The application process isn’t finished once you’ve submitted your cover letter and resume—you should always follow up on an application by making a friendly, professional inquiry. This demonstrates to employers that you are serious about the position and that you are enthusiastic and motivated—and that’s exactly the kind of message you want to send.

You can manage your follow-up in a variety of ways—choose the option that seems to best suit your personality and situation:

Follow up by phone— This is one of the most traditional ways to inquire about a previous application. A quick phone call to the appropriate manager to check on the status of your application—and to thank him or her for the consideration—will reflect positively and could give you an edge over the competition.

Write a thank-you note— While often reserved for post-interview follow-ups, a thank-you note is still a good option for following up on an application. Make sure just a quick note that expresses your interest in the position and your appreciation for the opportunity. Visit in person—for local job opportunities, there’s nothing wrong with stopping by to check on the status of application. A friendly smile can go a long way!

Send an email—much less formal than a phone call thank-you note, an email may still be appropriate in some situations. An advantage to this option is that it makes it very easy for an employer to respond to your inquiry. However, this should be reserved for situations which you have not personally spoken with the person in charge of interviewing and hiring (in those circumstances, a phone call, thank-you note or in person visit is best).

Wait to follow up— Wait 1-2 days before following up on an application. You want to give the hiring manager enough time to review your application, but you don’t want to wait too long and miss an opportunity!

You can find even more tips to assist you in finding your new job by downloading our free Ultimate Job Seeker’s Guide from http://www.MyBackgroundCheck.com/JobSeekerGuide. The Ultimate Job Seeker’s Guide is packed with help from cover letters to growing you professional network. It’s a great tool for job seekers in any field.

Even if you have provided a cover letter and resume, you will often be required to fill out a job application. It may seem redundant to provide an employer with duplicate information, but this formality is an important one.

Following are a few important suggestions:

• Print neatly, using blue or black ink—your information must be legible! Even if you have filled out the same information multiple times for different applications, take care to keep your writing neat and consistent.
• Complete the entire application—don’t leave blank spaces! If you are unsure about specific details, turn the application in after you can verify the information you need.
• Proofread your application—make sure that you have spelled everything correctly and that you used proper grammar and punctuation.
• Be thorough—resist the urge to write “see profile” in the work experience section of your application!
• Recent experience should be listed first—this is true for both your job history and education.
• Provide excellent references—list professional references who will strongly recommend you to prospective employers and who will be able to detail your skills and strengths.
• Attach a copy of your background check report—providing a current background check report from a legitimate organization can be highly advantageous. It demonstrates confidence and candor, and is appreciated by recruiters.
• Sign the application—your application isn’t official unless it is signed!

Providing employers with a cover letter, resume and completed job application is an excellent way to demonstrate that you are serious about the position. Including a current background check report is icing on the cake!

TIP
With online applications, most employers prefer resumes in the form of a Microsoft Word document or PDF file.

You can find even more tips to assist you in finding your new job by downloading our free Ultimate Job Seeker’s Guide from www.mybackgroundcheck.com/JobSeekerGuide/. The Ultimate Job Seeker’s Guide is packed with help from cover letters to growing you professional network. It’s a great tool for job seekers in any field.