Accountemps Survey: Job Seekers Should Follow Up on Resumes Within Two Weeks

Accountemps Survey: Job Seekers Should Follow Up on Resumes Within Two Weeks

Job seekers who are hesitant to contact a prospective employer after submitting that resume shouldn't be, an Accountemps survey suggests. Eight in 10 senior managers (81 percent) interviewed encouraged candidates to follow up within two weeks of applying for a job. Only 1 percent of respondents said applicants should not check in with the hiring manager.

The survey was developed by Accountemps, the world's first and largest specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone interviews with more than 1,000 senior managers at companies with 20 or more employees.

Executives were asked, "How long should a job seeker wait to follow up with the hiring manager after submitting a resume?" Their responses:

One week or less       38% 

One to two weeks      43% 

Two to three weeks   12% 

Three weeks or more  6%   

Don't follow up    1%

"Employers value initiative and enthusiasm, and candidates show both when they take the extra step of following up after applying for a job," said Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of Human Resources Kit For Dummies® (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). "But how you contact a hiring manager is important -- be polite and respectful, and explain in specific terms why you feel you are the best match for the position."

Accountemps answers three common questions about following up with hiring managers:

1. How should I get in touch with the employer? Both email and phone are acceptable. An email can be a great tool for reminding hiring managers that you've applied for a job without seeming too pushy.

2. What should I say? Express your interest in the position and reiterate why you think you'd be a good fit for the organization. Cite specific professional accomplishments and in-demand skills you possess related to the job. The key is to highlight your qualifications and not simply ask whether the manager received your resume.

3. How frequently should I follow up? Persistence is good, but being a pest isn't. Don't follow up more than twice.