Ask HR

Q. What should a job applicant do if he interviews with an HR manager, and follows up with a thank-you note, but does not receive any feedback about his job status?

John Saunders, VP of Human Resources, United Parcel Service (UPS)

A.

It is common practice for employers to notify applicants when a job they applied for is filled. Usually the expectation for this communication is covered during the interview. If you have not received a response, an inquiry is appropriate. A hand written note is nice, but you may choose other options based on your previous communications with the interviewer.

Thana Sakas, SVP, General Manager, Lee Hecht Harrison

A. Before leaving any interview the applicant should always establish follow-up timelines. This process eliminates the need for guessing and establishes agreed upon timelines. If the applicant does not hear from anyone based on the timeline, he/she should reach out to the contact to “touch base” on the status and re-establish a reasonable timeline.

Susan Kent, Director Business Development, Talent Connections

A. First, follow up with a phone call and brief email reminding the HR Manager of your interest and “fit” for the position. State a specific example of fit. Secondly, if you were originally referred to the company through a relationship there, connect with that person again and ask if they have any update and if they are willing to make inquiry as to the status. Finally, if there continues to be no follow-up, consider that this lack of candidate care could be a reflection of the company culture, and now they may not be YOUR choice as a new employer.

Michael D. Esposito, Director Associate Relations n Northern Division, The Home Depot

A. Applicants should simply contact the HR manager and respectfully ask for an update on his/her status and an estimated decision date. If the applicant needs a decision by a certain date he/she should apprise the HR manager of such date. Otherwise the applicant should just relax and wait for a decision to be communicated to him/her. The wheels of progress take time!

The following human resources professionals are members of the Atlanta Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management. If you have a question you would like to ask a panel of local experts, please e-mail it to Sharon Belhamel, vice president of public relations for SHRM-Atlanta at sbelhamel@bellsouth.net. For more information about becoming a member of SHRM-Atlanta, please visit their membership section or call 404.442.7335.