After you have applied for a job you must follow-up. Since you probably haven’t had to do much of this before, here are some follow-up tactics you can use during job search.
There is no waiting period required because the purpose of your call is to find out where they are in the review process and what the time-frame is for bringing someone on-board.
Once you have this really important information and you have shown a little empathy towards them, they will be much more likely to help you when you ask if they received your resume.
I did business to business telemarketing for several years and learned how to work my way around tough “gatekeepers” and voicemail.
Follow-Up Tactics
Please don’t leave voicemail message after voicemail message.
That’s very passive. You may feel you have done your part, however, to the person receiving these messages, you become an annoyance.
Try calling at different times of the day.
If they are not answering their phone, which many people do not,then try calling around 8 am, 12 pm and/or 5 pm. These are typically times of day when people will be at their desk or at least not in a meeting.
Ask for help.
If you continue to go into voicemail, try hitting “0” or “#” to speak with a warm body who can help you. Ask for their help and find out when your contact may be reached. Are they even in the office today? Ask nice questions in a nice way and usually people will assist.
If all else fails, let them know you called.
Once you have tried all these different approaches and still aren’t getting the person live, then, leave a very short message with your name, briefly stated reason for calling, telephone number and state that you will call back tomorrow.
I know this is difficult.
Waiting for someone to return your call is frustrating. That’s why you won’t ever ask them to call you back. They don’t have to or need to.
You need to keep the control in your hands as much as possible. You are the one looking for a job, therefore, it is your responsibility to try and reach them.
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
