Job Seekers: Never Do This On Mondays

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There’s one rule I always tell job seekers about job search activities on a Monday: Never, I mean never, call to check the status of your application, or where the hiring manager is in the decision-making process for a job on a Monday.

Here’s Why…

Mondays are the least popular day of the work week. Even the most cheerful of workers struggles to get in the groove on a Monday. Given 84% of Americans surveyed last year said they’d like a new job, it’s safe to say the majority of people aren’t in the best mood. Adding stress or pressure to their day is not going to help you.

So, as much as you are dying to know where you stand, I’d suggest waiting until later in the week for several reasons:

1. If the hiring manager hasn’t made any progress, they won’t appreciate you reminding them.
2. If you aren’t in the running, they won’t be thrilled about having to give you the bad news.
3. If they are super busy and planned to address the hiring process later in the week, they won’t appreciate you trying to push them to address it sooner.

Ironically, all that can change on a Tuesday when they are organized for the week and back in the productivity zone.

Why?

I don’t know, but trust me when I say job seekers should spend Mondays researching companies and identifying who they want to network with. Save the actually calling for Tuesdays and you’ll see people will be in better moods and respond to you more positively.

Your Next Step

If you liked this advice, then I encourage you to check out my new video series. Each video provides tips for executing an easier job search in this economy.

My videos are completely free and I’m confident you’re going to find them useful. The link to access the first one is below.

WATCH VIDEO NOW ►

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

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34 Comments

1. 

   dwilliams

   April 5, 2013 at 1:09 PM

   “Appearing desperate will not make someone want to hire you. It will likely put you at the bottom of the pile. We can agree to disagree.

   There’s nothing wrong with following up (after a reasonable amount of time has passed…like at least one week after the interview). It’s better to wait, and let the recruiter or Hiring Manager contact the interviewee.”

   Yeah but why wait either they know who they want or they don’t.there is no need to waste time or play make the potential hire wait foolish game.

   Reply
2. 

   Mark May

   April 5, 2013 at 8:05 AM

   I do not mind Monday calls. It is a good idea, however, as a job candidate, to inquire about the timing of follow-up phone calls during your most recent face-to-face contact.

   Reply
3. 

   Jon Surman

   April 3, 2013 at 10:34 AM

   Depends how much you want that job appearing desperate is how you may percieve it if you dont know your value i prefer appear hungry and in the game appear as the one for the job appear as problem solved appear as the solution by tackling the resistance i take this from the many migrants from india in the uk ive placed who have hunger and tenacity and as much as they can annoy calling me they are in my head and in the game when compared to average thinking mediocre mindset “ill wait for hr yo come back to me and hope for” for the bestfor the best

   Reply
4. 

   April

   April 2, 2013 at 8:00 AM

   Appearing desperate will not make someone want to hire you. It will likely put you at the bottom of the pile. We can agree to disagree.

   There’s nothing wrong with following up (after a reasonable amount of time has passed…like at least one week after the interview). It’s better to wait, and let the recruiter or Hiring Manager contact the interviewee.

   Reply
   • 

     Beverly Pelegrina

     April 4, 2013 at 1:17 AM

     Hi,

     So its really okay to make a follow up after 1 week. What if the HR Manager is not giving any update during the reference call out? What is the best thing to do?

     Reply
5. 

   Michael Lamb

   April 2, 2013 at 3:22 AM

   Generally people can be in a poorer Monday, however restricting yourself from calling because of this is a bad idea, the idea of considering factors like this could leave you unemployed for longer, every job seekers job title is a sales person, if my sales team considered this when chasing contacts and clients we woulden’t be were we are today, so don’t think this is good advice.

   Reply
6. 

   Ron

   April 2, 2013 at 12:55 AM

   Personally I like getting calls on a Monday. I have worked for many rec consultancies and now work in HR as a director. I dislike the arrogance of many people in this line of work, it not a “special” job so get over yourselves.

   Reply
7. 

   Dom

   April 2, 2013 at 12:08 AM

   Wow it’s really sad for me that I’m just reading this article and I literally just made this mistake earlier today. I hope I’m a special case where it doesn’t negatively affect my chances

   Reply
8. 

   Janice

   April 1, 2013 at 7:59 PM

   Don’t forget to send those that interviewed you a thank you note. It is best to send it within 24 hours after the interview.

   Reply
9. 

   Colleen

   April 1, 2013 at 7:51 PM

   Lots of good points in the article above and comments following. There is no one perfect answer for this situation but if you ask about the decision process time frame or “when do you start?” YOU SHOULD HAVE A GOOD idea of a good follow up date to call. I’ve even asked when should I call you next week? Many times if you are in the running, they will tell you when to follow up.

   Once I had a secretary set me up for an interview when I called to check in “because she knew I would call her once a week (as I had done for the last 6 weeks) and she was just waiting for my call.” We had agreed that I should call once a week until they took the position off hold. She was too busy to call the pile of applicants her boss gave her and knew I would call her. I got the interview and the job. Make it easy for them!

   Reply
   • 

     Doug

     April 3, 2013 at 11:17 AM

     I like the term “Make it easy for them”. It blends well with ask not what your company can do for you, but what you can do for your company.

     Reply
10. 

    matt

    April 1, 2013 at 7:17 PM

    this brings up an interesting point.
    One needs to follow up, but we have to do so in the right way.
    It sux to call in and find out that, due to lack of follow up on your part, someone else has gotten the job you were after. So your follow up was insufficient.
    It also sux to find out that you’re following up too frequently.

    So the million dollar question is… what’s the right way to follow up with a prospective job?

    Reply
11. 

    Sam

    April 1, 2013 at 5:42 PM

    If someone is in bad mind on Monday is a problem of his/her nature or lack of personal management and its best to fix it yourself than transmitting it to other stake holders of the profession.

    Can doctor not attend to a surgery because it’s Monday? Can lawyer deny appearing at courts because it’s Monday? Can a dealer not deal because its money? Can a banker not consider a funding of a project, because it’s Monday? Can a manager delay a timely discussion because it’s Monday?

    Choice is yours. Most other respected professionals have decided to change from their end.

    Reply
    • 

      Lynn

      April 3, 2013 at 1:39 PM

      Sam: Doctors “attend to surgery” because you’re paying them to do so. Same with your other examples. In the case of a hiring manager, they hold most of the cards right now, given the current job market. Thus, it makes perfect sense from an economic standpoint, i.e., the law of supply and demand, to ingratiate yourself to them as much as possible.

      Reply
12. 

    Sue

    April 1, 2013 at 3:31 PM

    That is why the last question one always wants to ask when done with the interview is “When do I start?” It is very proactive, and it also will give a time frame in which to follow up with the person(s) who did the interviewing.

    Reply
13. 

    Di Rysdale

    April 1, 2013 at 1:39 PM

    Also not wishing to be critical and I absolutely do understand the Monday feeling but whatever the mood of the recruiter every candidate is deserving of constructive feedback in a timely manner.

    Reply
14. 

    Mark

    April 1, 2013 at 1:08 PM

    As a HR Professional, I don’t EVER want an applicant calling to check on the status of anything. If I’m serious about hiring you, I will let you know. No news is bad news.

    Reply
    • 

      andy

      April 1, 2013 at 2:35 PM

      Sorry to say this but your attitude sucks. Try putting yourself in the shoes of the applicant and think about what it feels like to not know what’s going on.

      Too many HR ‘professionals’ imo are simply being lazy by putting the line ‘only those shortlisted will be notified’ guess what, I make it a point to not use any HR professionals who does things like this.

      Reply
      • 

        Jackie

        April 1, 2013 at 7:34 PM

        I whole-heartidly agree with Andy. Too many HR people don’t put themselves in OUR shoes. It kills us to not at least get an answer, ESPECIALLY if you say we’ll get back to you either way in an interview. Try putting yourself in our shoes where you keep wondering and wondering. I’d rather hear no than no answer at all.

        Reply
      • 

        Sophie

        April 2, 2013 at 1:36 AM

        I agree Andy. Each person deserves a reply. If they took the time to apply, we should take the time to respond. That’s professionalism.

        There’s no room for arrogance in recruitment.

        Reply
      • 

        Nicci

        April 2, 2013 at 1:41 AM

        I’m with Andy on this this everybody deserves a feedback. How a candidate would know the status if Hr attitudes is don’t contact us. These so called Hr people couldn’t even talk with saying we are not technical and will come back after discussing with manager. Very appalling attitude.

        Reply
      • 

        Doug

        April 3, 2013 at 11:21 AM

        I echo Andy’s statement. As a top recruiter now, and top manager for over 25 years, I would avoid HR professionals that talked like this. They were not good for my company where I worked, they are not good for my Search Firm and they are not good for the candidates.

        Think about this: You are representing the company to the candidate. If you think they are just a piece of meat or a warm body for a cold chair, then you need a new career. These are PEOPLE. The most important asset in a company. You should find other work and let someone that cares sit in YOUR cold chair.

        Reply
    • 

      Steve

      April 1, 2013 at 5:05 PM

      “Hr Professional” Anyone of value is not going to rely on HR to inform them of the hiring decision. They will be in contact with the hiring manager and not HR. If you are dealing with HR to get a job…move on to another company.

      Reply
    • 

      Rich

      April 1, 2013 at 7:46 PM

      This is how HR becomes known as the department of business prevention.

      Reply
    • 

      Chuck

      April 1, 2013 at 8:56 PM

      Mark,
      Stop being a dope! Attitudes like this is why HR isn’t taken seriously in most organizations. Create realistic expectations and next steps with your applicants and that will go along way towards a more productve process for you, your company and the candidate.

      Reply
    • 

      Shikha

      April 2, 2013 at 3:55 AM

      Agreed Mark!

      Reply
    • 

      jim

      April 25, 2013 at 3:14 AM

      Get over yourself Mark.

      Reply
15. 

    April

    April 1, 2013 at 11:18 AM

    I think it’s good to follow up, but not too soon. I’d say wait at least one week to 1.5 weeks from an interview before following up with HR. It’s not good to appear TOO pushy either – it’s a real turn off and makes you appear desperate. It’s better to wait, than to seem too overbearing. That’s my 2 cents…good luck to all job searchers :)

    Reply
    • 

      Michael Lamb

      April 2, 2013 at 5:37 AM

      April Appearing desperate comment, this is wrong and is the mindset of mediocrity and average approaches, if you are the person who can do that job, you really believe you can solve there problem and fill that position, then being desperate is necessary, the reason your are calling them and being pushy is so they don’t miss out on you and you don’t miss out as together the problem is solved, telling them not to waste time there have there man , is self belief, hunger and a dedicated passion to get that role, hit the target get that job, hesitating and worrying about braking down the resistance just incase is you upset someone doesent drive you to get the job it just leaves you at the bottom of the pile with the rest of the CVS who are all kidding themselves waiting for feedback, if you hungry go get you game on.

      Reply
16. 

    James E. Wright, PHR, CDR

    April 1, 2013 at 9:46 AM

    @Jon – I couldn’t disagree with you more. The advice J.T. is sharing is not from the candidate side but from the hiring manager side. While it might look to you that you’re developing a relationship or trying to come across as hungry; instead you’re sending signals of being desperate and the desperate candidate never gets the job. Considering your response, you might want to check out my article “There’s a Fine Line Between Being Persistence and Being Annoying” at http://www.careerealism.com/persistent-annoying/. I’m not suggesting you’re annoying but I am saying you have to know where the line is — and J.T.’s article in essence if giving you a huge magnifying glass to see the line that most candidates don’t even know exist. :)

    Reply
17. 

    jon surman

    April 1, 2013 at 7:13 AM

    Sorry to be critical but in this climate you need to be more a aggressive and ignore logical reasons on why not go for you target on a specific day or time i strongly disagree with this article if you want that job or want to increase your chances call everyday and dont just call to chase your application call to sell yourself call to gather information develop a relationship be percieved as hungry not waiting in line like mr average does.

    Reply
    • 

      Tina Taylor

      April 1, 2013 at 10:33 AM

      Jon, I am a Recruiter and calling everyday will display a level of aggression that would likely be a turn off, even for Sales professionals. There is a fine line between “professionally persistent” and “pestering.” Every professional deserves a 24 hour turn around for a return communication. By calling every day, it is possible to create an impression of “desperation” or being inconsiderate. I would suggest using different methods of communication (I.e., email Monday, follow up phone call Wednesday or vice versa).

      JT is right, I use Mondays to plan and set the tone for the week. You are welcome to call but I may choose to return the call Tuesday, simply because I want to touch base with the Hiring Managers and be organized before I start talking with candidates.

      Hope this was helpful, Jon.

      Good article, JT! :)

      Reply
      • 

        Jon Surman

        April 2, 2013 at 2:09 PM

        Fair comment i agree with different approach email aswell etc i just think maintaining an omnipresence over the rest of the applicants in your niche is a bolder approach when jobhunting that way you are in the minds of the DM and not just a cv in an inbox or shorlist.

        Reply
    • 

      Michael

      April 2, 2013 at 3:07 AM

      Jon, in the UK calling every day is the fastest way to annoy the recruiter! The worst is when you tell a candidate no and yet they keep calling. You would come off as desperate and annoying. Let’s be honest – if you talk to a good recruiter he or she will know right after the interview whether they want you or not. It is good practice to drop the interviewer the same day of the interview a polite and friendly email, thanking them for their time and perhaps a mini summary of yourself.

      Reply