| You are looking for a job. You have created a | | | | the interviews for unknown reasons, or sometimes |
| professional looking and well crafted resume. You | | | | the budget has created problems. |
| wrote a dynamic cover letter and sent it off to the | | | | The important thing here is that if you want to know |
| prospective employer. Now what do you do? | | | | if a job opening has been filled, you need to follow |
| Well, the one thing you DO NOT do is sit around and | | | | up to find out. Otherwise, you may be assuming |
| wait. You have to follow up. | | | | something that is not really true. That job may be |
| Job candidates often make a series of fallacious | | | | there and you may have an opportunity to get it. |
| assumptions that can jeopardize their chances at | | | | Following up with employers is not generally regarded |
| getting a job. The first error is that you assume | | | | as desperate or bullying. It shows that you are |
| that because you sent a resume to an employer, | | | | motivated and eager to work for the company. |
| that the employer has actually read the resume. | | | | You have to be careful to conduct follow ups in a |
| If you haven't heard anything after a couple of | | | | professional way but often companies are waiting to |
| weeks, you assume that the hiring process has been | | | | see who will follow up. It can be a "test" of sorts |
| completed and, unfortunately, you were rejected. | | | | to help find the most motivated candidates. |
| You move on to your next project because you | | | | Having said all of that, the question remains, "Do you |
| think the position has already been filled. | | | | have to write a follow up letter?" Well, the follow |
| Many applicants worry that if they decide to call the | | | | up letter is not a required part of the job application |
| hiring agent they will hurt their chances at getting the | | | | materials. However, it is an option that you should |
| job. They believe that they will be seen as being | | | | take because it can go a long way to getting you |
| aggressive or desperate or that they will be seen as | | | | more attention from the employer. |
| a pest. Except for letters sent to recruiters and | | | | Exactly what is a follow up letter? It is a letter sent |
| head hunters, this is probably a wrongheaded | | | | to the hiring agent AFTER you have sent in your |
| assumption. | | | | application materials but BEFORE any interview has |
| The fact is that many employers never even scan, | | | | taken place. The purpose is to reiterate the fact |
| let alone carefully review, the resumes that come | | | | that you are interested in this particular job. Also, it |
| in. If you think about it, that shouldn't be a surprise | | | | can serve as a nudge to the hiring agent to respond |
| to anyone. There are often hundreds of resumes | | | | to you. |
| that are submitted for a single job opening. Most | | | | The follow up should have basically the same format |
| cover letters are weak and will not create enough | | | | as the cover letter. In the introduction you should |
| interest to make the hiring agent want to take a | | | | mention that you have submitted your resume and if |
| look at the resume | | | | you had a conversation with anyone at the company, |
| That is both good news and bad news. The bad | | | | by all means, mention it. You can reiterate the key |
| news is obvious. If your resume doesn't get read, | | | | points (not all but just a few) that make you their |
| you clearly won't get the job. On the other hand, | | | | ideal candidate for this job. Close with an invitation |
| you may be able to take heart in the fact that you | | | | to contact you along with your contact information |
| weren't necessarily rejected because of your | | | | including email. In general, it will be shorter than the |
| qualifications. More often you were not selected for | | | | cover letter. |
| an interview or a job because of problems related to | | | | You should probably send the follow up letter within |
| your job search strategies, most especially related to | | | | a week to 10 days after you have sent your |
| your cover letter. | | | | resume. If the job application specifies that the job |
| Just because you never hear from the employer, | | | | search will continue through a specified date, then |
| you should not assume that the job has actually been | | | | contact the company within a week to ten days |
| filled. Many advertised jobs are not filled for more | | | | AFTER the date has passed, regardless of when you |
| than a month after they appear. The reasons for | | | | submitter your materials. |
| this are many and varied. The most common | | | | The idea of the follow up letter is to make you |
| reasons include the fact that the company has not | | | | stand out from the other applicants. It should leave |
| found anyone who meets their needs, that the | | | | a favorable impression and show that you are willing |
| agency has just been too busy or unable to conduct | | | | to go the extra mile necessary to get the job. |