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Topic: How to follow up on a resume submission
| Author | Message |
| bookmap | Posted – 8/15/2007 2:53:05 PM | show profile | email poster I haven't been on the forums in a while after I took time to go to the University of Denver Pulishing Institute, but now I'm getting ready to move to NYC. I've sent out over 15 resumes to jobs posted on the usual publishing job boards, and after 10 days, still no response (YES I'm using an NYC address) I know I need to start following up on the applications, but how do I go about doing this? I'm sure most job postings receive hundreds of resumes that go unanswered, so should I be following up on each one? I've used my connections with faculty members from the publishing institute but all I've received are invitations for meetings, not job offers and I'm getting very frustrated! I'm hoping for some advice from my favorite publishing pros on here... |
| katita082 | Posted – 8/17/2007 2:51:31 AM | show profile I, too, have been asking myself this pressing question. Also, many of the job postings say "No Phone Calls" so I am afraid it may even be considered inappropriate to make a follow-up call. |
| writesonwater | Posted – 8/17/2007 3:02:50 AM | show profile If it says no phone calls, I wouldn't call. However, I'd definitelyfollow up on invitations for meetings. You are not going to get a job offer from a resume. Period. You may get a job offer from an interview, and you may get an interview from a meeting. Have a peer or adviser go over your resume and cover letter also -- with a fine tooth comb. And no response off 15 resumes? That's not that unusual in the current market. Keep your chin up and look for other things you can do -- adjust resume, TAKE MEETINGS, apply for other kinds of jobs or more entry level jobs if that's required. |
| writesonwater | Posted – 8/17/2007 3:06:14 AM | show profile Also, this is a good time to solicit meetings. THe majority of applicants in some fields are hired from the stack of resumes the hirer already has, from people that she already knows, not from ads. Even when an ad goes out, the person already in the stack has an in sometimes. If you're out of town, perhaps plan a trip to NY and schedule as many meetings as you can stand in that week. "I'll be in New York on business in three weeks and I'd like to talk with someone from your company as I'm impressed by your work in blablabla." |
| WinonaWriter | Posted – 8/17/2007 10:00:11 AM | show profile A twist on the question... I've applied for a few jobs recently via e-mail (as instructed in the job posting). The thing is, these ads asked for candidates to send resumes and writing samples to an e-mail address. Would it be cheesy -- or likely misconstrued -- if I e-mailed to follow-up and make sure that the e-mails with attachments were received and not caught in a spam filter? |
| bookmap | Posted – 8/17/2007 1:43:50 PM | show profile writesonwater thank you for the advice...I am going to New York at the end of August for a meeting with the marketing director at St. Martin's Press. He said there may not be a job opening, but he'll pass along my resume to other publishers - and I suppose that's the best way to get a job! I better schedule more meetings of the like... |
| writesonwater | Posted – 8/17/2007 2:22:24 PM | show profile Good luck in getting your meetings set up! What has helped me in similar situations is to look at it not like a game but like a science or an art I was learning more about -- I got curious instead of intimidated, wondering how the different meetings would go based on company, personality of interviewer etc. I have adopted a very upbeat, professional demeanor about it and consequently approach such meetings with the attitude that I am out to make a valuable contact with a colleague and to extend my network. This puts me on better footing than I had as a person desperate for employment .. ;) and I have gotten referrals and freelance jobs from these meetings. My followup note is likewise more confident and comfortable and courteous, no downside to that. |
