Write a Follow Up Email to a Resume Submission
You've finally happened upon a job posting for your dream job and immediately apply by submitting your resume to the company. Now the waiting game begins. You wonder, "Should I follow-up?" "Did they get my resume?" "When will I hear if I am receiving an interview?" While these are all valid questions, there are some specific qualities recruiters and hiring managers are looking for in candidates. This article will give you some tips and pointers on how to follow-up with the company you've applied to, via email.
Steps
- Check to see what the application deadline is. Many companies will post open positions and allow for a certain time-frame in which they will accept applications and resumes for the job opening. This posting deadline allows for all interested candidates to apply and the recruiters and/or hiring managers will wait until they have received all resumes or applications for the opening before beginning to screen any resumes.
- If no deadline is listed, the rule of thumb is to wait around 2 weeks before contacting the company regarding a previously submitted resume. Recruiters are very busy, and while not everyone is aware of what is occurring behind the scenes, remember you are probably not the one and only person who has applied for the position. It takes some time to read through hundreds of resumes.
- Draft an email that will capture attention the right way:
- Be sure to address the email to the same person you initially sent your resume to or use the same salutation (for example, "Dear Human Resources Director"). This shows that you are paying attention to who is responsible for the hiring at the company.
- Begin with the facts. Start by introducing yourself, state your name and why you are contacting them.
- State the title of the position you are applying for.
- Review your qualifications for the opening. Model this after your cover letter. Remember: this is a follow-up email, you're trying to pique interest, but there is no need to re-write your entire cover letter!
- Reiterate the position you are interested in. Remember: most recruiters are hiring for multiple positions/openings at once.
- End by leaving your contact information for an interview. Remember to sound confident and open to opportunity. Let the recruiter know when and how they can contact you and when you'd be available for an interview.
- End the email with a proper signature. Your name, current title, and email address are the best suggestion.
- Proofread your follow-up email. Make sure you check for spelling and grammar. You want to make a good impression. Many recruiters see thousands of emails a day from applicants, and you want to stand apart from the rest.
- Once you have proofread your email, you are ready to hit send. Remember that while you are interested in the position, you have now communicated this to the company in which you have applied. You do not want to seem desperate, so one email follow-up will do. It is never a good idea to hound a recruiter for an interview - this will set the opposite tone of interested and will turn all hiring managers off. No one wants a pest to work at their company.
- You're done! Now sit back and wait for the interviewer to call to schedule. Remember, if you don't receive a response, there are always other jobs available and you may have to submit your resume to multiple companies before you hear back from any for an interview. The job market is a tough road to navigate, but these tips will be useful in preparing to reach out to any company regarding your resume submission.
Tips
- If you've applied, and it is still before the posted deadline, be patient. Many companies don't begin interviewing until they have received all applications for the opening.
- Remember that it takes time for recruiters to read through hundreds and even thousands of resumes. Don't expect a call for an interview the next day! Chances are, most companies aren't going to be reviewing resumes this quickly.
- Write the letter in a positive and professional tone. Sound optimistic, and set the expectation that you are the best candidate for the job.
- Don't be a nag! No recruiter wants to receive multiple emails or phone calls regarding a candidate whether they are interested in the candidate or not. Repeatedly contacting the company for an interview will most definitely ensure that you do not get a call back for an interview.
