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Applying Online : Following Up the Right Way
ADAPTED from
Peter Vogt, MonsterTRAK
Career Coach
You've applied
online for a job you really want. But you can't help wondering what
your chances are against other applicants or whether your materials
have disappeared into cyberspace. A follow-up phone call or email to
the employer might help you see where you stand. But is that really
a good idea? It depends.
"Hiring
managers tell me they appreciate tenacity and the expression of
enthusiasm and confidence about their fit that applicants convey by
calling to follow up," says Carol Anderson, director of career
development and placement at the Robert J. Milano Graduate School of
Management and Urban Policy in New York City.
"We recently
hired a student who wrote a lovely email detailing his background
and why he wanted to get his work-experience requirement through
working with our firm," says Julia McKinley, national
recruitment for Grant Thornton LLP in Canada, which is part of
global accounting and consulting company Grant Thornton
International. "When he called to follow up, I was impressed. He
had done his research on the firm and had concrete reasons why he
wanted to gain experience with us. So even though we had no budget
and no opening, we hired him."
But there's
another side to this story: The follow-up call that impresses one
hiring manager may just annoy another.
"I think that
following up on a résumé sent through the mail was more accepted,
even if it was to make sure that the right person received the
résumé," says Bonita Martin, field employment and retention
manager for Western & Southern Financial Group in Cincinnati. "But
now that the Internet provides recruiters with hundreds of people
sending résumés for positions, and each person may or may not meet
the qualifications for the position, I prefer that candidates not
follow up on an initial resume or reply to an advertisement."
It's ultimately
your decision as to whether you should follow up with employers. But
if you decide to do so, keep these key suggestions in mind.
How You Follow Up Matters Don’t complain that you
have not heard anything but tell them that you are just checking if
your resume was received and ask about interviews.
No One Likes a Stalker Wait a few days then
only make one or two phone calls to follow up. Don’t harass people.
Email is a good
Option Some employers don’t like phone
calls, but are ok with emails. So send a quick thank you / follow up
email , but again, only one.
Scripts
Work If follow up phone
calls are scary, use a brief script. Here is an example : “This
is ______ calling. A few days ago I applied for the ______ position
in your company's ______ department/division. I'm calling to make
sure you received my résumé and to reiterate my interest in the
position.”
Brief is Best Don’t expect
the employer to have a 20 minute phone conversation with you, or
read a 4 page email, so keep your follow up concise. Remember : Be
Smart, Be Brief, Be Gone.
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