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By Kevin
Donlin, CollegeRecruiter.com
The Web is
a great place to find and apply for jobs. You can send your résumé
to a dozen companies in just minutes. But what comes next? Is it
just a waiting game, or are there follow-up methods you can use to
increase your response rate?
Steve Kobs,
a human resources manager at Hanley-Wood Custom Publishing, a
Minneapolis-based marketing communications firm, offers this
advice: "If you'd like to follow up with a company after
submitting your résumé, one week later is a reasonable time to
do it," he says.
And the
best way to follow up?
"I
prefer e-mail," says Kobs. "If you call me on the phone
and ask if we've made a hiring decision, you put me in an awkward
position if I have to tell you bad news … or if I've forgotten
who you are. Candidates who follow up by e-mail show respect for
my time, which I appreciate," he says.
Andrea
Hoover, CEO of JobLynx Online, offers additional ways to set
yourself apart when applying for jobs online.
"First,
when submitting résumés online, be sure to use a
professional-looking e-mail address, not the one at work or a
cutesy one like ilikebowling@gutterballs.com."
Her
follow-up methods, which are more aggressive than what an HR
professional might suggest, include the following: The day after
you submit your resume to a company, e-mail them a quick note
asking if they received and were able to read your resume, or if
they require a different format for their database. The day after
that, print and send a stationery version of your resume by U.S.
Mail to the hiring authority, along with a copy to any other
company contacts, for review and filing for future opportunities.
One week after your initial contact, send an e-mail to the hiring
authority inquiring if you can supply any further information not
included in your original resume. Finally, around 10 days after
your online application, send another e-mail asking for the phone
number of the hiring authority, since you are considering several
other offers. Attach your resume to this e-mail so they won't need
to hunt for it. And ask for a convenient time to contact them for
a brief phone interview. Whatever method you use, your goal in
following up aggressively is to sell your abilities and
experience. Push for the face-to-face interview as soon as
possible. And get that job!
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