Is it customary to call a company you applied at to confirm they received your resume?

[PingSpike]

Its been two weeks at this point...I know its possible they aren't interested, but I just want to make sure they received my resume and cover letter from the website I submitted them through. I was well qualified for the job so I would be surprised if I didn't get an interview at least. I suppose its possible they are merely waiting for more applicants before moving forward, since I applied two weeks ago and the ad is posted on the site until Oct 1st.

 

[dug777]

Nope.

They usually ket you know if you ticked the box asking to be told, but they HATE being hassled about it.

Two weeks is nothing, especially since the job is still open.

Are you a young'un? First time applying?

 

[woodie1]

It may be a month before you hear from them and that may be only a letter of thanks. I would strongly suggest you do not phone them even if you never hear from them. You did put a return address on the envelope right.

 

[ScottyB]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
Its been two weeks at this point...I know its possible they aren't interested, but I just want to make sure they received my resume and cover letter from the website I submitted them through. I was well qualified for the job so I would be surprised if I didn't get an interview at least. I suppose its possible they are merely waiting for more applicants before moving forward, since I applied two weeks ago and the ad is posted on the site until Oct 1st.

Write them a letter explaining that you are still interested in the position and that you wonder if they had reviewed your resume.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: ScottyB

Originally posted by: PingSpike
Its been two weeks at this point...I know its possible they aren't interested, but I just want to make sure they received my resume and cover letter from the website I submitted them through. I was well qualified for the job so I would be surprised if I didn't get an interview at least. I suppose its possible they are merely waiting for more applicants before moving forward, since I applied two weeks ago and the ad is posted on the site until Oct 1st.

Write them a letter explaining that you are still interested in the position and that you wonder if they had reviewed your resume.

I really wouldn't. You just annoy them with paperwork/hassle that really isn't neccessary.

2 weeks is no time at all, ESPECIALLY since applications haven't closed, and won't for months.

Look back at the application & see if you completed the details to be notified of acceptance, or if it mentions anything like this. If there's nothing, i'd wait until a week before it closes, to give yourself time to re-apply, and then ask them, but here for most things they don't really start considering apps until the closing date, and i've heard back up to a month after the closing date...

 

[ArchCenturion]

Seems to me like it might also depend on the type of job that you are applying for. If your company is McDonald's then you better be fvcking calling them 2x a day if you want that job. However if you are apply for some Engineering job, then it will take them awhile to process your application verify that you are who you say you are and such, and if they want you, they will call you.

What is this job you have applied for?

 

[Stuxnet]

I would most certainly NOT contact them. If they said no phone inquiries, then they mean it. Ignoring that request is a sign to them that you can't follow simple instructions and may be high maintenance.

Also, like dug said, it's only been a few weeks. Sometimes it can take months for them to even get to the next phase of the process. It sucks, but most companies could really care less about your own personal time/needs. Sorry .

 

[PingSpike]

I understand. To clarify, the application was submitted through a job website which I presume emailed it to them. Its an entry level sounding computer tech position, so I wouldn't think there would be that much involved. But I understand they sometimes like to do all interviews at once.

 

[jlbenedict]

What type of job / position? What company? Was it for a contract?

I'll give you a scenerio to think about and let you decide if you should call:

Lets say, Company ABC, Inc. publishes numerous job openings (System Admin, Engineer, Analyst, Programmer, etc.. etc..).
The company uses Monster.com and Dice, for example.
The company then recieves all these submissions from applicants, such as yourself.

*(Here is where it gets sneaky)*

Company ABC now has a pile of resumes. Alot of them are very qualified applicants. But, before the company even posted the job postings, they had already had an idea of who they are going to hire and fill the positions with.
Behind the scenes, company uses this "filler" resumes to draft up their proposal and make a bid on a contract.
Basically, the company needs as many resumes and applicants as possible (Even if they had NO intentions of interviewing you) to present to the client, in hopes of pursuading them to award the company with the contract.

Company then wins the contract; never contacts you at all, because you were not in the running to begin with. Other people get hired; probably already been interviewed prior to the jobs even posted on the job source sites.

 

[PingSpike]

I don't think that applies to this case, at least not exactly like that. The company is pretty small, they're only advertising two positions. They are on monster.com, but I found them on a smaller state only job site. I just wanted to confirm they received the resume and cover letter and that its not stuck in limbo somewhere.

 

[jlbenedict]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
I don't think that applies to this case, at least not exactly like that. The company is pretty small, they're only advertising two positions. They are on monster.com, but I found them on a smaller state only job site. I just wanted to confirm they received the resume and cover letter and that its not stuck in limbo somewhere.

You could see if there is an email address posted with the job posting, and send a followup email. I know some companies will withhold an email address as well as phone numbers.

My little scenerio above is something on a larger scale, so yeah.. it probably wouldn't related to your situation. In the contract world though, its common.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: jlbenedict

Originally posted by: PingSpike
I don't think that applies to this case, at least not exactly like that. The company is pretty small, they're only advertising two positions. They are on monster.com, but I found them on a smaller state only job site. I just wanted to confirm they received the resume and cover letter and that its not stuck in limbo somewhere.

You could see if there is an email address posted with the job posting, and send a followup email. I know some companies will withhold an email address as well as phone numbers.

My little scenerio above is something on a larger scale, so yeah.. it probably wouldn't related to your situation. In the contract world though, its common.

Yeah, I've heard of things like that before. In my states economy its not common, but that doesn't mean its out of the realm of possibility.

There was no contact email on the ad I answered, it just had an option to apply through the site. But I found their ad on monster as well, which did have the email, was posted the same day and said nothing about phone inquiries one way or the other. I'm thinking maybe I'll just drop an email to confirm.

Only reason I've started fretting about this is another job I picked out last night to apply for said it was posted until the end of the month and was removed as of this morning. I really felt I would be good for the position based on the description...obviously their HR department may feel differently and thats fine. I just wouldn't want to be excluded because some one forgot to check the websites special mailbox or the like is all.

 

[sunase]

At any of the places I've worked, the number posted would just go to a secretary or someone similarly low level anyway. The people making the final call would never even hear about it.

 

[sygyzy]

It is not customary.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
I don't think that applies to this case, at least not exactly like that. The company is pretty small, they're only advertising two positions. They are on monster.com, but I found them on a smaller state only job site. I just wanted to confirm they received the resume and cover letter and that its not stuck in limbo somewhere.

In that case, most companies have a hiring policy that precludes them from actually hiring anyone until the cut off date for applications has passed, which is to their own advantage since it maximises the time for applicants to apply, and they clearly don't need someone to fill the position for quite some time

It's extremely bad policy for them to take down an application before this date, UNLESS they've stated this is how it works, that the application date is subject to them accepting a certain number of people before this time...

Anyway, an emailed enquiry closer to the time shouldn't annoy them too much, and will certainly give you peace of mind

 

[PingSpike]

Yeah, I think I'll wait another couple weeks and then just send them an email. The ad mentions the company is moving to a new location in 2007 (actually closer to where I live, its currently about 45 minutes away) which makes me think that this position may not even really be needed until then.

 

[Sentinel]

If they want you, they will call you. IMO you can call and ask to speak with the hiring manager, but he probably won't answer.

 

[NanoStuff]

The best strategy is to keep phone spamming them until they finally give in and say "fine, you're hired, just stop calling us".

 

[PingSpike]

I broke down and e-mailed them. They responded asking for an interview within two hours.