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Thread: Do you think calling makes a difference?

  1. #1
    Moderator Aurora_Sunset's Avatar
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    Question Do you think calling makes a difference?

    Just something I thought I'd pose to the forum since I'm curious as to other peoples' experiences with this. Calling about an application for a job.

    Every time I do a job hunt and tell my friends about all the places I've applied, they always ask, "well, did you call them back?" When I say no, they go into a lecture about how I have to call them. My personal experience with calling is this: I used to do it, but every single time I've called a place to ask about my application, I've gotten the same general response along the lines of "we're currently looking at applications and we'll call you if we need to." The way this has been said has ranged anywhere from a polite brush-off to a really rude "don't bother calling again, it won't make a difference." If I was applying for important corporate jobs where there are hundreds/thousands of applicants for a prime position, maybe I could see the value of getting your name in someone's mind. But positions in restaurants/retail, I honestly don't think it makes any sort of difference. I've applied to places that constantly have a "hiring now" sign in the window that have blown me off with the "looking through applications" line when I've called, and I've applied to places that I've never called and had them call me months later when they finally had an opening. My thought on places like this is basically that if they need you, they'll call you; if they don't, they won't, and no amount of your calling will make a difference. I'm thoroughly convinced that 5 seconds after they hang up, they don't even remember my name. I've never in my life gotten a job by calling up and asking about my application, and in turn, had them actually pull it up and look at it. And out of every time a friend tries to give me this "call them" advice, I have yet to hear them share a personal story about how this has actually gotten them a job at any point.

    This is just my take on it, but I'm curious how others feel about it. Do you always call places you've applied to, and has it ever actually made a difference?

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    Featured Member luscious sadie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do you think calling makes a difference?

    always and yes.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Laurisa View Post
    Money can't buy happiness, but poverty can't buy shit.

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    Default Re: Do you think calling makes a difference?

    Yes I always call I give myself every opourtunity

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    Veteran Member Discuntent's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do you think calling makes a difference?

    Any job I've gotten was usually out of being a regular at the place and getting to know the people, so when I put my application through and followed up, things went a little smoother. Anywhere else I usually just got the generic "looking through apps" reply...

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    Default Re: Do you think calling makes a difference?

    Depends on the job. I've called on restaurant jobs and often got them because of it. However, when it comes to corporate jobs, no it doesn't help. I know because I've called on many white collar jobs I really wanted and told them this and still didn't get the job.

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    Featured Member silk55's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do you think calling makes a difference?

    As a employer. Yes call. It means you care about the job your applying for
    "The point is, ladies and gentlemen, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right. Greed works" -GORDON GECCO

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    Veteran Member innes's Avatar
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    Default Re: Do you think calling makes a difference?

    I never do. I have worked for a couple companies who were hiring at the time. I worked at reception, I'd get a call "hey I applied for this job, bla bla bla" and I'd just be like "thanks for calling, we're going through the applications, we'll call you if you get an interview" kinda thing ... I never told the actual hiring people about it ... mostly cuz we got enough calls that it was annoying!
    From that, I learned not to call people. The application is there. Being pushy ... it never worked ... at least in the jobs I was in.
    InnesX

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    Default Re: Do you think calling makes a difference?

    If you call just to see the status of hiring someone, that would only influence me a little. On the flip side, if you called and in some way you were able to bring up something mentioned in the interview, I would be impressed. For example, if during the interview I mentioned how the position would require the person hired to be able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and stay organized in doing so, if when you called me a few days later you reiterated how in past jobs you were able to handle multiple tasks simulaneously, I now know 1) you know how to listen and interpret what someone tells you and 2) you must have a pretty good memory to remember I said that and your ranking among the canditates just increased. Increased among those who just called to see where I was at in the hiring process also.

    Saying that, I recommend to anyone on here, after an interview to immediately write down notes from the interview, focusing on things that the hiring manager said were important to him or her and in some way, try to address those important issues in the thank you letter to the interviewer, follow up phone call or a second interview. Speaking of thank you letters, while many people say those are immediately discarded so don't bother with them, I know many hiring managers who read them just to see how well you can write so I would recommend writing a thank you letter and asking someone to read it and offer suggestions on it. Several friends pof mine have asked me to do that for them.
    Last edited by billh; 10-19-2011 at 08:49 PM.

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    Default Re: Do you think calling makes a difference?

    For corporate jobs, I've never called because getting through to the big bosses that did the interviewing and make the decisions was always pretty much impossible. But I always email to thank them for the interview etc, and swing it in my favor by slipping in a few awesome things about myself in relation to what was discussed in the interview. I didn't have that many interviews with places before I got hired at my day job, so I'm going to think that it helped and continue to do it in the future when I change jobs. For non-corporate jobs, like restaurants and small business, I would definitely call. You want your name to stand out and for them to be curious to know more about you.


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    Default Re: Do you think calling makes a difference?

    I always e-mail them to thank them for the interview. I've heard it's better to write a letter and mail it, but I've never done it.

    Everyone says to call and ask about the job, but I always worry about being annoying, so I don't. This guy who works with me told me that he called the hiring manager over and over again, until she just got so annoyed that she hired him, so I guess it can work.

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    Default Re: Do you think calling makes a difference?

    Always and yes +1

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    Default Re: Do you think calling makes a difference?

    I always hound the shit out of them. It shows initiative and desire to work.

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    Default Re: Do you think calling makes a difference?

    Although almost every job I've ever got was through someone I knew, I have a friend who used to work as a recruitment consultant. He has now formed his own company teaching people to get back to work. He says that you have to call to chase your application up if you want any sort of real chance.

    If you are applying through a job board/ jobsite you can call almost instantly. Especially with the job market the way it is, most job get hundreds of applications and he assures me hardly any get looked at. It's more a first come first serve basis so if you're on the phone you are massively raising your chances of someone looking at your aplication.

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