Most job applicants submit their resume and then simply wait, refreshing their inbox and hoping for a response. A small number do something different, and it makes a biggish difference. After you have submitted an application, find out who the internal talent acquisition contact or external recruiter responsible for filling that role is. This information is rarely hard to track down.

Once you have identified them, do not hesitate to reach out directly, whether by phone or email. A short, well prepared call should cover three things: how your skills and experience genuinely match the role's requirements, your authentic enthusiasm for the opportunity, and a small human touch, such as acknowledging that they may not have had a chance to review every application yet.

It is unlikely that this call will turn into a full interview on the spot. The recruiter's real objective at this stage is simply to quickly assess whether you are worth a closer look. So keep the conversation brief, get to the point and be genuine rather than rehearsed.

What if, during that conversation, you realise you are missing a key requirement for the role? Shift the conversation rather than ending it. Ask to be considered for other opportunities within the organisation while staying energetic and positive.



It is easy to think of job applications as purely transactional, a form submitted into a black box. But on both sides of that process are people, not just systems. Leave every interaction, whether it leads anywhere immediately or not, on a positive note. A recruiter who remembers you as professional, prepared and personable is far more likely to think of you for the next opening than one you never engaged with at all. Relationships built this way often open more doors than the original application ever could.