A Lesson in Determination (work thread)

brandotheninjamaster

Alright, so I've been looking for a new job like crazy because I make absolute crap money at my current one. I have applied to plenty of places to no avail, so my distance that I would be willing to commute to work kept expanding. I eventually heard back from a company that would be about a 90min commute. This was on July 25. They had me fill out a pre employment questionnaire about what I currently do and how much I am asking for.

After completing the questionnaire, I received an email saying "Thanks! We will be in touch!" (word for word that’s what I received). Then a message was left for me, I couldn't respond right away because I was in a meeting. That all happened on the 7/31. On the message I received the HR recruiter left her office number and asked that I respond. Ever since then every time I call no one answers. I left maybe 2-3 messages that I was returning her call.

Now I was contemplating sending her an email asking if she would like to schedule an interview. This raises 2 issues that I need your help on PA:

1. Am I pursing this to aggressively? Should I just cut my losses?
2. What should I put in the email to make it sound professional should I decide to send it?

RUNN1NGMAN

One call is enough. Any more is the very definition of pestering. Unless you have some reason to believe that HR did not receive the initial message (like your phone cut out or your email was bounced back) there's nothing to be gained from calling multiple times.

Whatever you do don't send an email asking to schedule an interview. In fact, don't send anything. If you haven't annoyed the poor HR person who is getting your messages then don't press your luck, and if you've annoyed her enough that she's round-filed your application, nothing you can say will convince her to change her mind.

One call for the purpose of making sure they received your application and finding out if they need anything else, two to three days after sending. That's it.

brandotheninjamaster

Is it customary for a recruiter to act interested and then ignore an applicant completely?

I'm just wondering because the same thing happened to me when I applied for another comapny. That time I received an email requesting an interview, then I was ignored. I guess I can rationalize this, but if you don't want to consider an applicant why act interested in the first place?

RUNN1NGMAN

What kind of position is this, and what's the size of the company? If it's a big company, don't expect to be treated like a special snowflake--they are probably getting hundreds of applications for the position from various sources (internal, Monster, recruiters) and they are not going to send replies for each one.

brandotheninjamaster

Its a security gig. I cant foresee too many people applying for this position because of the security clearance involved. It is also a big company.

RUNN1NGMAN

Well, I live in DC, and every other person I know has a TS clearance. There is no shortage of people coming off active military service or leaving government jobs who have security clearances. You are probably competing with quite a few people.