Sometimes when you send a cover letter to an employer, whether it is a cold contact or one made when there is an advertised job opening, it feels like you are sending it into an abyss. You wonder, “Will I ever hear anything about this?” Sometimes the answer is no. Some employers only call back candidates in whom they are interested, leaving others to assume that if they haven't heard anything, they aren't going to be called in for a job interview.

Don't send your resume into an abyss. First of all, as mentioned throughout this chapter, indicate on your cover letter that you will follow up if you don't hear from the employer. Then do it! When you call the employer, ask her if she has received your resume and when you can set up an appointment to discuss it. Even if she isn't ready to do that yet, your name will stand out in her mind.

But be careful — you don't want your name to stand out for the wrong reasons. Don't call repeatedly. If she isn't ready to set up an interview when you make your follow-up call, ask her when you can call back. If she says she'll call you, wait a couple of weeks before you call again, but do call again. You don't want to sound too desperate but you do want to be assertive.