Re-applying For A Job You Didn't Get

How do you re-apply for a job in which you've been short-listed?

By Matt Krumrie, Star Tribune Sales and Marketing

Last update: November 9, 2009 - 11:12 AM

Dear Matt: I phone interviewed for a sales management position in late April with the COO and later had in-person interviews with the CEO and COO. I presented for two hours and was told I was short-listed - but did not get the job. I just noticed that the same position was reposted on the website. How do I follow up? Why was it re-posted?

Matt: Rick Deare, president of Bloomington-based Deare Recruiting Solutions (deare.com), says the best thing to do would be to follow-up immediately, and in this order:

Personally: First with a phone call to the hiring manager(s) or the stakeholder(s) most likely to re-engage you. If you reach voice mail, send a support e-mail a moment later.

Historically: Remind the hiring manager that you were on the short list for the job in April.

Confidently: Do not lead with something like: "I'm not sure if you remember me or not..." Be the candidate. You did very well in the previous hiring process. Bring it on.

Enthusiastically: There is nothing wrong with professionally expressing your interest or excitement for this opportunity - that alone may inspire a reconnection.

Carefully: Do not wing it. Script your call. Plan your words. Anticipate questions and script your answers. Know exactly what your voice mail message will sound like.

Purposefully: What you need is another meeting. Do not ask if they would be willing to reconsider you - ask for the meeting.

These could be the reasons the position is now open again, says Deare:

No hire was made because they did not find the right candidate. This would mean you were eliminated along with others the first time around. This would not seem to bode well for your chances this time, but candidate selection factors change.

The position was caught in a hiring freeze or put on hold. This means you were not eliminated. The hiring manager may assume you have moved on or she may have forgotten about you.

A hire was made but the candidate selected was terminated or resigned.

Despite your contact with the COO and CEO, reapply for the position the same way if it was the first time you applied for any other position, says Deare, because the applicant tracking system will need to re-capture your information.

Matt Krumrie is a freelance writer from Inver Grove Heights, and has nine years of experience reporting on the employment industry. This column will answer readers' questions. E-mail questions or subject ideas to askmatt@startribune.com.

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