ABR Blog

In real estate, all agents know the importance of  “location, location, location”.  Property that’s highly visible often sells faster than hard to find real estate.  In your job search, you are selling yourself. In order to make yourself highly visible, and get hired, you need to “follow-up, follow-up, follow-up”.

One of the most challenging things about following up on an application or resume is getting past the gatekeeper – assistants and receptionists who screen calls. It’s their job to make sure only the important calls get put through. You hear common responses like, “she’s busy” or “she’s in a meeting”.

Here are 5 follow-up tips to help you bypass the gatekeeper and reach the hiring authority:

• Ask when it is best to call back. Keep trying at that time every day for 5 business days in a row.
• Ask for the person by first name. Be confident, a voice with authority might get you through right away.
• Call when the gatekeeper is likely to be out of the office – early in the morning, at lunch, or after hours. There’s a good chance the person you are trying to reach answers their own phone after hours.
• When asked about what you are calling about, tell the gatekeeper you’ve been corresponding with the hiring manager and they are expecting your call (DON’T say this UNLESS you have sent an application or resume FIRST).
• If all else fails, ask the gatekeeper for help. Explain that you’ve been trying to reach the hiring manager for some time and you wonder if they have any suggestions on how you can speak to them.

Go on, give it a try.  Using these tips will help you gain an edge over others vying for the same position.