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Following Up on Your Career [By Melanie Lammers] First impressions can be everything for any employer, but that does not mean, under any circumstances, that additional contact is worthless. It is time to discuss how to keep that amazing first impression going-or even improve upon the image of yourself you have already created in the eyes of an employer.
Many people think that once an application,
Opportunity #2
he or she will contact you again later, make a mental note of the contact promised, provide
resume, cover letter, or set of references has been submitted, the situation is
Upon submission of your cover letter and
a reasonable amount of time for a response,
completely out of one’s hands. They believe
resume along with any other additional
and then be sure to follow up yourself. Even
that they have done all they can by providing
requested documents such as salary
if all you can say on the phone is that you
the necessary information and that they
requirements or reference listings, you
wanted to see if any progress had been made
are now out-of-the-loop regarding whether
may want to contact the employer again
toward filling the position, you are, yet again,
their materials will be accepted or declined
to ensure that all the documents were,
making positive, professional contact with
based solely on their appearance on the
indeed, received and ended up in the right
the people you might one day work with.
page. No matter how important those initial
hands. Especially when documents have
documents are, I have good news for you:
been mailed or faxed, there is a real chance
In general, you can utilize as many or
this is not the end of the road. You have as
they did not make it through all the correct
as few of these opportunities to contact
many opportunities to continue contact with
channels or got lost in the mix of paperwork
employers as you like, but each time you
employers as you provide for yourself.
passed around the office. With this in
pick up the phone or send an email is just
mind, it is perfectly legitimate to request
as important as the last. First impressions
Opportunity #1
that someone check and make sure all the
are everything, and you may speak to a
documents were received. This, once again,
brand-new person every time you attempt
It is not always necessary to wait for a
provides you an opportunity to introduce
to contact the office. Keep this in mind, but
call before contacting an employer. The
your name and reason for calling to another
also remember that you do not want to nag
moment you see a job posting of interest,
person in the office.
those involved in the hiring process. As long
it is completely acceptable to contact the employer for additional information. Even something as simple as needing to find out the hiring partner’s name is a good enough reason to call. The telephone interaction can be brief. Simply introduce yourself, explain your interest in the position, and ask for the information you would like to know. What is the name of the hiring partner? What department does this position fall under? What are the anticipated responsibilities (if they are not already outlined for you)? Any of these short and sweet questions provides an initial opportunity to get your name on
Opportunity #3 After an interview or any period of time spent in the office interacting with potential coworkers, it is considered good etiquette to send a thank-you letter via fax or email and perhaps even call to make sure it arrived. When you do this, you are expressing a continued interest in the position, the people involved in the hiring process, and the integrity of your work. Opportunity #4
people’s minds and, perhaps, circulating
Any time an employer approaches an
around the office.
interaction with you with the assumption that
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as you do not demand to speak to someone who is “not available” and do not attempt to harass anyone into providing more concrete answers to your questions, you should be in fine shape.