I’m a huge fan of using a networking strategy to support a job search.  I’m not special.  Most career coaches will tell you networking is an importantpart of the job application process.  Networking conversations can help you spread the word about your job search and get your resume in front of the right people.  After completing an interview, I’m also a fan of following up with a hiring manager or staying in touch with the employer during the decision-making process.

Frequently, I find my clients wondering how often is too often to follow up with a potential employer or networking contact.  Whenever this question comes up, I take the opportunity to teach my clients about baseball.  No, not the whole game.  A very specific part of The Great American Past Time’s fundamentals that also applies to the job search – Three strikes and you are out.  When following up with a networking contact or a potential employer, you should follow up with that individual no more than three times before they are out.  Here’s a guide for what your three “pitches” could include.

*Disclaimer the title of the pitch is not synonymous with the tone of the email.

The Fastball

After a job interview, your first follow-up communication with your potential employer should include a thank you note to everyone (yes, everyone) who was involved during the interview process.  This note should be about 3-4 sentences.  In this fast (see what I did there 😉) note, you should restate your interest in the position, include something you liked or learned during the interview, and thank the interviewer for their time (obviously).  This note should be sent within 48 hours of the conclusion of your interview.

Dear Tom,

Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to interview me yesterday for the career counselor position.  I really enjoyed learning about how your office infuses career development theories into your embedded curricula and having the opportunity to meet you and your team.  I felt very “at home” during my interview and I would welcome the opportunity to become a part of your dedicated group of counselors.  Thank you again for your time and enjoy your day.

Sincerely,

Lauren

When reaching out to your potential networking connection, your first communication should include information about how you gained the individual’s contact information, a little bit about yourself and why you decided to reach out to this individual (flattery goes a long way here), and your ask.  Your ask could be for about 30 minutes of this individual’s time to chat about an open job, their professional background, their thoughts about a certain industry, etc.  This communication should also be short, sweet, and to the point.

Hi Jane,

I received your contact information from my previous supervisor at ABC University, Gloria Barry.  I’m a career counselor and I’m looking to make a shift from higher education into recruiting.  After sharing this information with Gloria, she recommended I reach out to you because of your extensive experience working in the field and mentoring new professionals.  I am wondering if I could borrow 30 minutes of your time to chat so I could learn more about how you got started in the industry and how you have become so successful.  Thank you for considering this and enjoy your day.

Sincerely,

Lauren

The Slider

Hopefully, at the conclusion of your interview, you asked the hiring manager about the search committee’s decision-making timeline.  This will help you determine when to throw your slider.  You should reach out for a second time 2-3 business days after the expected decision deadline.  If you did not ask about the decision-making timeline, you can send your slider about two weeks after the date of your interview.  This communication should also be brief.  In this email, you should confirm your interest in the role, share additional information that might be appealing to the search committee (such as an update to your resume or an article you recently composed or found related to your future work) and thank the hiring manager for their time.  Finally, mention that you look forward to hearing from them soon.

Hi Tom,

I hope this email finds you well.  I’m very excited about the opportunity to join your team so I wanted to reach out to check on the status of my application for the career counselor position.  Additionally, I wanted to share an article that was recently published by NACE about incorporating their core competencies into classroom instruction.  I thought this information might be of interest to your team given the emphasis placed on distributing career education through classroom presentations.  Thank you so much for your time and I hope to hear from you soon.

Respectfully,

Lauren

If your email to a potential networking contact is met with crickets, follow up with your slider one week after your fastball.  In this email, reference your earlier communication, restate your interest in speaking with this individual and conclude with your ask.  Use your slider as an opportunity to explain how your conversation might be mutually helpful or to share information that might be of interest to your contact like an interesting article, access to a free webinar, access to your network, or information about an upcoming networking event.

Hi Jane,

I hope this email finds you well.  I just wanted to quickly follow up with the email I sent last week.  I received your contact information from Gloria Barry and I was wondering if I could borrow 30 minutes of your time to chat so I could learn more about how you got started in recruiting and how you have become so successful.  I’m thinking about making a career pivot and I’d value your insight.  I’d also love to share some of my contacts with other higher ed career offices to assist you in recruiting new talent.  Thank you so much for your time and enjoy your day.

Respectfully,

Lauren

The Change Up

If your potential employer has not responded to your fastball or slider, it is time for the change up.  In this instance, the change up is really more of the same.  You restate your interest in the position, inquire about the decision, and graciously thank your contact.  Don’t be discouraged if you get to this point.  You still might be the person they hire.  There are millions of reasons hiring decisions are delayed and HR people do not get back to you.  Do not take this lack of communication personally and just know you’ve done all you can do.

Hi Tom,

I hope you are enjoying your Tuesday so far.  I just wanted to reach out one last time to see if any hiring decisions have been made regarding the career counselor role.  I remain extremely excited about this opportunity and would welcome any updates regarding this process.  Thank you again for your time and consideration.  Have a wonderful day.

Sincerely,

Lauren

The change up is optional when it comes to networking conversations.  If you feel comfortable, you can throw it and reach out to your potential contact for a third time. However, if you feel you have stated your case clearly and you don’t want to send another email, you don’t have to.  If you decide to throw the change up, your email will include a mix of information from the fastball and the slider.

Hi Jane,

I hope this email finds you well.  I just wanted to reach out one last time to see if we could possibly connect via a phone or Zoom call.  I received your contact information from Gloria Barry who recommended I reach out to you after learning about my desire to transition from higher education into recruiting.  Gloria spoke very highly of your work at XYZ Staffing and she directed me to your recent contributions to LinkedIn so I could learn more about your work.  I feel I could learn a great deal from your insights regarding the recruiting profession.  I’m sure you are extremely busy so thank you so much for your time and have a great day.

Respectfully,

Lauren

Three strikes and they are out.  If your potential employer or networking contact does not respond after throwing the change up, it’s time to move on to the next hitter.  The ball is in their court (not a baseball reference, but I couldn’t think of a better way to put it).  Now, you will only communicate with them if they come up to bat again (aka respond to your emails).

If you would like to work with a career coach to help you with your job search, I’d love to hear from you!  Click here to schedule a consultation.  You can also feel free to check out my Find Your Dream Job Course to receive more job search tips.  If you enjoyed this post, scroll down to subscribe and my blog will be sent straight to your inbox 😊!