Following Up on a Resume Submission

One of the most harrowing times as a job hunter is the period after you’ve submitted your resume. You anxiously check your e-mail, watch your phone, and stay alert for a response. Other than that, what can you do?

I found an article written by Lisa Vass from the Ladders, How to Follow Up a Resume Submission, that gives from great tips for following up after you’ve submitted a resume. Although the article isn’t targeted specifically for reliability engineers and predictive maintenance professionals, it is still has some great tips for your job hunt and resume strategies.

The article highlights the importance of staying on top of your resume and application during your job hunt – and specifically this applies to highly competitive positions in the reliability engineering and predictive maintenance fields. A phone call following up puts your name out there for the employer to remember.

There is a fine line between being pesky and being persistent. The article highlights the following tips to strike the right balance for your follow-up actions after you’ve submitted a resume.

1.)    Keep an eye on the “close date” of the job search. Most likely the individual filling the position has a ton of resumes coming in so don’t call before the close date. Rather than reaching for the phone immediately, wait about a week after the close date to let the dust settle. Five business days is the minimum you should wait before placing a phone call to follow up on your resume.

2.)    When you do follow up, know what questions to ask. Your questions shouldn’t be intrusive but could include: Have any decision been made yet? Is it OK to follow up again? What’s the time frame for the hiring process?

3.)    Don’t be annoying! If the job posting asks for no phone calls, then don’t call. The article also recommends that you don’t make more than one phone call – although you may be tempted to.

We blog often on resume tips for reliability engineers and predictive maintenance professionals. Check out this blog entry on tips to refresh your resume.