Interview Doctor

build relationships and follow up in job search

Forgetting to follow-up on potential leads?

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Are you forgetting to follow-up on potential leads? Here’s how I’ve dealt with the same issue.

Dear Interview Doctor,

HELP! I realized the other day that I forgot to follow-up on an important lead that a high-value contact gave me. I feel so stupid. I know this will reflect badly on me. I am not sure how to fix this. Any ideas?

Thanks, Forgetful

Dear Forgetful,

handling situations when you forget to follow upBeen there, done that. The month following my father’s death, I completely forgot about an important interview. Just blanked on it. And I worked so hard to get that interview. That morning, the hiring manager called and asked if I would be joining them. I had to reschedule for a week later, then dragged myself into the meeting. Needless to say, I did not get the job. Your situation doesn’t have to be like that.

Sounds like you need a better tracking system to remind yourself of important activities. You need some sort of CRM or a detailed spreadsheet so you know who you need to talk to or follow up with. This is something we help participants in our Job Search Marketing Plan Training program – we have a tracking tool, to help in a job search.

In the meantime, let’s look at some ways to recover from this situation. Everyone forgets now and then so, first, take a deep breath and stop feeling so bad. If this happened to me, I would reach out as if nothing had happened. It is ok to pretend you didn’t forget to follow-up. Reach out and explain who you are and who referred you as if there was no delay. Then follow-up with the person who gave you the referral to thank them and keep them appraised of your action.

This actually happens to me with LinkedIn. Sometimes I get behind in responding to my invitations. I am tempted to beg forgiveness and offer explanations to cover my disrespectful behavior. Then my good sense takes over. I just respond to the invitations and messages as if I just received the invitation. I try very hard not to drop the ball over the next portion of the correspondence. It works for me. It might work for you.

If you are looking for a new job, or want to make a career change, you need to know the ins-and-outs of a modern job search.

Check out the free training we offer at Interview Doctor – 5 Tips to a Successful Job Search. A proven path to finding your ideal job or career!

Tips to Unstick Your Stuck Job Search

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Scott disappeared. Poof – just like that. We organized his job search, created his job search materials then… nothing.

Scott was stuck. Or rather, Scott’s job search was stuck and it was dragging him down into the job search sink hole. You know the place.

I was there once. I remember as clear as if it was yesterday. I was standing on the Michigan Avenue Bridge in Chicago when the 11:30 clock struck and a million people streamed out of offices into the bright summer sun. It occurred to me that everyone in that crowd had a job except me. I never felt so low.

I was stuck. Being stuck feels terrible.

change what you are doing in your job search to get unstuckYou send your resume away to dozens of open jobs that sound perfect, but nothing happens. Since you don’t know why this is happening, the human brain starts filling in the gaps with possible reasons why you are still unemployed while thousands of others have jobs. “I must be too something.” “Too old.” “Too young.” “Too female.” “Too male.” “Too dark.” “Too light.” You want to find a reason.

But usually those “somethings” are not the reason. You just need to get “unstuck.” Fast.

Getting unstuck involves changing what you are doing. Any change might be the right change to get you unstuck.

Here are some tips:

Create or change your job search marketing plan.

  • Change the balance of time you devote to networking and responding to postings. Try to network at least 70% of the time. That forces you to change your focus and increase your activity.
  • Set daily and weekly goals to increase your networking activity.
  • Identify target companies and start meeting people and building relationships, even though those companies do not currently have open positions. The conversations could lead to introductions to other people and increase your activity.
  • Start talking to your existing LinkedIn connections and add more connections. Be curious so you ask questions that get other people talking to you.
  • Schedule some informational interviews with people who work in your field. People will respond when you ask interesting questions professional to professional.

Get out of the house.

  • Join a job seekers group to find other folks in similar circumstances who might have more ideas.
  • Get active in a professional association. These groups welcome volunteers so raise your hand.
  • Volunteer to get out of the house, do something useful and meet new people. Pick anything just pick something!
  • Move your office to a new space every day or periodically. Go to a coffee shop or the library to get some new scenery.
  • Get out of the house every day for some exercise. Go for a walk around the neighborhood or find a park to walk in. The change of scenery can help your perspective.

Be more aware.

  • Find something to celebrate every week.
  • Start journaling to see what is sucking up your time and how you might change your viewpoint so you see the world more positively.
  • Seek out a coach for unbiased feedback about your job search strategy. Maybe they can think of something you overlooked.

What are you doing to move your job search forward and get unstuck? Check out The Interview Doctor’s Free Video training: 5 Tips to a Successful Job Search or Career Transition.

Making Follow Up Useful in your Job Search

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I truly believe that marketing The Interview Doctor is a lot like marketing a job search or marketing to find talent. Consultants like us, candidates, and companies trying to find candidates are all trying to build relationships that lead to something – either a new client, a new job, or great talent to add to the mix.

The key is building a relationship.
We are adding contacts like crazy to our LinkedIn profiles and identifying people we want to talk to. But then what?

how to follow up during a job searchWe have to follow up. Follow up is critical.

We all can recognize the futile conversation ender when you ask, “Hey, I am just following up”. Usually dead silence. There must be a better way.

I found a great article by Hendrik ve Vries with lots of ideas about creating effective follow up, “How to Avoid the ‘Just Following Up’ Email”. He suggests following up with information.

Information builds relationships! It is all about how we can help each other these days. For example, if I see an interesting article, like this one from Hendrik de Vries, I can send it to my contacts (that is you) with a note suggesting how to use this information. That will prompt you to come back and talk with me about the article, ideas, or how you might be able to use my services.

Job seekers, instead of sending follow up notes that say, “Hey, heard of any jobs lately”, you can send your targeted contacts interesting articles that might interest them along with a note that asks for an appointment for coffee to discuss this interesting idea.

Companies interested in meeting new talent can identify talent and send notes and articles about that person’s interests along with a note reminding them that you are interested. It is a great way to keep people close through information. Building relationships that have multiple touches of useful information reminds your targets that you are there and gives them something to think about. You become a useful source, not just a nagging nuisance.

Have you ever tried this? I found that it really works!! Let me know what you think in our LinkedIn Group, Job Search Checkup or just drop me a note.

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