Sending a customized resume and cover letter to that perfect-for-you online job listing is a great start: but it isn’t enough. To get noticed in today’s job market, you have to be proactive. To help maximize your success and improve your likelihood of landing an interview, refer to the following  courses of action when sending your resume:

• Include a promise of action. Conclude your cover letter in a way that lets the hiring manager know your intentions for the next step.  Consider saying something along the lines of, “I will follow up with you in a few days to discuss the possibility of an interview.  In the meantime, please feel free to contact me at ________.” However, if you say you will follow up, be sure to do so.
• Punctuality is key. Three  to five business days is the suggested duration of time for promptly following up on all resumes you send. You can follow up by phone or email if they application specifies no phone calls. Keep your message brief but informative by stating your name, position you have applied, and desire to touch base.
• Have a purpose. If several weeks have passed with no response after your initial follow up, initiate another call or email with the employer – but do so with a purpose. Your purpose for following up could be to find out if a time line has been established for interviews, or to leave an alternate contact number if you will be traveling. As always, be polite, professional and respectful.
• Keep a log. Your follow-up attempts will be much easier if you keep a contact log of all positions to which you apply. Include a copy of the job posting, as well as the cover letter and resume you sent, names of hiring managers, contact dates, and any notes on your contact to date.
• Don’t be a pest. Unless you are confident that you can walk the fine line between being persistent and becoming a pest, exercise restraint after your third or fourth follow-up contact. Depending on employer and industry, the time between the application closing date and calling applicants for interviews can be as long as several months. Keep this in mind to avoid discouragement if your follow up efforts do not yield immediate results.

Waiting for a response after you’ve applied for a job can be the greatest test of patience. Following these steps during and after sending your resume and cover letter can make the difference between falling into the black hole of job applicants and landing the interview. If you are looking for help finding your next job, contact the pros at Springborn Staffing today!