If you are still in the job search process, it is extremely important to follow up on all contacts. It is just not good to just sit and wait for results to come pouring in when you think that you’ve already done your part, simply because your contact information has been distributed.
Consider two applicants applying for a prime position at a company. After the interview, the first applicant just sits around waiting to hear from his prospective employer. However, the second applicant distributes his contact information to some people whom he met in the company. Furthermore, applicant number two does a follow-up on the results of the job interview a few days later.
The first applicant has not been heard from, because he just relies on the routine “we’ll call you” response he got from the interviewer. Which of these applicants do you think will have greater success of getting the job? Even though the first applicant is more qualified, his failure to follow up, or even send a thank you note to the interviewer, contributed to him/her not getting the job.
If you are still waiting for that job offer and you do not follow up with your contacts, your chances of getting hired will become slimmer. In the business world, following up with all of your contacts is a sure-fire way to spread the word about yourself and your business acumen, thereby expanding your horizons. So if you are still looking for a job, we’ve put together a number of tips about the follow-up process. Hope they’ll be of some help to you.
The thank-you note – Send a thank you note right after the interview, ideally within a couple of days. This is a way of getting the prospective employer to hear from you again. Should you not get hired for the current position being offered, someone from that company will likely keep your information on file for future consideration.
Your complete contact info – Make sure that you leave your mobile and landline numbers, your most reliable e-mail address, as well as home address so that prospective employers will have no excuse for not getting in touch with you.
Accurate employer info – Be sure to get the most accurate contact information of perspective employers. In return, when you place their information on any letter that you send out (i.e. resumes, thank you notes, etc.) you will avoid typographical errors while making sure that you have the correct spelling their names, and that everything else is in order.
References alert – Since some companies actually do take a look at your character references you must alert the people on you listed as references to the fact that they might receive a call from your prospective employers. This way they would not be caught off-guard and say something that could be embarrassing to them and ruin your chances of getting the job.
A positive attitude – Always maintain a positive (if not cheerful) attitude. Should you not get hired for a particular position, you may ask the people from that company for referrals to other companies or at least to keep you in mind for future hiring. This could be of immense help to you in ways that may not be readily apparent.
Even if you are not job hunting, but are currently in business – whether you are just starting out or in the midst of expanding – you also need to make sure to follow up on all important contacts. For example, you could go to a corporate event and have distribute a lot of business cards; but don’t stop there.
These people might eventually bring big business to your company so it is important to build up a strong business relationship with them.
Here are some tips on following up on your contacts if you are already in business:
The thank you note – This rule does not only apply to people applying for a job. This is much more helpful for those who are already in business, as a simple thank-you note would remind customers of which company they are dealing with and your brand name will be imprinted on their minds. This practice should bring more business your way.
Follow-up messages – Send follow up messages. If you are in sales, it is good to follow up on existing buyers who are most likely to purchase your products again.
Personalized correspondence – You might also want to personalize any correspondence that you send out as this leaves the customers feeling as if they know you personally. This should lead you to earning their trust, which in turn leaves the customer feeling secure that you are handling whatever business it is that they throw your way in an efficient manner.
Prompt action – Make sure that you follow up swiftly and promptly. The rule of thumb is to reply fast, fast, fast. Whether it is a solution to a problem or sending out an order or replying to a letter, responding quickly to a customer’s request or inquiry is the easiest way for them to think of you and your company in a positive way.