A short phone call can help – to ask a real question before you apply, to approach a company directly or to follow up when you have heard nothing. But the application itself usually goes by email or through an online form, so call only when you have a clear reason, keep it brief and respect what the ad says.
When a call makes sense
- Before you apply – if the ad names a contact person and something important is unclear (for example the start date, the language of the job or whether you can apply from abroad).
- When you approach a company directly. EURES points out that not all vacancies are advertised. Contacting employers directly works in Czech Republic (especially for seasonal or casual work in rural areas) and is good advice in Finland and Latvia; in Poland you can also contact employers directly and send them your CV.
- To follow up. In Ireland, if you have not heard back within about four weeks, it is fine to phone and ask. In the Netherlands employers tend to reply fairly quickly – if you have heard nothing after 14 days, contact the company.
In some places a personal visit works too: in Greece you can bring your CV in person and ask to see the person responsible for hiring, and in parts of Italy it still helps to hand your CV to the HR manager in person.
When to skip the call
- The ad says “no phone calls” or asks you to apply only online.
- The answer is already in the ad or on the company’s website.
- You just want to ask whether your application arrived the day after you sent it – give the employer time.
Practical tips
- Prepare two or three sentences: who you are, which job (with its reference number) and what you want to ask.
- Use the employer’s language if you can – EURES advises writing in the employer’s language or the language of the ad, and the same goes for a call. If your language skills are basic, say so politely and ask whether you can continue in English.
- Have your CV in front of you and something to write with; note the name of the person you spoke to.
- Be ready for a phone interview. In Austria and Ireland interviews may be held by phone, so answer unknown numbers professionally while you are applying.
- After the call, send a short email that sums up what you agreed.
Read more
If the call leads to an interview, read The job interview: online and face to face. For writing to companies that have not advertised a job, see Cover letter and application: how to stand out and Where to look for a job in Europe. Local habits are in our guides to working in 32 European countries.
Common questions about job applications and interviews
Sources
Updated: October 2026
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