Why Should You Follow Up After Submitting Your Resume?

Job seekers have plenty of reasons to follow up with employers about positions for which they've applied. Whether you find a job opening on an aggregator website, with a company's HR page or through one of your network contacts, one crucial step in the job search process includes talking the employer after submitting your resume. You have five good reasons to call or email after you give a firm your vital documents.

Recognition

Candidates need to stand out from the crowd in good ways. When you follow up with an employer, HR matches your voice or your face with the name on the resume. You increase your chances of getting a call back if the hiring manager is familiar with the person listed on the resume. Determine how to contact someone based on your personal style; a quick phone call could work, or feel free to stop by the HR office on your lunch break for a quick handshake.

Reception

After sending your resume, you need to be sure it gets in the hands of the right person. An automated system usually routes the document to the right place, but sometimes a staffer may not set up the forwarding parameters the right way. Instead of going to HR, your resume might go to the sales department. Follow up to make sure the proper person has your information. If something got lost, you may never hear back from HR.

Information

Consider your follow-up as a way to obtain more information. The person on the other end of the line may have additional things to say that aren't necessarily posted in the job description. Ask a few questions, such as "When does HR plan to start interviewing?" or "Who would be my direct supervisor?" Answers to both of these questions give you clues as to how to prepare for a potential interview.

First Impression

One of the essential job duties of every employee is clear communication, both written and verbal. Make a great first impression with HR when you follow up and proactively get to know the people you may work with in the future. Use this contact to talk about relevant information about the position. Additional questions could include "What version of sales software do you use?" or "What KPIs define your company the most?" These queries may show your enthusiasm for wanting to know how a an employer works.

Future Interaction

The next major step after you submit a resume is the interview. Ask to schedule an interview when you call about your resume a few days after you give the firm your document.

Why Do Candidates Fail to Call?

Fear is the underlying reason why candidates don't call after sending an employer a resume. This could be fear of rejection, failure or bothering an HR staffer. Overcome these fears by practicing, targeting a specific individual for your phone call and recognizing that HR departments like proactive candidates who show concern for the job search process.

When you follow up your resume with an additional point of contact, you let an employer know you mean business. One phone call should suffice, because you don't want to be too pushy. Following up leads to more interviews, so go ahead and make that call.

Photo courtesy of nenetus at FreeDigitalPhotos.net