Author: Lavie Margolin, Career Coach
A question that often puzzles job seekers is the following: should I submit my resume to a company a second time if I never heard anything back the first time? The answer of if one should apply for a second job at a company before hearing back from the first, would depend on a number of factors: How long has the time period been between jobs? Although companies claim to ‘keep your resume on file’, it is unlikely that they do and often start from a new applicant pool with every job.
If you applied originally very recently, consider if it is the same recruiter for the same type of job (except slightly lower requirements)? If it is the same recruiter and the job is very similar, it would be best to wait for a response. If they did not answer the first time, it would be unlikely that they would answer the second time. If it is a different recruiter/hiring manager at the same company, it would be worth applying to that person directly as they may be evaluating a resume based on different criteria.
All things being equal, it would be better to err on the side of applying again. When someone reapplies, they should try to make the message stronger the second time. Spend the time on tailoring a resume and cover letter that would be directly applicable to the job that they are applying for to stand out above other applicants. On a personal note, my first full time job in the field was a direct result of resubmitting my resume for another job at the same organization.
About the Author: Lavie Margolin is a New York-based Career Coach and the author of Lion Cub Job Search: Practical Job Search Assistance for Practical Job Seekers. To learn more, go to Lavie’s website, Lion Cub Job Search:www.Lioncubjobsearch.com