Job Search Timing FAQs

Time has felt a little strange these days. Working remotely has many of us wondering what day of the week it is every day of the week. For others so diligently serving our country in various capacities, time seems to be passing quickly as they work to keep our economy running. While we cannot help with these timeline troubles, we can give you some guidance as it relates to common timing questions for job searching.

When can I follow up after applying?

If an application deadline is listed when you apply for the job, respect the deadline. The hiring manager or recruiter working on the hiring process for the open position will have many candidates to review and will have most likely agreed to do a deep dive at the set deadline. If a deadline is not provided for the application, a follow up message to the company one week after submitting your information is okay. The message can be a request for simple confirmation that your application was received and an offer to send additional information if needed.

How should I explain a gap in my resume?

A gap in your resume is not the worst thing in the world. The most important way to explain a gap in your resume is to be honest. If you took that time off as an opportunity to expand your skills, gain a certification, or volunteer, be sure to mention this. It tells the potential employer you didn’t squander your down time watching movies or TV shows.

When should I follow up after interviewing?

Post-interview follow up can happen in two stages. First, you should send a thank you message to those with whom you interviewed. Your thank you should be sent within 1-3 days after your interview date. Sending a thank you the same day you interview is often viewed as disingenuous. Second, you may wish to follow up with the hiring manager or recruiter if you have not heard about the status of your application. NOTE: It is highly recommended that you ask them what their timeline is for hiring and when you can expect to hear from them. If that deadline has passed, a simple follow-up message requesting an update and reiterating your interest in the role is warranted.

How much time can I take to consider a job offer?

A reasonable amount of time to review a job offer is 1-3 days. Some employers may ask for a reply in 24 hours; others will be okay with giving you a couple of added days to make sure you are making an informed decision. This time allows you to look closely at the offer, ask follow-up questions, and potentially negotiate a change to the offer. Regardless of what you decide, follow up on the phone with the employer by the agreed-upon deadline.

At Great West, we hire great people for great careers. Ready to take the next step to great? Join our Talent Community for job alerts, company updates, and priority resume review.

This blog post was created by Megan L., Talent Acquisition Specialist at Great West Casualty Company.

© Great West Casualty Company 2020. The material in this publication is the property of Great West Casualty Company unless otherwise noted and may not be reproduced without its written consent by any person other than a current insured of Great West Casualty Company for business purposes. Insured should attribute use as follows: “© Great West Casualty Company 2020. Used with permission by Great West Casualty Company.”

This material is intended to be a broad overview of the subject matter and is provided for informational purposes only. Great West Casualty Company does not provide legal advice to its insureds, nor does it advise insureds on employment-related issues. Therefore, the subject matter is not intended to serve as legal or employment advice for any issue(s) that may arise in the operations of its insureds. Legal advice should always be sought from the insured’s legal counsel. Great West Casualty Company shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss, action, or inaction alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the information contained herein.