In the case of a call, you want to speak directly with the hiring manager. Avoid talking to a general HR specialist or a customer service representative. Even if they say they will take your message, the odds of it getting to the right person are slim. Call the contact listed in the job posting, if any. If no contact is posted, dig around online for the person that seems like the most likely fit. Peak hours for every company are a little different, so do a bit of research into the industry. Restaurants, for example, will be busiest during lunch and dinner hours, but may have some down time from 2pm to 4pm. Call during non-peak hours to raise your chances of the hiring manager answering.  No matter the industry, try not to call right after the start of business. People are generally bombarded with voicemails and emails at that time, and may not pick up. Don’t call directly before closing, either. Your contact person is likely packing up and getting ready to leave, and may be annoyed if they have to stay longer to answer a call. If the hiring manager answers when you call, the first thing you want to do after saying hello is to give them your name and request a quick status check on the hiring process. This will let you know if they are still going through resumes or if they have moved on to interviews and hiring. You may, for example, say something like, “Hello. This is John Doe calling about the cat groomer position. I am very excited about this role and your company, and I just wanted to make sure my application was received.” If the hiring manager confirms that your resume has been received, ask them if they need anything else from you. Use this as a chance to briefly talk about one of your skills related to the position. If you are applying for a graphic designer position, for example, ask the manager, “Do you need any more samples of my work? I could send some that really highlight my experience designing text-based logos.” Before you hang up, thank the hiring manager for their time and ask them about a time line for next steps. If you feel particularly bold, you can even end with a line like, “When would be a good time to meet and talk about this further?”
Call the hiring manager directly. Call during non-peak hours. Check on the status of your application first. Ask the hiring manager if they need anything else from you. Ask about an interview timeline.