We’ve all been there. Staring at our phone.
Reloading our inbox.
Picking up unknown numbers in case it’s a call back from the interviewer.
A week passes, and still nothing. What should you do?
The answer is simple: take matters into your own hands and do a follow-up call. This will show your interest in the job, and can give you an advantage over a candidate that shares your similar candidate.
Recruiters don’t just want qualified candidates, they want eager go-getters who can get the job done. If you’re nervous about picking up the phone, here are some tips:
1. Best time to call?
Calling immediately after sending a resume is not the way to go about it. Wait around 7-10 days before dialling in and checking to see that they have received your resume. Call in the morning when work is about to start or at the end of the day. Hiring managers are less likely busy during these hours, and the chances of your call being entertained is higher.
2. Whom do you call?
Most would think that people from the human resource department are the ones to approach when trying to look for a job. Although they are the team that tend to filter applicants, the right person you should call for a follow-up could differ. If the company has an in-house recruitment team, it could be hiring manager, but if the company is a smaller scale it could be the CEO or MD you deal with directly.
Don’t feel intimidated. Do your research to find out who the company’s hiring manager is and what his or her number is. You can try checking their company website, LinkedIn, or just simply google search. If all else fails, call the main company line and ask to be put through to the appropriate person.
3. Be polite, not pushy
When you do get through to someone to check on the status of your resume and whether you are likely to be interviewed for the job, don’t mess it up by being presumptuous, demanding an interview date, or asking “why have I not heard back from anyone yet?”.
Whomever you speak with, ask whether they received your resume (give them the date it was sent, so they can check their inbox) and offer to re-send it if need be. State that you are very interested in the role, and would love the opportunity to be interviewed. That’s it! On some lucky occasions, they might have already read your CV and invite you for an interview then and there, while at other times you will need to give them a few more days to get back to you again. Thank them for their time, say your goodbyes and hang up.
4. Still no invite?
As a general rule, you should only follow up once, but calling a second time is also acceptable if they said they would get back to you. If you really think it’s worth it, pick up the phone and give the hiring manager another ring, or send an email. But give yourself an ultimatum, if you still don’t get a response after the your second attempt, just stop and move on to another opportunity.
In short, your job search is just that – a search. Take control and drive the process yourself. Don’t play by others’ rules, or sit back and be complacent about it – get yourself into the driver’s seat and make the phone ring with a follow-up call every time you send a resume or introductory letter.
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