Do’s
& Don’ts After Applying for a Job
By Marc Belaiche, CPA, CA & Joseph
Thomas
Active
job seekers spend a great deal of time searching through job boards,
recruitment sites and other employment resources in the hopes of finding
positions that match their skills, knowledge and experience. It is not uncommon
for candidates to apply to just one position that looks perfect, or dozens of
positions that come close. This article explores an often overlooked area of the
search cycle: what to do after applying for a job.
Maintain
a log
When applying to multiple roles at
various companies, it’s important to maintain a detailed log or journal. This
application history will help candidates keep track of positions they’ve
applied for, ensuring a position isn’t applied to more than once. Companies may
repost an ad on various job boards over a number of weeks, so it’s critical to stay
organized.
Follow
up
When applying to a position, it is
always advisable to get the name of the hiring manager and address the cover
letter and resume to that person. Once the application has been submitted, job
seekers should follow-up with a phone call or email – even if the job posting
advises against doing so. Following up will reassure candidates that their application
and attachments were received successfully. It also demonstrates the
candidate’s professionalism and eagerness in pursuing the role.
Remain
accessible
When listing contact details on cover
letters, resumes or applications, ensure that the correct area code and
telephone number(s) are provided. If there’s more than one phone number, job
seekers should indicate at what times through the day they’ll be available at
each. Another important component is to ensure that voicemail is set up on
primary contact numbers. Recruiters and hiring managers typically connect with
hundreds of candidates. If they are unable to leave a voicemail message, they’ll
move on to other candidates and may not call back. As a general rule, job
seekers should set up their voicemail in a quiet environment. A clear, concise,
professional sounding message is most effective.
The
perfect job
Candidates need to remember that even if
they’ve applied to that ‘perfect’ job, they mustn’t peg all their hopes on just
one application. They should continue applying to other relevant positions within
their field of interest, so as not to limit their chance of success.
Be
prepared
Job seekers need to be well-prepared by
having their resume, references, work portfolio/samples as well as formal
business attire ready for an interview – with little notice.
Maintaining
contact with one’s references is important, especially when actively searching
for a job. It is advisable to reach out and keep them in the loop on the
companies they could expect to hear from. Not many people would appreciate receiving
a surprise call about a reference check on someone they haven’t been in touch
with for a long time.
Maintain
a routine
Job seekers who are actively applying
to positions should routinely check their business correspondence – ideally
twice a day during business hours to ensure urgent messages are responded to
promptly. In the same way, candidates must respond to such messages in a timely
manner. Occasionally, recruiters will need to fill a position very quickly, and
this may be a candidate’s only chance to reach them in time.
Assertive,
not aggressive
When following up with hiring managers
or recruiters, it’s in the best interests of candidates to convey enthusiasm about
the role(s) for which they have applied. However, when checking the status of an
application, going beyond one call or email each week is not advisable.
Candidates who are overly aggressive diminish their chances of receiving a
favourable response.
Continue
to research
After applying for a position, continue
to research the company and the role. Keep up-to-date with the latest company
news, events, products and services which will aid in your preparation for a
potential interview.
Conclusion
The one component that is out of a job
seeker’s control is timing ─ in most cases having to wait for a response is
inevitable. Following these relatively simple tips after applying for work will
help candidates stay organized and maximize their chances of success.
***********************************************************
Marc Belaiche is
a CPA, CA and is President of TorontoJobs.ca, an Internet recruitment business
and recruiting firm located in the Greater Toronto Area in Canada. Marc
has been in the recruitment industry since 1995. TorontoJobs.ca allows
companies to post their positions online, search a resume database to find
candidates, provides outplacement services and full temporary and permanent
recruitment services. TorontoJobs.ca also allows candidates to search and apply
to positions directly online and get career, interviewing and resume tips all
at no charge. Marc is also President of TorontoEntrepreneurs.ca, an
organization geared towards business owners (see www.TorontoEntrepreneurs.ca) and has the annual Toronto
Entrepreneurs Conference (see www.TorontoEntrepreneurs.ca/conference). You can reach Marc at marc.belaiche@torontojobs.ca and check out TorontoJobs.ca at www.TorontoJobs.ca.
Joseph
Thomas is a HR/Recruitment Professional who works at www.TorontoJobs.ca, and can be reached at joseph@torontojobs.ca