How to Call an Employer After Sending a Resume
Following up after a resume can give you an advantage by helping you stand out from the other applicants and demonstrating your interest in the position. But a fine line exists between showing your continued interest in the job and becoming an irritant to the hiring manager. Applicants must strike the right balance by following up appropriately while avoiding being seen as a pest -- and this balance will vary by employer and position. Regardless of the individual employer's expectations, being polite, helpful and respectful of the hiring manager's time will help you to create a favorable impression.
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Instructions
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Check the recruitment announcement. Determine if an email address or telephone number is provided, or if any specific instructions exist regarding follow up. Some announcements specifically direct candidates not to follow up, and you should always follow these instructions.
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Wait a reasonable amount of time -- several days or a week, at minimum -- to allow the employer to read and review your resume before following up.
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Send a short email or make a personal phone call to the contact listed in the announcement. If no contact is listed, you can call the company's human resources department and ask to be transferred to the hiring manager or recruiter responsible for the vacancy. Introduce yourself and mention the reason you are calling upfront. State the particular vacancy you are calling about, because the hiring manager may have multiple current recruitments.
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Ask any relevant questions such as what the next steps will be, if there is anything else the employer would like you to provide or the timeline the company anticipates the position will be filled by. Ask if you should follow up again.
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Do not follow up again unless the employer has indicated you should do so, or it has been several weeks and you notice the position is still vacant. In that situation, keep the call or email short and professional, restating your interest in the position.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't pester the employer -- understand that the process may take time.
