Applying for jobs: follow-up calls

[RoJoHen]

I was going to put this in the "Questions for Interviewers" thread, but I decided to make it it's own topic.

Scenario:

I am looking for a part-time bartending job to supplement my regular income. I saw an ad on craigslist last Wednesday that a local bar had "an immediate need for bartenders." The ad specified that they wanted people to apply in person, so on my lunch break the next day I went in and filled out an application. I talked to the owner about what kind of employee he was looking for (preferred availability, hours per week, etc), and he told me he would be making calls in the next couple days to set up interviews.

I gave him the weekend, but I didn't hear anything back. I wasn't really sure how long he was planning to wait before he started making calls. Some people say "a couple days" but really mean "a week or two."

Yesterday, I saw the same job ad posted on craigslist, and I think, "Well, if you really had an immediate need, you would have called me up already for an interview instead of posting the job again.

So I'm wondering...should I call? I know my mom was always big about teaching me to make follow-up calls after applying for a job, but everywhere I've worked, the hiring managers actually seem to hate follow-up calls. They get annoyed when an someone calls to check on the status of their application.

So I'm not sure what to do. I really want this job, but I don't want to come across as a pest.

 

[auntiehill]

He's probably posted the job in several places, to widen the pool of applicants. I would give it a few more days before even thinking of calling.

When I worked retail, I saw a few people blow their chances by calling and being rather rude about their inquiry. I've also seen people make pests out of themselves and put the boss off hiring them all together.

If you get hired, you'll get called. If you want to call and ask, make it very brief and polite, and just let them know that you are still interested.

 

[RoJoHen]

He's probably posted the job in several places, to widen the pool of applicants.

This was my first guess. It just struck me as odd considering he specifically told me he would be calling in a couple days because they were looking to hire somebody ASAP.

 

[Canadave]

I think the general rule of thumb, these days, is to email rather than call. A phone call can seem pushy and intrusive to a lot of people, but a quick, professional email comes off a lot better with most people.

 

[RoJoHen]

I think the general rule of thumb, these days, is to email rather than call. A phone call can seem pushy and intrusive to a lot of people, but a quick, professional email comes off a lot better with most people.

That would be great if this place had an email address listed anywhere. They have a Facebook page, but that doesn't seem like the right way to go either.

 

[Newspaper Taxi]

I was under the impression that follow-up calls were mandatory for getting a job and that people were usually, if not automatically, screened out for not calling? ("Mandatory" in the unwritten rule way, of course.)

 

[RoJoHen]

I was under the impression that follow-up calls were mandatory for getting a job and that people were usually, if not automatically, screened out for not calling? ("Mandatory" in the unwritten rule way, of course.)

This is what my mom used to tell me. Making a follow-up call showed that you were serious about getting the job, and that management would be more likely to hire you if you did it.

My actual work experience since then has taught me that management hates follow-up calls because they feel like they're being pestered by the applicants. If they want to call you in for an interview, they'll do it on their own time.

 

[Canadave]

^ I'm currently taking a post-grad college course, and my prof teaching us resume and interview skills said that calling is generally disliked by managers, yeah. That was why I suggested email before.

 

[Danoz]

In this economy, I'd call back until I was blue in the face and they finally told me to stop calling or set up another face-to-face... but when it's come to hunting down jobs in the past I'm rather... tenacious.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

What about a handwritten thank-you note? Snail mail, and handwritten notes, are less common these days and have class because not everyone bothers anymore. I think that could be a nice compromise--a way to stand out without being overly pushy. Don't be rude in it--just say thank you for the opportunity to interview, remind him why you would be a good fit for the opportunity, state that you would still be pleased/excited to work for him, but don't go further than that.

Watch your spelling and watch your handwriting if you go that route (do not get anyone else to write it for you, and use a nice quality pen, and your best penmanship), but I think that's a way to make yourself stand out without alienating anyone.

 

[JoeZhang]

I was under the impression that follow-up calls were mandatory for getting a job and that people were usually, if not automatically, screened out for not calling? ("Mandatory" in the unwritten rule way, of course.)

I have never heard this before - I've never screen anyone out because they haven't called me about a job I'm offering... As for telling if someone is serious, the quality of the application tells you about that...

 

[RoJoHen]

just say thank you for the opportunity to interview

I need to get an interview first!

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

You could tweak the wording to fit that occasion, such as saying, "I would very much enjoy the opportunity to interview." But I think a low-key, handwritten note would be a very classy, very different thing to do. It gets the point across but in a way that is not likely to be perceived as in-your-face.

 

[Yeoman Randi]

Rojo, I'd swing by there again and remind them that you are still interested. Just mho.

 

[RoJoHen]

I know. To be fair, I applied less than a week ago. Going in and saying something now feels too soon.

 

[FPAlpha]

A week isn't too long.

Whenever i applied for a job and haven't received at least a notification that they received my application after about 3-4 days i try to contact them politely and ask if they have got it and if there's interest/when can i expect an answer.

This is not dating a woman and this dreadful custom of waiting 3 days to call her.. it's about a job and unless they don't want someone with initiative waiting a week for a follow up call is way enough in my opinion.. call them, be polite and ask if they are still looking.

 

[JoeZhang]

Maybe it's different in the Germany but here in the UK with a lot of posts now, they simply put on the advert "If you haven't been contacted within six weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful", I know that is what I do with positions I need to fill. Also in my area, you'd be lucky if anyone had even *read* the application within the space of a week.

 

[RoJoHen]

Maybe it's different in the Germany but here in the UK with a lot of posts now, they simply put on the advert "If you haven't been contacted within six weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful", I know that is what I do with positions I need to fill. Also in my area, you'd be lucky if anyone had even *read* the application within the space of a week.

6 weeks? Good lord, I would have given up on it after 3.

 

[Huntingdon]

^ They say that, but basically if you haven't heard within a week then you haven't got the job.

I speak as someone who submitted an application a week last Wednesday, was interviewed the following wednesday, and was offered the job today

When we advertised a job and got over a 1000 applicants they still managed to narrow it down within a week.

Always follow up to get feedback though. It helps for next time.

Sometimes they offer you the job as well. I got rejected once, called up to find out why and so impressed them when they actually met with me that they offered me the job!