Should I Follow-Up?

Abosolutely! Many job seekers wonder if they should follow-up after submitting their resumes. Dan Parker, Employee Relations Manager with Trane Commercial Systems, shares this advice.

“As a recruiter, I receive lots and lots of resumes through the mail, internet, fax, under my door, etc. I do think it pays to follow up with a phone call to ensure that, whatever mode of delivery you used, it actually worked and got into the employer’s hands. There have been many times when people call me up and I cannot locate the resume they sent in. So, a follow-up phone call can be a win-win occasion: candidates rest assured the employer actually received their resume, and the employer is able to connect a resume —at least over the phone—to a real live person.” A panel of recruiters shared this same advice at last fall's Alumni event "Job Search Advice from Executive Recruiters and HR Professionals".

Keeping Up In A Down Economy

Although many alumni have been job seeking for several months now, I'd like to stress the importance of remaining positive when networking. In your network are individuals who can help you with your job search. Avoid using time with them to rehash layoff stories. Instead, use networking events to meet new people and learn more about their work history, community involvement, hobbies, etc. Also, be sure to share your key skills and career accomplishments and specific companies or industries that you are targeting.