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Subject:RE: No job response -- what would you do? (long) From:"Sam Beard" <sam -dot- beard -at- ctes -dot- com> To:<marlynrogers -at- gmail -dot- com> Date:Fri, 20 Oct 2006 12:51:28 -0700
Hey All,
Just a note, here. I think that would only be shooting herself down
without doing a follow-up. Everything I've heard and read about trying
to find a job says to follow up on things when you send a resume in to a
company. Another point is that, from some other things I've read, many
companies only review a VERY small number of resumes that come in from
job postings/boards.
Now, even if those two things are incorrect, I can personally vouch
for the follow-up approach. I am only in my current job because I DID
follow-up, repeatedly. I saw a notice about the position and emailed the
company with a brief description of my experience and asking if I could
send in my resume. I was told yes, that would be good. After I sent in
the resume, I received a response of basically thanks, but no thanks.
The company was looking for a technical writer, but also a Web designer.
I sent another message stating while I had considerable experience as a
technical writer, I freely admitted that I had no experience as a Web
designer. I DID have some initial limited training on some Web
applications/technologies, though, and I was very willing to learn. The
next message stated that she agreed I had a solid background as a tech
writer, but that they wanted someone strong in both fields and were
willing to wait for the right candidate. She also said to send in my
salary requirements and, if things changed, she would forward along my
information. I sent back the information and again stated I would be a
good fit for the position and stated my desire to at least have the
opportunity to present myself, if possible. I didn't get another email
response the next day, so I wondered if something went wrong somewhere.
A bit later, there was a phone message on my cell phone stating that the
company president wanted to speak with me (small company). We spoke for
about 15 minutes and he stated they'd be willing to teach me the Web
design stuff if I was willing to learn. I responded in the affirmative,
and he later asked when I could come in for an interview. This all
started Wednesday night and the interview was Monday morning. By the
afternoon, I had the job offer and was on my way here.
So, if I had not been persistent in the first place, I never would've
made it here. I say it doesn't hurt TOO much to try and contact someone
and might very well pay off in spades. Just remember there's still a
limit to that and not to be TOO persistent/contact too often.
Sam Beard
Technical Communications - Special Projects
CTES, LP
936 521-2241
Click the logo or link to help me raise money to cure Multiple Sclerosis
when I ride my bicycle in the BP MS 150 April 21-22, 2007!
On 10/19/06, Martha Rogers <marlynrogers -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
> Three weeks ago today, I submitted a cover letter and resume to a
> local software company. The job seemed very well-suited to my work
> experiences and capabilities. Initially, I'd found the posting through
> a little ingenuity and a good memory. I made a mental note about this
> company while reading a newspaper article a few years ago. Sadly, when
> my company started laying off people a few weeks ago, I figured it was
> time to start looking. I did some googling and found the Web site of
> the company I'd read about a few years back, despite their name having
> changed. Their employment page listed several open positions,
> including the one that seemed perfect for me. This isn't a huge
> company; I think they employ about 30 people. When I e-mailed my
> resume and cover letter, I used the company's employment@ e-mail
> address provided on the Web page, marking the message for a read
> receipt. Subsequently, I found the same position advertised on
> Dice.com. After a week without getting a read receipt for my message,
> I used the e-mail address of the POC on the Dice.com listing to send a
> second resume and cover letter. In the second message, I expressed
> concern that my first message might not have been received and offered
> apologies for sending a second message.
>
> While I understand that not receiving a read receipt doesn't
> necessarily mean a message didn't get read (for example, reading via
> the preview pane in Outlook), I am wondering what, if anything, I
> should do now? I would like to call the guy identified as the POC on
> Dice but don't want to seem pesky or pushy. But, Mom taught me that
> followup is important after applying for a job. I'm pretty sure that's
> how I got my job at KFC. Granted, that was high school and about 30
> years ago but a week after I dropped off my application, she drove me
> back to the KFC, waited in the car while I asked to speak to the
> manager, and when I got back in the car, I had a job. But, I digress.
>
> I really think I'd like this job; I'd at least like to get an
> interview. The position no longer shows up on Dice.com. The company's
> employment page lists the same undated positions as when I first
> visited over three weeks ago. I haven't had to look for work in 12
> and a half years. The whole job search process is oppressive to me.
> Frankly, I'm not very good at it. Would you call the POC? Or do
> *anything* to follow up?
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
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