JOB SEEKERS OFTEN FEEL CONFLICTED WHEN THEY DON'T HEAR FROM A PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYER: Should they follow up with an employer after submitting a resume, or will that be perceived as "pushy"? A new survey suggests there's no reason to be timid.
In the survey, developed by staffing firm Robert Half International Inc. and conducted by an independent research firm, executives were asked, "How long should a job seeker wait to follow up with the hiring manager after submitting a resume?" Eighty-two percent responded that job seekers should contact hiring managers within two weeks of submitting application materials. Only 5 percent said professionals should refrain from communicating once a resume has been sent.
Executives also were asked, "In your opinion, what is the best way for a job seeker to follow up with a hiring manager after submitting a resume?" The top three responses were via e-mail (38 percent), telephone (33 percent) or handwritten note (23 percent).
"It often takes a minimum of three to seven contacts to get an employer to consciously remember a job applicant," says Linda Rolie, president of Career Counseling Services in Ashland, Ore.
Before making follow-up phone calls, Rolie encourages her clients to:
- Write and practice a 10- to 20-second scripted message.
- Begin by asking the hiring manager if he or she has a couple of minutes to talk.
- Sound upbeat and energetic as opposed to high-pitched and nervous.
- Tailor the message to the specific job.
"Follow-up e-mails should be brief and to the point," says Rolie. She suggests that applicants use the job title and/or posting number in the subject, insert the name of the individual in the message and limit the message to no more than two or three short sentences.
Rolie suggests candidates use one of the following statements when following up by phone or e-mail:
- I was wondering if you could tell me how the candidacy selection is coming.
- I was hoping you could tell me about my standing in the application process?
- Can you tell me where the company is in regard to the hiring process for the position?
- I was wondering about the status of the hiring process for the (insert job title).
Leaving a brief phone message is appropriate if the hiring manager cannot be reached, says Rolie. "It is acceptable to leave up to about five to seven voice mail messages for which your persistence may pay off," Rolie says, "but 15 messages is going too far."
Including the following type of statement may increase the likelihood of a returned call, says Rolie: "I am available until 4 today and 3 the rest of the week. If you haven't reached me, I'll keep trying to reach you until we can connect." Rolie even suggests trying to reach the hiring manager before or after regular business hours.
Demonstrating persistence, enthusiasm and professionalism throughout the application process is essential. After all, "How a candidate interviews and follows up is a reflection of how they will perform on the job," says Rolie.
Rebecca R. Hastings, SPHR, is online writer/editor for SHRM.