I know it comes to a shock to some of you but the HR guy has technology that has existed for the past 15 years known as caller ID. That means when you hit redial every 30 seconds for 20 minutes straight, I know about it. And guess what, it isn’t going to get me out of my meeting, lunch or interview sooner by calling me every minute. So here is what I suggest: leave me a message and send me an e-mail confirming the fact that you left me a message, a callback number and the best time to reach you. If you do this and do not annoy my co-workers, you will get the equivalent of a gold star next to your name on the board. If you do not follow my advice, I will furrow my brow and think mean things of you. Will it disqualify you from a job? Not entirely (unless of course when I do answer, you simply breathe heavily and then hang up). But remember, your HR guy is going to be working with you and more importantly, he is going to be working very closely with your direct supervisor who will rake the HR guy over the coals, throw him under the bus, etc… if he hires a stalker-lite person (again).
I am all for being forward in your job search but there is a fine line between being a good job candidate and being an obsessive job candidate. Find it, learn it, love it.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh my god it’s so true… for some reason, the people who call every half an hour always seem to coincide with the people with no phone manners…
Most of the time, that is the case. I think it has a lot to do with self-awareness. People that lack it, lack it everywhere.
My brother in-law is an excellent example of this kind of HR faux-pas. I’m glad that you are telling people that abject desperation is extremely unattractive.
Thanks Rocca, glad you enjoyed it.