by Ted Sherman

Created on: May 14, 2010

Of course, you should follow up a resume submission with a phone call. First of all, there's always the chance that your resume was lost under a pile of others on the busy interviewer's desk, never actually delivered or just passed over quickly with a glance. If your resume went by email, chances are that it was clicked off by error, or through some computer glitch, never received.

After all your research, application letter writing and resume updating, don't just sit around waiting for a call that may never happen because of a simple mail or email mistake? There are many other reasons why and how you should make that call.

1. Get the name, title, email address and company phone number of the specific person who will do the job interview. When you make the call, you won't have to go through a dozen flunkies to get to the decision maker. If you can't get through, ask when that person will be available to take a call. Make sure to give your phone number and email address.

2. Assuming the resume got through and has been placed on a pile of other job-seekers' submissions, allow three or four days before you make your call. Give the interviewer time to go through all of the submissions. On some jobs, there may be a dozen applicants, while on others, ten times that number.

3. When you do get through to the interviewer, make your call simple, quick and direct. Don't don't waste the busy person's time by trying to be a pal, town gossip or jokester. Of course, ask if the interviewer has had a chance to read over your application letter and resume. If so, as a reminder, state your name, a few facts about appropriate experience and basic qualifications for the job. If the interviewer hasn't received your information or denies seeing it among the pile of other applicant papers, volunteer to send it again by email, or if requested, by snailmail.

4. If you believe you've done everything possible to inform the interviewer of your qualifications, make the call as brief as possible. Don't linger with social gabbing nor promises about what a great employee you'd be with an elaborately phony mission statement. Thank the interviewer for the time spent with you, and your hope that you will be able to give more details in a face-to-face interview.

5. There's always the lingering question: should you make a second follow-up call? The answer is yes, but only if you have more specific and job-related information about you to add. For example, you've just been awarded a professional designation or you've completed your qualifications for a bachelor's or master's degree. However, even two calls could get you branded as a pest by the interviewer. Unless you have something new to say and you feel you need to make contact again, it is best to send a follow-up email.

Finally, even at the risk of being a pest, always make at least that one important phone call to make sure your application has been received, and is being reviewed by the right person who'll decide if you'll get the job.

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