Survey: Job Seekers Should Follow Up on Resumes

Are you wondering about the status of the resume(s) you sent out?

Job seekers who are hesitant to contact a prospective employer after submitting that resume shouldn’t be, an Accountemps survey suggests. Eight in 10 senior managers (81 percent) interviewed encouraged candidates to follow up within two weeks of applying for a job. Only 1 percent of respondents said applicants should not check in with the hiring manager.

Executives were asked, “How long should a job seeker wait to follow up with the hiring manager after submitting a resume?” Their responses:

One week or less ……………………………………………………     38%

One to two weeks ……………………………………………………    43%

Two to three weeks …………………………………………………………    12%

Three weeks or more ………………………………………………………      6%

Don’t follow up …………………………………………………………….      1%

“Employers value initiative and enthusiasm, and candidates show both when they take the extra step of following up after applying for a job,” said Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of Human Resources Kit For Dummies^® (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). “But how you contact a hiring manager is important — be polite and respectful, and explain in specific terms why you feel you are the best match for the position.”

The following are answers to three common questions about following up with hiring managers:

1. How should I get in touch with the employer? Both email and phone are acceptable. An email can be a great tool for reminding hiring managers that you’ve applied for a job without seeming too pushy.

2. What should I say? Express your interest in the position and reiterate why you think you’d be a good fit for the organization. Cite specific professional accomplishments and in-demand skills you possess related to the job. The key is to highlight your qualifications and not simply ask whether the manager received your resume.

3. How frequently should I follow up? Persistence is good, but being a pest isn’t. Don’t follow up more than twice.