11 July 2008

Should You Remind an Employer About Your Resume?

A frequent complaint we hear from job-seekers is that they've submitted their resume in response to an ad for a job they knew they were qualified for, but never heard anything back. Is it a good idea in that situation to follow up with a query about your application status?

Conventional wisdom has always been that it's tricky to approach a potential employer with this question. However, a recent study by a career counseling and placement agency found that four out of five chief executives had no objection to a job-seeker making a follow-up phone call or email if they hadn't received a response two weeks after submitting their resume. They did not see a polite follow-up query as being pushy. To the contrary, many said they would welcome it as a sign of interest and initiative on the job-seeker's part.

A single follow-up query, by mail, phone, or email, is appropriate. However, making more than one follow-up query (unless you've been specifically asked to check back) crosses the line. Similarly, it's appropriate to politely ask if the position is still available, to restate your interest in the company, and to remind the hiring manager of your special qualifications for the job. It's not appropriate to ask for detailed information about the company's hiring process or to press for a decision date.

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