Job Search

Follow-up and Organization

Successful job-hunters follow-up, follow-up, follow-up. It is not enough to make a connection or submit your resume. Following-up gives you the opportunity to really show your interest, re-assert your qualifications and most importantly, to establish a positive relationship. You may be worried about appearing too desperate or perhaps pushy, but if you follow-up in a timely, professional and courteous manner then you will likely appear simply interested, thus making a positive impression.

Go to QuintCareers.com Follow Up All Job Leads for additional tips and strategies.

Be aware that a follow-up has the potential to become a screening interview on the spot, so you should always do your research and be prepared.

You may consider visiting our Interview Skills topic to help you prepare to talk to potential employers.

Job Search Log

In order to follow-up effectively, make connections and keep up with the opportunities you have pursued, you will need a system of organization. It will not look good if you receive a call from a potential connection or hiring manager and you cannot recall who they are or when and how you connected with them. At the minimum, you should keep a calendar and contacts list, but you may also want to create a Job Search Log where you can document your actions and follow-up results for the connections, leads and postings you are pursuing.

You can search online for samples and templates for Job Search Logs and you may consider creating separate logs for connections and job postings as they may have different requirements. Below is a list of Job Search Log requirements that you may want to keep in mind:

• Company
• Contact Person and Contact Information
• Referring Source
• Dates you made contact or submitted resume
• Follow-up dates with details or summary of contact
• Position Title
• Position Requirements