“Bueller? Bueller?”
Much like Ferris Bueller’s monotone economics teacher taking class attendance (YouTube link), it seems like we’re always waiting on someone to answer us. And we often get the same response as Ben Stein’s character did when he was looking for Ferris—a deafening silence.
When you’re job hunting, this lack of response can be frustrating. “Did my resume fall into a black hole or do I simply stink as a potential employee?” Or, “Have I been put in the Job Candidate Witness Protection Program and nobody told me?” All manner of horrible thoughts cross your mind concerning the whereabouts of your beautifully constructed resume.
Maybe you’ve just given the best interview of your life and you’re waiting for the go-ahead to show up at your bright, shiny new desk and forge a new career and change the world! And then a great big nothing comes in the mail. So, you wait.
At this point, you can either indulge in passive-aggressive fantasies about giving the entire world of Human Resources a piece of your mind. Or…you can simply follow up. Duh.
This month we’ll take a look at some good ways to check on your job hunting progress without making a nuisance of yourself. After that you can go check up on Ferris. My best friend’s sister’s boyfriend’s brother’s girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who’s going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it’s pretty serious.
In Life
How Long Do I Follow Up Before I Give Up?
In general, “no” doesn’t mean never. It means not right now. “Now” can refer to this week, this month, or even this year.
Emails
How to Write the “Following Through” Email
Don’t follow up, follow through instead. Let digital marketer Hendrick de Vries show you how to write a “following through” email that adds value.
Resumes
What To Say When Following Up On Your Resume
You have sent your resume to apply for a job, but it feels like you threw it into a black hole, because you heard nothing back. Sadly, this standard operating procedure these days. What do you do now? You should call to ensure your resume was received, and that the right person received it. What should you say? Mary Sherwood Sevinsky of Careerealism.com has sample scripts that you can modify and use when you call.
How To Master The Fine Art Of Following Up On A Job Without Being Annoying
You know you should follow up after you send a resume or after you have an interview, but somehow it always feels icky, doesn’t it? How do you follow up without feeling like a pest, or, even worse, being perceived as a pest? Fear not, because Samantha Cole of FastCompany.com has the nitty-gritty details on how to check up gracefully during your already painful job hunt.
Interviews
How To Follow Up After a Job Interview
Another item on your post-job-interview checklist is to follow up, but how do you do that? Are handwritten notes a thing of the past? Email is easy, but is it too easy? Should you pick up the phone and try to get past the gatekeeper? Fortunately, Liz Ryan of Human Workplace has posted on Forbes.com detailed instructions for you to use and scripts for you to customize. Let’er rip!
How Much Follow Up is Too Much?
You’ve had the interview and you’re ready to follow up, but you’ve heard that companies hate it when you keep bugging them. The question is, how much after-interview contact is too much? The folks at Careerealism have a few wise rules of thumb.
Do’s and Don’ts for Following Up After the Interview
There are lots of rules for everything, but many seem to be unwritten. You’ve heard that what worked for one person didn’t work for the next. How do you know what you should do? Jessica Holbrook Hernandez of Great Resumes Fast offers Do and Don’t scripts that help demystify the process.
How Following Up Can Help You Land the Job
A proper follow up shows potential employers that you are conscientious and actually know how to connect *without* being a pest. Rich Jones of The Muse has detailed scripts for you to use and he tells you why they work.
Have some tips or tools to share with your fellow technical communicators, information developers, and content developers? Drop me a note: HelpFiles@TechWhirl.com. Follow me on Twitter: @craigcardimon. Connect with me on LinkedIn.
