A smart ending sentence to include in your cover letter to apply for a job is: I will call you in a few days to ensure you received this letter. What makes this sentence smart is that you proactively give yourself a reason to call your prospective employer. Mark your calendar for about three days after sending your cover letter and resume, then, rather than waiting for the employer to call you, you call the employer. While your identifiable reason for calling is to ask if the employer received your letter, while you’re on the phone, you can also ask if you are being considered for the position and if so, ask what to expect as the next step.
Being proactive is desirable, but beware – you can overstep the line in being proactive. Where does the line begin and end in being proactive? Calling once to reach your prospective employer is proactive. Calling the same employer ten times a week after already leaving multiple messages is crossing the line. Oh, there is one other major way to identify if you’re crossing the line in the eyes of the prospective employer: being proactive is desirable and being a pest is just plain annoying.
Enhance your chances of getting a job – be proactive but avoid being a pest!
Hallie Crawford and Terry L. Wynne, Ed.S., LPC, BCC
Certified Career Coaches
