| Back to Home > Bulletin Board > Media Issues > Topic: New Job search,Is this a good approach? |
Topic: New Job search,Is this a good approach?
| Author | Message |
| Ahppy1 | Posted – 6/28/2007 5:16:52 PM | show profile I am back to job hunting. I was thinking about sending out resumes with a general "cold" cover letter looking for a position. Has anyone had any luck with this approach? |
| jlm920 | Posted – 6/28/2007 5:52:40 PM | show profile A friend of mine sent out 500 cold cover letters and resumes this way and he got 2 responses, neither of which garnered an interview. Do you know the people you'll be sending materials to? Personally, I think you would stand a better chance by networking as much as possible. I have had a lot of luck this way - somebody knows someone who knows someone, etc. Let everyone you know know that you are looking for a new job and what your skill set is. Join professional groups. Do some volunteer work, if that's possible. ------ http://www.languageviews.blogspot.com |
| JimmyG | Posted – 6/28/2007 8:36:35 PM | show profile This is why everyone tells you never to burn your bridges. This includes cheerily putting up with a corn hole boss and going out of your way to be nice to the underlings. You never know who may be willing to stick their hand out to help you professionally in a time of need (or, among those with whom you're on unplesant terms, give you a slap cross the mouth). |
| Ahppy1 | Posted – 6/28/2007 8:42:40 PM | show profile I have always left jobs on good terms, unfortunatly the last job i was at i was let go..left on good terms and have a few people there that will give good references if needed. |
| Cyrus | Posted – 6/28/2007 10:35:18 PM | show profile The answer depends on whether you're planning this approach in response to advertisements or, if it's just sending information to companies you want to work for. I am gathering you're thinking of the latter, and in that sense, generic cover letters are OK because all you're expected to do is lay out your qualifications for a job and explain what kind of job you'd be looking for and why you're a fit. But if you're writing letters in reply to a specific posting, then do not make them generic. Rather, custom tailor them to illustrate the skills they're looking for. ------ Cyrus Afzali Astoria Communications www.astoriacomm.com |
| foodlit | Posted – 6/28/2007 10:49:27 PM | show profile Don't send the cover letter as an attachment. Write it in the body of your email. Otherwise it won't get read. We skim the body of the email. If we like what's there, we open the resume. So make that paragraph or two compelling, and give us a reason to look at the resume. Focus on the key things the job needs and mention that you have them. The more specific the better, as it shows you are a fit for the job. If there's a company you're interested in but no appropriate jobs. Think about the title of the job you'd be likely to fit, and who that would report to, for instance a marketing manager would likely report to a director of marketing. Google to see who that might be, or call and ask if it's not easily found. Then call that person and ask for an informational interview. Check to find out who has recently been hired into Director level roles. Chances are those people might need to hire staff below them. Call those people and ask for informational interviews. Good luck! Pam |
| Ahppy1 | Posted – 6/28/2007 11:14:22 PM | show profile Jobs that i have been applying to via e mail or snail mail my cover letters have been taylored to that specific job. But the whole "cold" cover letter pretty much would I'd be highlighting the most imoprtant job duties I've done. Thanks for all the advice & comments!! |
| Hannah | Posted – 6/29/2007 11:26:04 AM | show profile Worked for me! I was laid off earlier this year, and as part of my job search I sent out a cold cover letter to the HR department of a mid-size magazine publisher. I explained who I was and what sort of work I was seeking, then asked if the person would keep me in mind for any future openings. I didn't expect anything to come of it, but a few weeks later an editor from the company called me about a new position she was creating on her staff -- a job that happened to match my background perfectly. Two weeks later the gig was mine. So sometimes those nonspecific job applications do pan out! |
| tm113 | Posted – 6/29/2007 2:44:52 PM | show profile | email poster cold letter mailing I think you send a targeted mailing to about 100 stating very specific qualifications and how they relate to the company. It's worth a try. Also, I would not attach a resume and use only snail mail. tm113 |
| foodlit | Posted – 6/29/2007 3:43:09 PM | show profile | email poster Sorry, this is terrible advice! Email is the way to go, most snail mail unsolicited resumes will be filed promptly in the trash or routed to the wrong person. If you are sending a resume, email it to a specific person... and always send a resume! If you were to send a letter looking for a job without a resume, that is a complete waste of everyone's time. They need the resume to know what you've done and if there's relevance to them. I've mentioned on other threads here, that I'm headhunter and often am invited to speak on how to do a job search. I have a handout with networking, resume and interviewing tips...it's free. If you want a copy, just shoot me an email and I'll send it off to you. If you want to know more about my background, look at my LinkedIn profile and that's another smart thing to do, if you're not already on LinkedIn, set up a profile for yourself, and send me an invite and I'm happy to connect with you. I have a decent network of over 500 direct contacts, which means my network is close to 4 million people. LinkedIn is a wonderful networking tool you can use to find connections at companies you're interested in, reconnect with people you used to know or went to school with...and they might have information that could help your job search. http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=1032646 Pam |
| observer | Posted – 6/29/2007 4:23:07 PM | show profile thanks, Pam. I justed linked to you! |
| Telling It Like It Is | Posted – 6/30/2007 4:56:00 PM | show profile | email poster Looking for work in the Southwest & it is mighty slow. I too am looking for work in a cow town. I have seen posting after posting that specifies unsoliceted apps will not be reviewed. Also while working, resumes came my way that were not for a job posting & I was told to pitch them in the trash. I don't think over all that it is an effective use of time. Where I live it is now heading to 120 degrees & I have learned that the summer SLOWS down like ketchup from a bottle. One place I interviewed at two months ago really was positive however I learned at that time the position was vacant for four months & the interviewer mentioned something about free labor: interns. Then two weeks later the Pub/Editor called me to see if I was still interested in the position, gave me compliments and that was it. She just called to see if I was still interested in the position, but said she would call back the next week, which she did not. So I waited two weeks & called the gatekeeper of the office. No call back. So I called one last time & was told that the Pub/Editor was extremely busy & that the position had been filled. Now the position has been vacant for 6 months. What the, what the? This person has my home #, e-mail, references, writing samples & moves like a turtle. So the ball is in her court. But how odd, don't you all think? Another person e-mailed me to let me know I have a "tremendous background" but the salary was low so they think I am over qualified but want to talk on July 13th. That was two weeks ago. Now Ramon noodles only last for so long. They could find me w/ the noodles in one hand while my decaying other hand was reaching for the hot water by the time someone gets their act together and is actually looking to hire someone. HOW DO I EXPLAIN THIS LAPSE OF TIME? It is not my doing and Hooters may be an option to get some cash to tide me by as well as volunteering, but what is going on in the hiring world? Frankly I don't think the Devil just wears Prada, but also gets jollies from torturing applicants. Help needed desperately...& I hate to be desperate, in Desert Cowtown USA. |
| Telling It Like It Is | Posted – 6/30/2007 5:07:17 PM | show profile | email poster Meant to say THE JOB HAS NOT BEEN FILLED YET... My error---re: the slower than molasses Pub/Editor, I was told the job has not been filled. SHOULD I CALL ONE LAST TIME? PERSISTANCE IS GREAT, BUT DESPERATION LOOKS BAD. Anyone's advice would be EXTREMELY APPRECIATED. Oh, as well as on working at Hooters or Taco Bell, as I need the moola, but SINCE THOSE JOBS ARE WAY ON LEFT FIELD RE: MY RESUME, I'LL JUST KEEP THE TIDE ME OVER JOBS TO MYSELF. And so to you: AHPPY1, my advice since we are in the same situation is to do what I will need to do and that is get a temp job to hold you over and do volunteer work as well. Freelance work wouldn't hurt either. |
| newhoo22 | Posted – 7/1/2007 9:22:14 PM | show profile Patience and Persistance! I am on job number four out of college and feel like an experienced hunter already. I beat out a slew of recommended candidates for my current position, which I found through a job board. I got the job because I am more qualified. These are the few hints I have for you: 1. DO use college job boards: My college had a "monster for college" board, and I found two of my four jobs there. Alumni postings and networks are huge. 2. Look on smaller job boards: try googling associations for your field, and then looking on their job boards. I feel like a small fish in a big pond with monster and hotjobs submissions, so i focused my search on smaller job boards which lead to my current employment 3. Tailor cover letters, but use the same ones: It is (IMO) foolish to think you have to completely tailor each cover letter and time consuming. Have a basic letter for the type of job you are applying for--if you want to be a marketing assistant, make a cover letter for that type of position. If you want to be a paralegal, make a separate one for that type of position AND tailor your resume. Cold calling letters with no direction will just cause you heartache. But I've successfully mass-applied for positions even with attention to details. It doesn't have to be "cold" even in mass quantity. |
