Note to Job Applicants

[NMAmy]

Please do not call the person who is hiring and say, "I sent in my application and I was just calling to see what time you wanted to interview me."

The answer: Never now, thanks. I've had this happen not just once but multiple times. Is this some new advice being given to job hunters?

 

[ckay87]

Wow, it's interesting you brought this up. My son, 17, is applying for his first jobs. He put applications in and now DH and several others are encouraging him to call and follow up. I disagree with them.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I think that there is a difference between following up and being forceful about it. Definitely doesn't give a good first impression. I actually like to have people follow-up with just making sure that we received their information and I think it is nice when they offer any additional information. It doesn't mean they will get the job, but it starts things off nicely. But, it also depends on the company. I think that there is a real shortage of handwritten notes both Thanking for the opportunity and even as an introduction after applying (kind of like a letter of interest). Those are what impress me the most.

Not sure if it is a trend as I honestly have never had someone say that to me. I have had the people that won't stop calling to check on things - one call is sufficient but some people keep going and going...

 

[BCV513]

That's what happens when snowflakes grow up. They can't imagine that someone wouldn't interview them.

 

[bicker]

Different employers react differently to different approaches. As bad as the employment situation is, it isn't surprising to see applicants being fervently earnest.

 

[disneyfans95]

Please do not call the person who is hiring and say, "I sent in my application and I was just calling to see what time you wanted to interview me."

The answer: Never now, thanks. I've had this happen not just once but multiple times. Is this some new advice being given to job hunters?

Amen. I am a hotel GM and I get random calls all the time like that.

The #1 mistake though is the parents that bring their kid in and try to be part of the interview process. With follow up calls, made by the parent!

 

[MIGrandma]

I can't imagine calling after I sent in a resume and asking them when they want to interview me. Wow. I do think it's good to call and follow up, to simply ask if the resume was received and that you're still very interested in the job.

 

[AndreaDM]

With follow up calls, made by the parent!

My husband runs a garden center and hires a lot of high school and college kids for summer help. They all start at minimum wage but a few years ago a father of a kid he had just hired called and told him in no uncertain terms was his son going to work for less than $10 an hour. He had just graduated high school and this was his first ever job. DH told him, good luck with that, see ya! I've always wondered what happened to that kid.

 

[BlueIrish]

You can't blame people for trying whatever they can. I would never be that bold as to call and ask that question. But I always think its a good idea to follow up.

I'm glad I got a good job when I did. There is a real lack of professionalism in the HR area.
My favorite when I was in the market for a job, is the hiring manager being 40 minutes late to an interview. As if their time is the only thing that matters.

 

[NotUrsula]

I've seen this particular tactic encouraged by outside sales technique books. The idea is that in sales you should always go in expecting yes, and that quite often the person who you are speaking with will just be swept along by your self-confidence and go along with it.

Personally I think it's a large bucket of hogswill, but sales motivation people manage to sell a lot of books. I guess it works in some situations, but since most outside sales positions are straight commission, what does a sales manager have to lose by hiring the guy who comes on with this approach? It's different when you actually have to pay the person.

 

[NMAmy]

I've seen this particular tactic encouraged by outside sales technique books. The idea is that in sales you should always go in expecting yes, and that quite often the person who you are speaking with will just be swept along by your self-confidence and go along with it.

Personally I think it's a large bucket of hogswill, but sales motivation people manage to sell a lot of books. I guess it works in some situations, but since most outside sales positions are straight commission, what does a sales manager have to lose by hiring the guy who comes on with this approach? It's different when you actually have to pay the person.

This is not a sales position so it's not actually considered a plus to have that kind of personality. To me, it feels like I'm being bullied into granting an interview and it makes me dig my heels in. I'm not swept away by self-confidence apparently.

Thanks for the info--since it's been happening so frequently, I figured it must be listed in some kind of self-help book.

 

[bicker]

Folks looking for jobs are continually reminded that looking for a job is basically selling themselves.

 

[FireDancer]

I can't imagine calling after I sent in a resume and asking them when they want to interview me. Wow. I do think it's good to call and follow up, to simply ask if the resume was received and that you're still very interested in the job.

This is what I think, especially if you submitted your application through a job portal. Calling to follow up, good. Calling and acting as though you are entitled to an interview, not so much.

 

[DMickey28]

Sales position or no sales position that question is rude and presumptous. Calling to follow up is great but not just jumping in and assuming they are going to interview you.

My DH has been in sales most of his career and he is very "salesy" (pushy?) when persuing a job but never in a million years would he do that.

 

[MerMom60_94]

I think there are a lot of people out there right now who are out of work and looking for a job for possibly the first time in years. Perhaps, since you are in HR, you could tell those people what is an acceptable way to stand out from other applicants. The applicants you are talking about may be misguided but they may very well be following bad advice for lack of experience. I know I, for one, haven't looked for a job since before the internet took off. The last time I applied for anything we used paper resumes. If I lost my job right now I wouldn't know where to begin because so much has changed. Perhaps these people are in the same boat.

 

[blanq]

Calling and saying "I recently sent you an application and copy of my resume, and was wondering if I might be able to set up a time to talk with you about the position you have available?" is a lot different than calling and asking when your interview will be. The first is totally appropriate and the later totally presumptuous and inapproriate.

 

[bicker]

Perhaps, since you are in HR, you could tell those people what is an acceptable way to stand out from other applicants. The applicants you are talking about may be misguided but they may very well be following bad advice for lack of experience. I know I, for one, haven't looked for a job since before the internet took off. The last time I applied for anything we used paper resumes. If I lost my job right now I wouldn't know where to begin because so much has changed. Perhaps these people are in the same boat.

 

[NMAmy]

I think there are a lot of people out there right now who are out of work and looking for a job for possibly the first time in years. Perhaps, since you are in HR, you could tell those people what is an acceptable way to stand out from other applicants. The applicants you are talking about may be misguided but they may very well be following bad advice for lack of experience. I know I, for one, haven't looked for a job since before the internet took off. The last time I applied for anything we used paper resumes. If I lost my job right now I wouldn't know where to begin because so much has changed. Perhaps these people are in the same boat.

I'm not an HR person. Where I work, part-time positions are filled directly by the supervisor for that position. Full-time positions are filled by a committee that is made up of people in different kinds of positions.

I'm busy doing other stuff--I don't really have the time or the inclination to coach job applicants.

 

[bumbershoot]

I do think it's good to call and follow up, to simply ask if the resume was received and that you're still very interested in the job.

Right.

But I can easily see that someone who is nervous, who needs and wants a job, THAT job, could mix it up on the phone. And that the wrong thing could come out of their mouth.

To me, it feels like I'm being bullied into granting an interview and it makes me dig my heels in. I'm not swept away by self-confidence apparently.

I just hope you're not losing good people because it's bugging you. I would hope that you could put a bubble around you, and not get annoyed at something like this (that could so easily be caused by nerves and WANTING that job so much). My sis in law is a lawyer, and she puts a protective layer around her when she has to deal with things that irritate her. It's BEYOND professional, and is amazing to witness. She wouldn't let some silly personality difference come between her and an otherwise fine candidate.

Folks looking for jobs are continually reminded that looking for a job is basically selling themselves.

Exactly.



But I think we see so often here the difference between what different HR people want! To some, they can't imagine xyz. To others, candidates who do NOT do xyz won't be considered. Threads like this happen so often, I just wish that all HR people, all job-givers, could realize that the abilities of the candidate are the most important thing for getting into the initial interview. Not what they might or might not do in those contacts, IMO. And personality stuff can be worked out during further interviews when they meet the coworkers (I know that not all jobs do this, but hubby's job interviews always go to 3 interviews as he meets more and more people), to see if the coworkers/manager thing the applicant is a good fit.

To me, it's not appropriate to vet people after digging in your heels because they grate on your nerves...

 

[INDISMOM]

Please do not call the person who is hiring and say, "I sent in my application and I was just calling to see what time you wanted to interview me."

The answer: Never now, thanks. I've had this happen not just once but multiple times. Is this some new advice being given to job hunters?

Here are a few other pointers:

If you come to fill out an application, bring a pen (this indicates to me you are prepared) and don't look like you just rolled out of bed.

Fill out the application completely and don't bring your mom, dad, friend, boyfriend, husband, etc with you to fill out the application -- we don't have room for all of those people. I will be more than happy to give you the application to take home to fill out and drop off/mail at a later time.