Please be patient if you've sent out resumes.

[Randi]

I am retiring at the end of Dec . The timeframe my boss is using to replace me is: advertise now, interview through Sept, start date early to mid October for plenty of training time. So you won't be hearing back right away as hard as it is to wait.

Advertisement is over; received well over 100 replies. My boss expected quite a few but even she was surprised. She is reading over each & every one of them. In addition to doing her own work.

I answer the phone & am surprised at the number of calls to see if she has received their resume. Assume that she has, neither of us has the time to check, & if we did check on yours it may just go to the bottom of the pile for taking up our time.

The ad only gave a mailing address, please do not call looking for an e-mail address. There was no indication in the ad that resumes are going to an HR dept, so my boss would have to print off e-mailed resumes in between her other work. Assume that if e-mailed resumes were going to be accepted, the address would be in the ad.

Anyway, I just wanted to give some helpful advice as I know how difficult it is to be out of work. I hope everyone will find the job they want soon. Keep sending out lots of resumes, you never know how long it will be before you hear back.

 

[olena]

I am retiring at the end of Dec . The timeframe my boss is using to replace me is: advertise now, interview through Sept, start date early to mid October for plenty of training time. So you won't be hearing back right away as hard as it is to wait.

Advertisement is over; received well over 100 replies. My boss expected quite a few but even she was surprised. She is reading over each & every one of them. In addition to doing her own work.

I answer the phone & am surprised at the number of calls to see if she has received their resume. Assume that she has, neither of us has the time to check, & if we did check on yours it may just go to the bottom of the pile for taking up our time.

The ad only gave a mailing address, please do not call looking for an e-mail address. There was no indication in the ad that resumes are going to an HR dept, so my boss would have to print off e-mailed resumes in between her other work. Assume that if e-mailed resumes were going to be accepted, the address would be in the ad.

Anyway, I just wanted to give some helpful advice as I know how difficult it is to be out of work. I hope everyone will find the job they want soon. Keep sending out lots of resumes, you never know how long it will be before you hear back.

Over a year and counting with lots of applications and only one interview to show for it. Frustration is our daily companion.

Point well taken on the other stuff though. The only time DH has followed up on an application is when an acknowledgment letter came back affirming his application for the wrong job. A phone call cleared that up.


Congratulations on your approaching retirement....

 

[N&B'smom]

Good reminder! I've sent some out and I guess it shouldn't be surprising if I don't hear back right away.

 

[BelleWDW]

Randi-care to share what career you are retiring from?


I keep telling DH we can never afford to retire!

 

[Binnie]

I am the HR Manager for a small company, so I'd like to offer some advice, too!

• Follow the instructions in the ad. If the ad says not to call, dont call. If it says to apply in person, don't send an e-mail. Not following instructions may disqualify you from the position.
• If you're filling out an application, completely fill it out, and don't put "any position" when it asks what you're applying for. It sounds horrible, but I don't have time to chase down information from you to complete the application. It will go in the garbage if it is incomplete.
• If you're applying in person, dont be rude to the receptionist/security/whoever is receiving the application. I will find out, and I don't want a meanie working with us.
• If you're applying with a resume, spell and grammar check it! It shouldn't be more than a page or two, anyway, it's not that hard.

I don't mean to be mean, I know that lots of people need work, and I know they're eager, but there's only one of me, and I can only do so much at one time. I hope it helps someone to find a great gig.

 

[Topper]

Assume that she has, neither of us has the time to check, & if we did check on yours it may just go to the bottom of the pile for taking up our time.

How gauche

 

[Luv2Scrap]

I am the HR Manager for a small company, so I'd like to offer some advice, too!

• Follow the instructions in the ad. If the ad says not to call, dont call. If it says to apply in person, don't send an e-mail. Not following instructions may disqualify you from the position.
• If you're filling out an application, completely fill it out, and don't put "any position" when it asks what you're applying for. It sounds horrible, but I don't have time to chase down information from you to complete the application. It will go in the garbage if it is incomplete.
• If you're applying in person, dont be rude to the receptionist/security/whoever is receiving the application. I will find out, and I don't want a meanie working with us.
• If you're applying with a resume, spell and grammar check it! It shouldn't be more than a page or two, anyway, it's not that hard.

I don't mean to be mean, I know that lots of people need work, and I know they're eager, but there's only one of me, and I can only do so much at one time. I hope it helps someone to find a great gig.

OTOH... let them go ahead and be rude to the receptionist, if they're so inclined. Now they've shown their true colors before you make the mistake of hiring them!

 

[Mkrop]

I am retiring at the end of Dec . The timeframe my boss is using to replace me is: advertise now, interview through Sept, start date early to mid October for plenty of training time. So you won't be hearing back right away as hard as it is to wait.

Advertisement is over; received well over 100 replies. My boss expected quite a few but even she was surprised. She is reading over each & every one of them. In addition to doing her own work.

I answer the phone & am surprised at the number of calls to see if she has received their resume. Assume that she has, neither of us has the time to check, & if we did check on yours it may just go to the bottom of the pile for taking up our time. The ad only gave a mailing address, please do not call looking for an e-mail address. There was no indication in the ad that resumes are going to an HR dept, so my boss would have to print off e-mailed resumes in between her other work. Assume that if e-mailed resumes were going to be accepted, the address would be in the ad.

Anyway, I just wanted to give some helpful advice as I know how difficult it is to be out of work. I hope everyone will find the job they want soon. Keep sending out lots of resumes, you never know how long it will be before you hear back.

I am surprised by this statement bc when I was helping my DBro look for a job 2 years ago when he graduated college, most of the career sites recommended a follow up call to make sure the company received your resume.

 

[Luv2Scrap]

I am surprised by this statement bc when I was helping my DBro look for a job 2 years ago when he graduated college, most of the career sites recommended a follow up call to make sure the company received your resume.

That is what I thought I was taught, too...

 

[disykat]

I think this is a darned if you do, darned if you don't situation. Most people say you MUST follow through or your resume will be ignored in favor of those who show more initiative, but then you risk bothering someone like in the OP.
It's hard when you know you have the ability to do the job, but know that your resume is in a stack of several hundred and they may never even glance at it.

 

[mamacatnv]

I see both sides of this - however as an employer who placed the ad I do feel that you assume the responsibility to somehow acknowledge that you have received the resume's.
IMO a simple postcard or even an email if applicable would suffice and would be courteous especially since like you stated this is going to be a long drawn out process.

Binnie - I agree 100% I too am in HR and if you can't give me a completed application or a resume free of spelling errors I am not even going to bother. Also, don't show up here with said documents in your flip flops and hoochie mama shirt. I am not asking for a skirt or a suit but come on people have a little respect and decency, cover your belly button ring before entering.

 

[underdesea]

I see both sides of this - however as an employer who placed the ad I do feel that you assume the responsibility to somehow acknowledge that you have received the resume's.
IMO a simple postcard or even an email if applicable would suffice and would be courteous especially since like you stated this is going to be a long drawn out process.

QUOTE]

Exactly. Just as potential employees should show courtesy by spell-checking resumes and cover letters, following application instructions, etc., employers also should show a little common courtesy in return. I've found this to be sorely lacking in the current economy, however.

It goes without saying that a resume will not be acknowledged. Worse, I have been on interviews in which the employer has talked with me for more than an hour, given me his/her business card, even implied that I was on the short list of candidates ("I don't ask just anyone to follow up with me; you'll be hearing from me"). I have gone home feeling positive, followed up with a thank-you note and then -- nothing. I never hear from the person again.

Come on -- I've been on the hiring end; I know it's not pleasant to call a candidate you've interviewed and tell them they did not get the job. But I considered it the courteous thing to do because that person took his/her time to come in for the interview. Apparently, some employers today feel
that because they hold all the power in this economy, they don't need to show basic decency or courtesy. It's discouraging, and also a sad statement about the companies/interviewers themselves.

 

[DisneyBlonde]

Two years and two months of looking. 819 applications. Several interviews, but only a very small percentage given the number of applications. I've been patient.

 

[bumbershoot]

That is what I thought I was taught, too...

It's what everyone suggests, and has been since I was applying for even the most simple positions in the '80s.

...I do feel that you assume the responsibility to somehow acknowledge that you have received the resume's.
IMO a simple postcard or even an email if applicable would suffice and would be courteous especially since like you stated this is going to be a long drawn out process.

I agree.

This timeframe seems pretty long, compared to all the jobs hubby was applying for for 3 months. Everyone had immediate needs, and while they could wait around for the best person (or who they thought was the best person, in one case, but it turned out they'd misunderstood something about hubby and had higher-up pressure to hire some other guy...and 2 people have quit the team b/c of the guy they did hire), the timeframe was much quicker than 2 months.

Since your company is bucking two trends (not allowing people to follow-up and having such a long time-frame), it would really be good of you to acknowledge that to the people applying.

Also, don't dump the "lesser" resumes. If the people that you consider are best for the job are really good, they might be snagged by other employers before October, and if you've dumped the other resumes you'll have to start over again.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Follow the instructions in the ad. If the ad says not to call, dont call. If it says to apply in person, don't send an e-mail. Not following instructions may disqualify you from the position.

Excellent point. It shows the prospective employer you have difficulty (either by choice or by nature) taking direction or comprehending.

Come on -- I've been on the hiring end; I know it's not pleasant to call a candidate you've interviewed and tell them they did not get the job. But I considered it the courteous thing to do because that person took his/her time to come in for the interview

I've gotten the occasional e-mail, and one postcard and one letter indicating the position had been filled; and two stating my qualifications didn't match the position. And a couple of immediate-response e-mails stated that they would let me know in X days if they were going to follow through. But I'd applied for a lot more than just the dozen or so positions that offered some - even negative - response.

 

[ajk912]

I also wish that if you had an interview they would tell you WHY you didn't get the job. To me, it goes without saying if you just sent a resume and never got a call..then there is a zillion reasons I am sure why I didn't get hired. I don't get bothered by that. But if I have an interview, then no feedback..that bothers me. Even an email would be nice: "Thanks for your interest, we went with someone with better flexibility/more experience/lighter colored hair." I realize the last one could be a liability issue, joking on that one.

 

[marlynnp]

I also do my own hiring instead of using HR.
Oh boy do I have a ton of 'what not to do's'.


Keep a list of the ads you've responded to. I usually run my ads in the paper for 4 or 5 days and they appear on the internet for 30 days. I don't want a resume from you each day (this happens most often with those that respond via email). I will not consider you - you lack attention to detail.

Tailor your resume to the position you are applying for. If my ad is for a part-time administrator do not send me a resume stating that your objective is to find a fulll-time position in the medical field. I will not consider you - not only do you appear dumb, you obviously aren't applying for your dream job, lol.

Proofread, proofread, have a friend proofread. Spellcheck will only catch spelling errors not incorrect word usage. Your stated ability to complete work in a timely manor does not impress me. In addition, we are not located in a manor, so it is irrelevant. I will not consider you - you lack attention to detail.

Include a cover letter. Especially if requested in the ad! A cover letter is where you have the greatest opportunity to sell yourself. You should state the position you are applying for and where & when you saw the ad. Then tell a prospective employer how your experience makes you the best candidate. I always state in my ad to send a cover letter & resume. If you don't and your resume doesn't make my top 5, I will not consider you - you lack the ability to follow directions, I don't know if you can write a letter, and all those other people who did send letters rank higher.

 

[yoopermom]

I have been laid off from two teaching jobs in the past five years, and so have been through this process time and time again. I get around the "don't call to see if it's there" by sending it USPS where they have to sign for it, so at least I know it got there. (Especially in schools, where in the summer the secretary might be on vacation, who knows how often the mail gets picked up, etc...)

This has been the WORST summer for me for sending out tons of resumes, only getting a few interviews, and then not even getting a "no thanks" letter afterwards. I'll keep holding my head up, but it's not always easy...

Terri

 

[marlynnp]

I also wish that if you had an interview they would tell you WHY you didn't get the job. To me, it goes without saying if you just sent a resume and never got a call..then there is a zillion reasons I am sure why I didn't get hired. I don't get bothered by that. But if I have an interview, then no feedback..that bothers me. Even an email would be nice: "Thanks for your interest, we went with someone with better flexibility/more experience/lighter colored hair." I realize the last one could be a liability issue, joking on that one.

I do send out a generic 'you weren't chosen' letter but it only says I selected another candidate. I don't say why and I don't think you'd ever get a real reason from anyone, lol.


I'll give you a few from my last go around:

Shirts and a t-shirt are not interview wear. FAIL!!! (more than one person did not dress appropriately)

When I asked you on the phone if you could do formulas in excel and you said yes, I gave you an interview. When you're at that interview and I give you the test and you whip out a calculator! FAIL!!!

If you tell me you looked at our website but all you can tell me is the names of the owners and not what we do. FAIL!!! (she had other issues too)

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

I am retiring at the end of Dec . The timeframe my boss is using to replace me is: advertise now, interview through Sept, start date early to mid October for plenty of training time. So you won't be hearing back right away as hard as it is to wait.

Advertisement is over; received well over 100 replies. My boss expected quite a few but even she was surprised. She is reading over each & every one of them. In addition to doing her own work.

I answer the phone & am surprised at the number of calls to see if she has received their resume. Assume that she has, neither of us has the time to check, & if we did check on yours it may just go to the bottom of the pile for taking up our time.

The ad only gave a mailing address, please do not call looking for an e-mail address. There was no indication in the ad that resumes are going to an HR dept, so my boss would have to print off e-mailed resumes in between her other work. Assume that if e-mailed resumes were going to be accepted, the address would be in the ad.

Anyway, I just wanted to give some helpful advice as I know how difficult it is to be out of work. I hope everyone will find the job they want soon. Keep sending out lots of resumes, you never know how long it will be before you hear back.

You can't blame folks for being anxious with the way the economy is.....
You should have had applicants email or fax to your company without a company name.
I can't remember the last time I ever heard of a resume being sent via USPS. People prefer fax or email where you can get a confirmation of receipt.
IMHO silly way to request resumes if you didn't expect your phone to ring.