It can be exhilarating to make a connection with an organization if you are searching for a new job opportunity. However, many factors can complicate getting that job offer. Due to COVID-19, for example, many organizations are going through hiring freezes and reevaluating specific roles within their organization.  In other cases, hiring managers may ghost candidates who made it very far in the hiring process. No matter what your circumstances are, it’s important to follow up on these job opportunities. If you don’t, you’ll let the opportunity slip out of reach.

It might be difficult to follow up on these job opportunities, especially if you are scared to come off as insensitive or desperate when you follow up. But there are a few tips to keep in mind when you reach out that can get you noticed. Below are a few different scenarios and how to follow up on a job opportunity that goes cold.

How to follow up on a job during a hiring freeze

If you’ve found yourself interviewing at an organization that suddenly has a hiring freeze, it can be frustrating. However, this hiring freeze is not an indication that you aren’t the right fit for the job. In many cases, the hiring freeze will lift, and the hiring manager will need to fill the vacant roles. When they do, you’ll want to be top of mind for those decision-makers.

Once a hiring manager notifies you about a hiring freeze, tell them you are still very interested in the role and ask to keep in touch. If the hiring manager gives you a firm date when they are revisiting the role, follow up with them a day after that specific date or timeframe. If they don’t indicate a timeframe, follow up every few weeks or month during the freeze.

If you don’t want to ask them flat out about their timeline, you can ask if they need any additional information from you before making their decision. This will showcase to the organization that you are extremely interested in the role—potentially landing you at the top of their list once they revisit the opportunity.

How to follow up after interviewing for a new role

It can be very challenging to go through the hiring process at an organization and then be left in the cold about the hiring status. There may be a variety of reasons why they haven’t followed up with you. However, you won’t know the reasons unless you follow up.

If you are given a specific time frame about when they’d make their decision, make sure to follow up one day later with who you have spoken to. If you don’t have a timeframe, follow up with the interviewer by email one week after your interview. When you do follow up, remember to mention the role you are interviewing for. This will help jog the interviewer’s memory about your interview. You’ll then want to tell them that you are still interested in the role and then ask for an update on any next steps or any additional information they may need. Remember to keep your email concise as you don’t want to take too much time away from the interviewer.

How to follow up a second time about a job opportunity

If you haven’t heard back from the hiring manager about the role after you followed up with the first time, you’ll want to consider sending an additional email. Make sure to wait at least one week before following up again. When you do, reply to your original follow up email so the hiring manager can see your original email. When following up, simply state that you’d like to follow up on the role and ask if the hiring manager has any updates. If you are still not getting any insight, it may be time to move on. Although ghosting in the hiring process is frowned upon, many organizations may not have the bandwidth to notify you about your hiring status.