A follow-up phone call, letter or email may make the difference in your job search. While an employer does not want to be pestered by impatient applicants, a brief, courteous inquiry can demonstrate your interest in the job. Some job listings ask applicants to wait a certain length of time before making a follow-up inquiry, which you should honor. Otherwise, follow up within a week or two after submitting your resume.

Gather your resume and find a quiet place to make your call. Be calm and confident. Avoid calling on a Monday or late on a Friday, when it may be more difficult for an employer to take calls.

Call the employer’s office. Identify yourself to the receptionist and state that you are calling to inquire about a job opening. Mention the job title. Ask to speak to the person to whom you sent your resume. If you aren’t sure how to pronounce the employer’s name, ask the receptionist for the correct pronunciation. If you don’t have a contact name, ask the receptionist for the name of the person in charge of hiring for that job and ask to speak to that person. If the receptionist tells you the person is unavailable, find out when it is best to call back.

Greet the employer when he takes your call. Identify yourself and the title of the job. Tell the employer you are calling to confirm that he received your resume. If the employer did not receive your resume, let him know you will re-send it immediately. Express your enthusiasm for the job and ask the employer whether you can schedule an interview or whether he has a time frame for when interviews will occur. Conclude the call by thanking the employer for speaking with you. State that you look forward to hearing from him soon.

Send a letter if the job listing requested no follow-up phone calls. If you have the email address of the person handling the hiring, use that email address to send your follow-up inquiry. Otherwise, send a letter by postal mail. Identify the job title in the subject line of an email inquiry. In the body of an email, address the person formally but do not include the street address or date. If sending a letter by postal mail, include the date and inside address.

State that you are writing to inquire about the job and to confirm that the employer received your resume. Indicate your continued interest in the job and identify one or two ways you can contribute to the company. Close the letter by thanking the employer for considering your application and saying that you look forward to an interview. Include your contact information in the letter or email.