managers and recruiters

The squeaky wheel gets the grease is a saying that truly applies to advancing the hiring process. That said, if the wheel squeaks too much, it gets thrown out and replaced. This is why it is so important to strike a careful balance between reminding recruiters and hiring managers that you are interested and annoying the daylights out of them.

So how do you know when to initiate contact and when to back off? 

Immediately after an interview, a thank you note to both recruiters and hiring managers is appropriate. If you have been introduced to a role via a recruiter, it is important to keep him/her in the loop with everything you do. Aside from an initial thank you note, if you contact a hiring manager directly after a recruiter has presented you as a candidate, it may be considered inappropriate.  Be sure to assess the situation carefully.

Many times, a hiring manager truly wants to fill a role, but is juggling a variety of responsibilities and the process can lag. Don’t take it personally. It is likely that there are other people that must be available to interview you; and if they travel often, this can delay things, too.  Try not to assume it is a ‘dead in the water’ opportunity just because it is taking longer than expected.

Instead, put a note on your calendar to contact the recruiter or hiring manager 1x per week.  Email is fine unless you get no response. If you do not get feedback from an email within 72 hours of sending it, call and leave a voice message. If you still don’t hear back, wait until the following week and try again. Keep your tone polite and undemanding. 

You may also want to keep recruiters and hiring managers apprised of other opportunities you are pursuing, especially if you think you are getting close to receiving an offer elsewhere. This may actually help to light a fire under them. Be sure to use this strategy only when there is some truth to it. If you bluff, it may come back to bite you. 

The goal is to keep the process moving along without becoming a nag. Each time you touch base with recruiters and hiring managers, you are getting a new opportunity to show them your communication style. Do it with a positive and polite attitude and you will shine!