Comments on Always a Northerner: Help Me, Please!

If they gave you a timeline, wait until that amoun...

2009-05-06T15:24:00.000-04:00

If they gave you a timeline, wait until that amount of time has passed. Then there is no reason to not give a friendly call to say you wanted to check on the status of your application. If they didn't give you a timeline, I always think waiting 2 weeks and then giving that friendly call to check is appropriate. It shows you're interested without being annoying. I'd never just sit and wait around if you keep not hearing anything.

I have never applied to school-based jobs, but for...

2009-05-06T09:46:00.000-04:00

I have never applied to school-based jobs, but for #1 I think it's okay to put out a "soft" ask, like ..just wanted to check in on where you on in the process and let yuo know I am still very much interested.

For #2...I'd give it at least 10-14 days. Again, I don't know what is normal in your industry.

In this economy, every job posting is getting ZILLIONS of applicants - you have to gently separate yourself from the pack!

Like everyone before me said, it all depends on th...

2009-05-06T08:05:00.000-04:00

Like everyone before me said, it all depends on the industry. I'm in media, so you generally don't even get a "we have received your resume!" notification.

At the two-week mark, I would try to follow up via e-mail. Most HR people I've dealt with hate when people call. Because when you call out of the blue, they have no idea who you are or what you applied for. So they really can't give you much useful information. I find an e-mail is the subtlest way to get in touch without being irritating.

If you receive no response to the second e-mail, it's probably a given that you didn't get it, but you certainly won't hurt anyone by sending a final e-mail at the 4-week mark. The more people see your name, the more likely they are to send you SOME kind of response.

i think there's no problem with following up. let ...

2009-05-05T22:41:00.000-04:00

i think there's no problem with following up. let them know you're interested and you're just making sure they're not waiting on you for something. i think waiting around is the worst thing you can do - you want to show you're interested! :) good luck!

I have worked in two different industries, both di...

2009-05-05T21:07:00.000-04:00

I have worked in two different industries, both different than the one you're in, but my suggestion on job #1 to wait it out until the end of their timeline to contact them; for job #2, if you haven't heard from them, I would probably give them a call this week and say I was checking to see if they had everything they needed for my application and whatnot, and see what kind of an answer you get. Job #3, its probably too soon, I'd wait a week and see what happens. That's just me though.

Good luck!

I feel you. I have nothing to offer expect that we...

2009-05-05T20:05:00.000-04:00

I feel you. I have nothing to offer expect that we will get jobs! We must!

I wish I had some words of wisdom... Good luck!

2009-05-05T19:45:00.000-04:00

I wish I had some words of wisdom...

Good luck!

I agree with notsojenny. I feel your pain about ap...

2009-05-05T16:57:00.000-04:00

I agree with notsojenny. I feel your pain about applying for jobs and not hearing anything...

Oh man, I don't have much advice but I feel for yo...

2009-05-05T16:31:00.000-04:00

Oh man, I don't have much advice but I feel for you. Thank the lord I got the job where I interned b/c even that was too stressful for me.

Job #1 - if they said 2-4wks, give them that long ...

2009-05-05T15:13:00.000-04:00

Job #1 - if they said 2-4wks, give them that long before contacting them. but feel free to call the HR dept or email the hiring mgr on that 4wk mark if you haven't heard a peep

Job #2 - it's been just shy of 2 wks, i wouldn't stress. maybe monday shoot an email to HR "just to make sure they received your application info". they'll give you an idea then of what timelines they're working on (at least they should)

Job #3 - give them a couple of weeks, do the same as above.

every industry is different but right now so many people are moving slow on filling positions for a myriad of reasons, #1 being they're getting more applications than ever before and it takes that much longer to go through them all and narrow it down to who they want to speak to.

good luck and no matter what happens with these 3 keep up the applications and don't stop putting them out there until you have an offer in front of you! sounds like you've got a good chance at job #1!!

My experience is that if you don't hear anything, ...

2009-05-05T14:40:00.000-04:00

My experience is that if you don't hear anything, you have your answer. Many times you get the obligatory auto-reply (thank you for submission) and then that's it. This last go-around for me before we moved to Chicago I sent out about 12 resumes and CVs and got about two "not hiring at this time" and the rest (with the exception of my current job!) didn't send/call anything.

But we're in different industries - so there may be different protocols with your line of work.

Good luck!!