The Art of the Follow Up

In this world of instant feedback and instant gratification, things move at warp speed. No, ludicrous speed!

Knowing what’s going on is the status quo. In fact, things are so fast-paced that many people think there is something wrong if you don’t respond in a timely manner. That's the topic for today’s article, let’s call it the “Follow Up Factor.”

Say you’ve just expressed interest in a candidate or you are a candidate and you’ve found your ‘dream’ position. You hop on the website to check out what the company has going on and you even go through a phone screen with a recruiter. As the hiring company, maybe you’ve looked over the resume and gotten notes on the candidate from your recruiter. As the candidate, maybe your conversation with the recruiter only heightened your interest. At this point, things are sitting pretty. However, if the process stops at this stage, everyone loses! 

You must Follow Up!

Whether you’re the candidate or the hiring company, following up shows interest. It shows a commitment as you continue to inject momentum into the process. Not only that, but follow up quickly. At ludicrous speed? Well no, that's probably not necessary, but sooner is better than later. Move the relationship forward and be deliberate with communication. Showing interest isn’t desperate. Showing interest is transparent, fair, and progressive.

You may be thinking, but what if I’m not interested? Do I still follow up?

Absolutely!

For candidates, following up when they have been passed over is essential to their growth. Feedback moving into the next hiring process is what might make the difference in them getting their ideal role. For hiring companies, they need to know where they fell short. How can they improve their team without knowing their pitfalls? Following up is respectful and enlightening for both sides and that’s why it should always be part of your process.


Written by: Rob Scherer, Vice President at Hunter Crown, LLC


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