Online Writing Position - How Many Times Do I Follow up with HR?

Updated on April 30, 2013
S.R. asks from Scottsdale, AZ
5 answers

I have a blog and I was contacted by a major website to be a writer for them. I was very interested because I would be paid per article that I submit. I sent them a resume, and they gave me an editing test and I had to give them an original article I wrote. I think I did well on the editing test and the article I wrote was some of my best work. The last I heard, everything was going to be reviewed by a "selection committee",

It's been 1.5 weeks since I submitted everything and I haven't heard anything. I emailed last Friday to notify the HR department of a special feature I had on my blog (just to keep the lines of communication open).

Now what? Would I be pushing it if I email the HR person and let her know I am following up? I do realize that sometimes follow-up shows initiative, but I don't want to be a pest.

What can I do next?

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M.J.

answers from Sacramento on

Since you've already followed up, I'd give it some time. It can take a while for a team to review submissions of any kind and then coordinate any sort of decision. If you haven't heard anything in a couple more weeks, call back and ask the status of their writer selection process for their website.

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S.B.

answers from Redding on

I've been a hiring manager and an HR Supervisor. I currently assist the HR Manager at my place of work.

I, personally, would follow up with a phone call to confirm that your e-mail was received and convey your continued interest in the position.

We accept applications, by appointment only, every single week. It can get pretty overwhelming. Some people are very persistant too early because we let everyone know that if we are considering them, we need time to check their references. That, in itself, can be a matter of phone tag. The next step in the process, after the references check out, is for them to come back and meet with the other department managers that they will also be working directly with. Then there is discussion and submission of a background check. Whether or not an applicant can be hired also depends on that. Then there is a 4-hour orientation.

I'm just mentioning this because the hiring process CAN take some time, even if the online situation may be different from the interpersonal requirements of many positions.

You've sent an e-mail. I would follow up tomorrow with a phone call as Fridays can be crazy busy.

Don't get discouraged. Remember that the people you submitted your information to probably have a million other things that they juggle behind the scenes. That's always been true in my case.

Definitely follow up and call. See if you can get a feel for where things stand. Remind them, personally, of your interest, and let the "process" happen.

Best wishes!

Did you get an idea of how many other people they were considering?

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A.P.

answers from Washington DC on

no more emails! It's great that they have email and you have email, but try to stand out from the crowd.

And it's ONLY been 1.5 weeks. Give it another week and then call and say that you had some interest from another publisher and wanted to check with them since they are your first choice.

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E.S.

answers from New York on

I would give it a week and CALL! His/her e-mail box is probably jam-packed and you never know if your e-mail made it or not.

Even when I apply for jobs I attempt to talk to a human because I don't trust the spam factor.

Good luck and try to talk to a human.

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K.N.

answers from Boston on

Not sure how things work in the blogosphere but, in a former life, I was a hiring manager of a department. When I saw your subject line "How many times do I follow up with HR?" my instant thought was "as many as it takes."

Yes, there's a line between "persistent" and "pest" but I don't think you've crossed it. It would be one thing if the HR rep had told you when the "selection committee" would be reviewing your submissions but it doesn't appear that the rep did. If it were me, I'd be emailing about every 4 days to a week. It would be totally appropriate if you were to send an email just saying that you are still very, very much interested in the position and that, although you understand the next step is a selection committee review, you'd like to know if they have a time frame in mind for decision making. Also, ask if there's any other information you might supply to help the committee get to know more about you.

Keep in touch with them. Don't let them forget your name!

Good luck --

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