by Kevin Donlin - Guaranteed Resumes - Click for Info

Any job worth having is worth competing for. Which means the resume you just submitted was probably one of 100 or more the employer will read.

How can you stand out from the crowd?

Follow up!

If you're truly interested in a position, follow up persistently after submitting your resume and cover letter. Never sit by the phone and hope for a call.

Here's how it works. If you don't receive a response within five days of sending your resume and cover letter, send a follow-up letter with another copy of your resume.

While there's no letter that will work in every situation, you can use the one below as an example of how to "re-apply" for a job and restate your enthusiasm.

--

Dear Employer,

I am writing to ensure you received my resume, mailed April 11, 2001. I am extremely impressed with your firm and want to re-emphasize my strong desire to work for you as a Store Manager.

In my present retail management position, I devised new procedures that cut training time for new hires by two days, while greatly increasing efficiency in our operations. This program, to be adopted regionally, will save our Detroit store $45,000 this year.

My recently completed Associate's Degree in Retail Management, done while working full-time, gives me the academic training to bolster my five years of hands-on experience.

I look forward to hearing from you soon, and will call your office this Thursday to answer any questions you may have. Thank you for your time and consideration.

--

If you're especially gung ho, follow your follow-up letter with a phone call. But keep two things in mind:

* There's a fine line between showing strong interest in a position ... and stalking. Don't call every other day or show up unannounced in the lobby, to name two bad examples. One call per week will suffice until the company makes a decision.

* The hiring manager won't know you from Adam when you call -- he or she has just read 100 resumes, remember? Have a 15-second pitch ready that explains who you are, what job you're calling about and why you're so interested.

Remember -- no home run was ever hit with a checked swing. You can hit a home run in your job search if you swing hard, and that means following up with employers persistently.

Best of luck to you!

Kevin Donlin is President of Guaranteed Resumes.

Since 1996, he and his team have provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in all 50 states and 23 countries. Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, CBS MarketWatch, The Wall Street Journal's National Business Employment Weekly, CBS Radio, and many others.

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