A reader writes:
What type of cover letter should you write to go with your resume when you are going to drop off your resume at several different companies? I have several years experience in the loan processing field and want to go to companies in this field and ask if it is ok to leave my resume with them. I am not sure if this is a good way to get a job as I have never had to do this before, but I am hoping it will help me in my pursuit of finding a job.
Well, to answer your question before I rant about what I want to rant about, use the exact same sort of cover letter that you'd use if you were applying any other way.
Now that that's out of the way: I really don't recommend this tactic at all. Most companies include specific instructions about how they want you to apply, and it's pretty unlikely that "in person" is included. Plus, many companies only accept resumes electronically because they get put into an electronic screening system. Third, this is unnecessarily gimmicky; save yourself the time, apply online, and if you're a strong candidate, they'll contact you.
Yes, yes, everyone has heard a story about someone who went by to drop off their resume in person and got interviewed and hired on the spot. It's still, in general, not a good use of your time. (Everyone has also heard the story about the guy who sent a shoe in with his application, asking to "get a foot in the door." That guy is a cheeseball. Don't be him. Don't be any of these urban legends.)
Friday, June 12, 2009
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13 comments:
I'm somewhat surprised to hear from the manager that this method of job searching is absolutely not acceptable. With due respect that different employers have some guidelines and preferences when it comes to hiring/selection process, this still could potentialls save them some money spent on advertising and going through piles of resumes....There's an Employment Support Program called "Job Club" that teaches based on stats and research of employers that cold calling and visiting employers in person has worked for may job applicants in the past. Do you suggest that the times has changed so much that visiting employer in person and being prepared to market yourself is something of old days?
I really would like to know your thoughts on that.
You asked for numbers, here's some
http://www.grad.uiuc.edu/careerservices/nonacademic/jobsearch/calls.htm
Sorry, the link didn't seem to worked. One more time.
http://www.grad.uiuc.edu/careerservices/nonacademic/jobsearch/calls.htm/
in general i don't meet with walk-in applicants. the main reason for this is because the average job seeker isn't nearly as qualified/a good fit for whatever position they are interested in. it just wouldn't be a good use of my time. i'm busy, can't waste time.
Anonymous, I'm sure there are some industries where it's different, but yes, I definitely do consider it it something from the old days that isn't welcomed/effective anymore. Again, I'm sure it's not true in all industries, but that's my experience.
imho it's okay to drop off your resume in person if: 1. There is a help wanted sign posted on the window and 2. Publicly advertised cattle call/Job Fair or 3. Someone in a position of authority asks you to do it.
Other than that, I agree with AAM. I expect applicants will follow directions and not try to usurp my hiring process. There's a method to the madness, if I wrote an ad that read submit your resume via email - submit it via email. Site via site. Fax via fax. Bring it with you, do it.
Why I don't want people just wandering in, making demands on my and my staffs time... look, we don't have extra time. We barely have enough time to get the work done as it is without someone showing up with a 'I'm here!' resume.
Frankly, it isn't fair to the job seeker either. Say they take the time to drop their resume off in person unannounced. We'd take it, but they're isn't anyone to meet them, greet them, talk to them about the opportunity. How is this a good use of their time? And how is this a good representation of either company or candidate? I liken this scenario to showing up unannounced at my MIL, you get what you get when you don't call in advance.... and that can be downright scary.
I think it's important to note that this is not true in many industries, especially those with high turnover or general labor. I am a shift manager in a restaurant and when I was putting in applications I found this to be by far THE most effective way to get a job. Just a thought for those of us not in the professional world.
I actually HAVE dropped off my resume in person, was interviewed right then and did get the job. Back in the days when we looked in the newspaper for jobs -- I saw the ad for the job on Sunday, but Monday was a holiday and I knew that my resume wouldn't arrive at the office until Wednesday. Since I was pretty sure this office would not be closed on the holiday, I took a chance and dropped off my resume in person on Monday, interviewed on Monday and by Friday I was hired. Loved that job! Was sorry when my family had to relocate and I had to leave the position. These days, most of the ads I answer I find on the internet and the ads are constructed such that it's difficult to determine who the potential employer is.
Dropping off your resume in person only works in retail and entry level positions.
I HATE when people drop off their resumes in person at my office. I never meet with them. The quality of the candidates is almost always lower when they come in person.
I'm not sure if this applies to US situation, but in several countries that provide basic unemployment benefits, a person on such benefits may be required to take "job seeking courses" or apply for X jobs per week to keep their benefit. They will be, not encouraged, but outright told, to hand out unsolicited CVs to unsuspecting companies and making time consuming follow up calls. If they don't, they lose their benefits.
Then the governing body will sometimes take up more of the hiring manager's time by sample-calling companies on the list of "jobs sought" - that the unemployed has been forced to provide - to check if they have handed in CVs where they said they did. In some countries this has led to people without high school diplomas applying for jobs as consultant surgeons and lecturers in math etc (after exhausting all the work places where they meet the requirements) in order to qualify for the benefit.
Needless to say, the governing bodies don't care a jot about the embarrassed job seeker, nor the stressed out hiring manager who will have to go through piles of unsuitable CVs. As long as they don't look like their soft on the unemployed nothing else matters.
//Jessica
...they're... *tired*
//Jessica
Why all the animosity against drop-offs (especially from some of the commenters here)?
I understand that no one should expect to "just show up" and get an interview; and yes, I would exclude someone who did expect that. I also understand that many organizations today want applications only via their online database.
But, would recruiters really be justified in excluding someone who took the time to research their organization, then took the time to scout out their location to drop off a resume to let someone know that they were interested in working at their organization?
When they dropped it off, if the receptionist or whomever stated that it would be best to apply online and the candidate agreed to do so would you still exclude them?
The reason I ask, is that after a few months of reading several of these HR/Recruiting/Management blogs I get the feeling that there are many in the position of hiring that seem to use what I would consider to be "irrational" reasons for excluding folks who might otherwise be good candidates.
I've only worked in low end jobs posted to Craigs list (not counting military service) And this is the way I generally stand out and get ahead of the pack as my low experience makes it that much harder to even get talked to.
That said I would stop when applying for mid or upper level jobs as those jobs are far more likly to want people who can be ran through a database.
Really this only works for ground level jobs and jobs in places with high turnover.
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