So you’ve gotten out there and search the Internet or your community for the perfect job, and found it. You crafted the perfect cover letter and your resume is updated ready to show you in the best possible light. You take a deep breath and click send.

Now what?

As competition for jobs continues to run rampant, its important to keep in mind that sometimes you may to go a little further then simply clicking send and letting the chips fall where they may. You may have to get a little persistent to make sure your resume ends up at the top of the pile. Here are a few tips for following up and following through after you’ve sent in your resume for a job.

• Resume Received – Unless the job ad specifically says “We will be accepting applicants until such & such date” or “We will be contacting applicants by such & such date” (In which case wait until such and such date comes and goes before doing this) feel free to send an email to ensure that your resume was received in the first place. Who knows how many resumes end up lost in cyberspace or sent to the wrong person or department and never make it where they are supposed to go. By sending an email that reiterates your excitement about the job and inquires for confirmation that your résumé was received, it keeps your name fresh in the mind of the possible employer. Having your name and interest in the job reinforced just may give you an extra edge when they start pouring through the tons of résumé that were also sent in. Not to mention if something did happen to your résumé, it gives you the chance tor resend promptly.
• Thank You Notes – Not all companies do this, but many will send you a message saying that your resume had been received and that they will be contacting you within a certain amount of time. Regarding the position. If the email an auto-reply then you are not meant to respond. But if the email came from a legit email address then feel free to shoot a Thank You email for the confirmation. And take the opportunity to once again reiterate your excitement over the position.
• Check the Status – “Checking the status” of your application is the professional way of asking, “What’s up?” Unless given a specific timetable, give it a week or so then send another email. Once again reinforce your interest and excitement about the job and ask what the status is of your application.
• Make the Call – If enough time has gone by forget about the email and call the company to inquire about the position. Sometimes the process of hiring a new person can get put on the back shelf if another project suddenly take precedence. Taking the time to call could once again help keep your name fresh when they do dive in to the hiring process. And if they’ve already hired somebody at least you’ll know and can move on to another job.

As long as you keep the communication persistent without stalking the company, following up will rarely ever cost you a job. All it can do is help you get it by showing not only your interest but also that when you want something you go for it. These are two qualities that will easily push you to the front of the line of applicants. Good luck!