Dear Ed,
I know that I need to follow up after sending out my resumes, but how do I do that if the posting says, “No calls?” Does that only apply to people who haven’t sent in resumes or should I send a follow-up email, instead?
Lisa, Morgantown, WV
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Dear Lisa,
When you apply for posted jobs, following up isn’t mandatory! It doesn’t usually change the status of your application—that is, if you’re in the reject pile, they probably won’t move you from there to the “call for an interview” pile, though if you’re a maybe, and you take the initiative to call, it could bump you to that interview pile. Checking in is more important when you request an informational interview with an editor or with human resources if you haven’t heard back after a week or two.
But if there’s an open position that you applied for, the editor will get in touch with you if she’s interested. If the post doesn’t say “no phone calls,” then it’s fine to try calling or e-mailing two weeks after you first sent in your cover letter, resume, and clips to make sure they received everything and to see if they have any questions for you. But it’s not necessary, and odds are, if you haven’t heard back, it’s not because your materials got lost in the shuffle. Hate to say it, but it usually means they’re just not that into you!
If the post says “no phone calls,” you can try sending an e-mail, but it’s unlikely that you’ll hear back.
The best advice: Just sit tight after applying, and if you don’t hear back, revisit your resume and cover letter to see how you can improve them. That way, you’ll be more likely to hear back the next time you apply for a job!
Love,
Ed
