When to Follow up after You Apply for a Job

​After a nerve-wracking interview, it's easy to forget how important it is to follow up afterwards.

Be sure to contact the employer if you don't hear from him or her within a week. You can ask him or her:

• If he or she has any more questions for you.
• If he or she needs to know more about your skills or abilities.
• If the job has been taken.

Here are some guidelines as to when exactly you should follow up:

• If you applied in person: 3 – 5 days after submitting your resume.
• If you applied by email or online: 3 – 5 days after submitting your resume.
• If you applied by mail: 5 – 7 days after submitting your resume.

If you can't get the job, here are a few things you may want to do after following up:

• Have a friend or family member look at your resume.
• Google yourself. Make sure you don't look bad to possible employers.
• Think about your experiences. Decide if you should do things differently next time you apply for a job.​