The 24 Hour Job Application Rule: Why you need to follow up fast

How’s your networking game?

More specifically, how’s your follow-up game?

Did you know that you should be following up on all of your job applications?

In fact, I tell all my coaching students they need to follow up on every single one of their applications within 24 hours or less.

Yes, that fast.

“But why? Because even when I do follow up, I almost never hear anything back.”

“What should my approach be when I do that kind of follow-up?”

“Who am I supposed to follow up with?”

These are some of the things I cover with the people in my coaching program. But keep reading for some insight.

Why You Should Follow Up That Fast

Every hiring process moves at its own pace. Once a job is posted, you never know how fast the hiring party is going to move.

By the time you see it, you won’t necessarily know where they are in the hiring process. For example, the recruiter may have already identified the 10 candidates they want to pass on to the hiring manager for interviews. And recruiters don’t always go back to the candidate pool once this happens (unless they need to).

So if you’ve submitted your application after they’ve found 10ish applicants that meet the hiring manager’s criteria, there’s a good chance your app is not going to be seen in part because the recruiter might not know you even applied.

That is, of course, unless you tell them right away. See what I’m sayin?

What Should My Approach Be When I Follow Up?

Your follow-up needs to be concise and done in a way that very quickly and clearly communicates that you’re an amazing candidate for this role. You gotta convince them that they need to add another person to their small circle of really qualified candidates. In other words, you have to be incredibly well-branded. Especially if you’re pivoting from one industry to another.

Read those last few sentences again!

Who Should You Be Following Up With?

The people with hiring say-so should be your targets. That generally means recruiters and hiring managers. If you’ve networked well, you can get right into the interview room via the hiring manager.

You might have to do some digging to find these people, but there are ways and it’s well worth it. Keep in mind that this is a–if not THE–crucial part of your job search.

Free Coaching Consult Slots Open

We’re getting close to the end of the summer, and that can mean we’re heading into a time of year where hiring sees an uptick for a bit.

Getting hired is hard. If you’d like to explore how coaching could help you, let me know! I do free coaching consultations, so let's chat. Click here to pick a time that works for you.

Til next time!