How to Handle the Resume Submission Black Hole
When Employers Don’t Respond, Applicants Must be Proactive
Jun 10, 2009
Today’s fast-paced Internet makes it quick and easy for candidates to submit a resume online. However, the growing ranks of new online job search engines also tends to inundate employers and recruiters with hundreds, if not thousands, of resumes for each opening. What this means for applicants is a far greater likelihood that the company will be unable to respond to each and every resume submission. So how does a person follow up?
Resume Submission: Recruiters vs. Employers
Many online job listings are posted through recruiters who make a commission from every job placement. As such, they are very personal in working with the candidate directly through telephone calls and emails. Large companies tend to employ the services of a recruiter to save them time and money in locating and hiring qualified employees.
In today’s job market it is very rare for a direct hire company to respond personally to a resume submission. Most often companies deliver an automated message to the applicant’s email inbox informing the person that they have received the application and will respond if they feel the candidate is suitable for the position.
How and When to Follow Up
Attempting to contact the Human Resources department of any company these days is difficult if not impossible. Automated email responses from employers subsequent to application submission pretty well advise the candidate to sit back and wait for a response. “Don’t call us, we’ll call you” is the overriding theme, with many companies even warning, “No Phone Calls.” In such cases, it is best to respect these requests in order to avoid disqualification.
If the name and contact information of a specific hiring manager or recruiter is provided, the applicant should follow up within one week to give the company time to review the stack of resumes for the position opening. Follow up should initially take the form of an email rather than a phone call. If the employer still does not respond within a couple of days, a tactful phone call is appropriate.
Wording the Follow Up Email and Phone Call
The job seeker must use the proper approach and wording so as to not turn off the employer. The email and/or phone call must be respectful and tactful rather than implying, “I haven’t heard from you yet; what’s the deal?!” In any case, applicants should
- be professional and polite
- ask where the employer is in the hiring process
- offer more detailed information about skills and background
Example Follow Up Email or Phone Call
“Hi, I’m (applicant’s name). I applied for your web designer position a couple weeks ago, and at your convenience I’d like to touch base to see where you are in the hiring process. If you need any additional information regarding my advanced web design skills, please feel free to contact me at any time. Thank you, and I hope to hear from you soon.”
In today’s ultra-competitive labor market, the chances a company will respond to a resume submission are generally slim to none. Thus, the candidate must be proactive and, if contact information is provided, email or phone the employer to follow up. Using tact and respect in the request may remind the employer of the candidate’s job skills and may even result in an interview.
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