The average job application process from the start to the first day at your new job takes at least three months, even for the quickest candidates. Here’s the breakdown:
- Scoping out a promising job: one or more days.
- Sending in your CV and waiting for the first response: two weeks.
- First and second interviews: four weeks.
- Getting an offer and accepting it: two weeks.
- Giving notice and starting at the new job: four weeks.
But why wait for the recruiter to reach out to you? Take the initiative and save yourself at least two weeks. It’s simple: contact the recruiter by phone after sending your CV, and I’ll let you know straight away whether you’ve been selected for the next interview or not.
Even better: try contacting the recruiter or the contact person listed in the job description before submitting your CV. Ask open-ended questions, inquire about the milestones in the process, and try to book a face-to-face appointment for yourself.
It might be bold, but it’s worth it. After all, for many of the desirable jobs, according to the job description, you may not qualify (how accurate is that description?). Or perhaps there’s a lot of competition, or the recruiter has chosen not to contact you for personal reasons. Job hunting in today’s market is a marathon. But even in a marathon, you sometimes have to sprint to create a better opportunity for yourself.