Follow Up on All Outstanding Networking Outreach
One well-timed follow-up sent 10 days after an initial message significantly increases your response rate. Most people send one message and give up when they do not hear back. One professional follow-up is entirely appropriate and often converts a non-response into a real conversation.
One well-timed follow-up sent 10 days after an initial message significantly increases your response rate. Most people send one message and give up when they do not hear back. One professional follow-up is entirely appropriate and often converts a non-response into a real conversation.
Step by Step
Open your tracker and find all outreach sent 10 or more days ago with no response
Send a brief follow-up to each one Template: "Hi [Name], I wanted to follow up on my message from [approximate date]. I completely understand if the timing has not worked out. I remain very interested in connecting if an opportunity comes up. Thank you either way."
Mark anyone who still does not respond after this follow-up as closed Do not contact the same person more than twice. Redirect your energy toward people who are responsive.
Send thank you messages to anyone you have spoken with recently If you completed any informational interviews or networking calls in the past two weeks and have not sent a follow-up thank you, do it today. Reference something specific they said.
Tips for success
For career changers the thank you message carries extra weight. People who gave their time to help you navigate a transition remember candidates who acknowledged it specifically and genuinely.
Keep all follow-ups warm and brief. Never express frustration at a slow response.