I submitted my resume, now what?
A mistake made by many college graduates who have never had to undertake the daunting task of getting a real job is simply allowing themselves to play the waiting game. After submitting a resume, too many prospective employees simply sit around by their cell phones or obsessively refresh their inboxes in hopes of getting an answer. In order to successfully navigate the well-populated job search waters an applicant must get away from this “the ball is in their court” mentality. This isn’t like asking an attractive acquaintance on a date and having her say she’ll think about it. Assuming you got the job listing from a credible source, you know the company at which you applied is actively looking for someone to fill the position. What they don’t know, or may not immediately recognize, is that you have the necessary skill-set to meet their needs. Follow up repeatedly. Don’t be afraid to call and leave messages or send emails to further inquire about the status of their employee search. Unlike courting members of the opposite sex, persistence in the job hunt comes off as determined and motivated, whereas in the dating world might come off as creepy or lead to a restraining order in extreme cases. Remember, the job hunt is an active endeavor.In the same vein, don’t put all your eggs in the same basket. Doing so could either leave you disappointed or have you sell yourself short, maybe overlooking an even better opportunity with a higher salary, all because you were too infatuated with the first job you found. It’s great to be excited about the position you apply for, and be sure to convey this in an interview, but don’t let it interfere with continuing your job search. It’s better to have several resumes out at one time as opposed to merely living application to application. Ultimately, you may even receive multiple job offers, allowing you to weigh the benefits of both positions, perhaps even leveraging them against each other, maximizing your potential and enabling you to make the best decision possible.