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Use tact when following up on your resume

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February 05, 2012|By Patricia Hunt Sinacole

In general, after sending in a resume for a job opening, is it OK to e-mail the company a week or so later to say you are still very interested? A friend told me to do this, but it just seems pushy to me. Is there a precedent for this? Is it tactless?

One reason I’m wondering right now is because I recently found a job opening that looks like it would be a great fit. I e-mailed my resume, but later that afternoon I noticed a fresh link where you submit your resume on the company’s internal website. I’m wondering if I better get in touch again since I used their “previous method’’ to send in my resume.

I agree with your friend. Following up in a professional way is a recommended next step. But there is a gentle balance between expressing interest and inquiring about the next steps in the selection process and being too aggressive and inappropriate.

In your specific situation, I would probably have resubmitted my resume using the new link that later became available to job seekers. Sometimes these links are created to direct resumes to one certain mailbox or individual. You want to make sure that your resume lands on the right desk.

If you have an internal contact, I would recommend sending that individual a quick e-mail with the job (and job number if there is one) in the subject line. That internal contact may recommend using the link to submit your resume and flag your application to hiring managers.

Lastly, aggressive follow-up can be tacky, rude, and concerning. However, sending a professionally crafted e-mail summarizing your continued interest and identifying the available job can be a positive in your favor.