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But what about those times when you reach out to someone and simply never hear back? Rejection is one thing - though never fun, at least it provides some closure.
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“I don’t think expecting a response is necessarily reasonable all the time.In the world of job seeking, there's probably nothing more demoralizing than putting yourself out there and getting no response. You may still be able to connect with this person at a company or industry event, Farley said, or ask a mutual contact to make a warm intro.ĭon’t take a nonresponse personally, Farley said, as “it happens to the best of us.” “Be prepared not to hear from someone, if they haven’t asked to hear from you,” Post-Senning said. If you’re emailing a contact from whom you want something, Farley said, “I think you can be politely persistent.” But if you don’t get a reply after three “nicely spaced out” tries, and your effort to reach them through one other platform is unsuccessful, it’s best to move on. “But at some point I do think you start to violate the emerging courtesy that we don’t spam each other.” “I think you can reach out, I think you can follow up, and I think you can double-check that follow-up,” Post-Senning said. Is email the best way to communicate? Is there a better time of the day or week to reach them? Do they respond to emails after hours and on weekends, or completely unplug? Gauge that person’s email preferences in person, Farley said. “I think if you haven’t heard from someone in a day or two, I would check in,” Daniel Post-Senning, an etiquette expert from the Emily Post Institute, told Moneyish.Īlso read: Coworker troubles? Here’s the perfect 4-word email to write Swann recommends giving it 24 to 48 hours before following up on your first email, depending on the urgency. Let your emails breathe a bit, if possible.
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Avoid asking for something “ASAP,” Farley said, as that timeframe can be vague and subjective. Specify a deadline in your initial email. Stay away from accusatory language like “You didn’t do this” or “I’m still waiting,” Swann said, and opt for a more open follow-up like “Did you have the opportunity to take a look at this?” If they are bottlenecking a process, you might politely point out that it’s important to get their input in order for you to move forward. “Don’t apologize don’t be sheepish about it.”Īlso read: These are the things you should never, ever put in an email “The more you apologize, the less powerful a position you’re checking in from,” he said. And avoid tacking on the word “just,” he said - e.g., “Just following up” or “Just checking in,” which only serves to diminish your request. “You should let the person know what you need from them, and the timeline in which you need it - and if you don’t receive it, what your next steps are,” she said.ĭon’t apologize for following up, Farley said. But your third email - especially if this person’s unresponsiveness is holding up the process, or your work depends on their reply - should typically be your last. If your initial email to a colleague goes unanswered, etiquette expert Elaine Swann said, you can check back in. Have a timely subject line that communicates exactly what you need - that means no vague “FYI” or “UPDATE,” or reviving a months-old email thread - and put the most vital information up front. Determine whether email is even the best medium for your request, especially if you need an immediate response. Make it as easy as possible for that person to respond, etiquette expert Thomas P. So how many chances do you get to “follow up,” “touch base” or “circle back” on an unanswered email before your attempts grow unbearably annoying? And how do you avoid that predicament altogether? Here’s what experts said:Īlso read: The surprising impact your snarky work email could have