Here are a few recycling activities I hope you’re not participating in:
– Mailing your resume to an un-named person
– Asking your friends to take your resume to the office
– Handing out copies of your resume at job fairs
– Leaving copies of your resume at the front desk of local businesses
Yes, I agree these activities may periodically result in a job, however more often than not, they don’t result in value.
Here are a few activities that work better:
Tip #1 – Mail your resume to the right person.
Work hard to find out who the Hiring manager is. Knowing their name lets you:
– Put their name on the envelope and cover letter. It’s more likely to get opened and looked at.
– Do a little more research to find a mutual connection who can help you make a useful connection.
– Call their office. Try to have a conversation before blindly mailing them your resume.
– Find their email address. Reach out with a polite and friendly message. Ask a relevant question about the company and/or job opening(s). Follow up with another email that includes your resume and cover letter.
– If you get to talk with someone about the job, don’t forget to thank them. Offer to help them any way you can.
Tip # 2 – Ask your friends for the right help.
Most of your friends will gladly pass along your resume. They think it’s helpful because they have been conditioned to believe so and everyone wants to help a friend. Yet, there is a far better way of helping our friends than participating in the resume recycle process.
Ask your friends to introduce you to people who may need your skills, or know others who may. Ask them to help you start a conversation with the right person regarding your career transition. Always try for coffee, tea or a soda conversation, but a phone conversation works too.
After you get to talk with the right person, work to build some level of relationship with them before you share your resume.
Thank your friends for the help and offer to help them any way you can.
Tip # 3 – Leave your resume under wraps at Job Fairs.
Change up your job fair activity and you’ll create far more success.
Don’t pass out your resume at a job fair unless there is a specific job opening directly relevant to who you are.
Instead of handing your resume to every recruiter in the building, spend a little time getting to know who they are and what they need. Focus on the companies you are most interested in.
Get into a conversation with them:
– Write down their names
– Get their business cards if you can
– Ask them about the company and their own job
– Ask them about the hiring process and what kinds of jobs do they hire for
– What does the next 6 months looks like for their business
– Find out if they are looking for skills that people know may have. Offer to help them if you can.
After the job fair
– Follow up with them via email
– Thank them for their time
– If there’s a new job relevant to you, email your resume
– Remind them you met and talked at the job fair
– Work to develop some type of relationship with the recruiters you meet by offering to help them meet other candidates
Make yourself remarkable and unique at job fairs and you’ll create more value out of attending.
Tip # 4 – Don’t drive about town dropping off your resume.
Most receptionists are polite friendly people. They’ll give you a smile and take your resume if you offer it. Stop offering it to them.
If a business hires people like you and you can visit them in person, go ahead and do so. Leave your resume in the car.
Focus on starting a conversation with the receptionist. Make the conversation all about them first.
Ask who runs the department you’re interested in, write down this person’s name. Ask if it’s possible to meet this person. Explain you want to say hello and find a good time to talk with them further.
The receptionist may not call the person for you. Be thankful for the help and ask if you can get the hiring manager’s phone number and/or email address. Again, explain you want to contact them later to learn more about the business and work they do.
Strive for a conversation with the manager without leading with your resume.
Be different and better. Everyone else is simply leaving their resume behind with the receptionist. It may be passed on to the right person, but all it will be is just another resume. Try to introduce yourself before they get your resume.
In summary, if you want your resume seen by the right people, don’t be like everyone else. Be honest, sincere and polite, and strive to get into a conversation with the right people first. This is far better than handing out your resume so that it ends up in the recycle bin.
If you want to learn more about how to Network towards that next great job, read Networking for Mutual Benefit.
If you want help with your career transition activity, check out your Career Transition Coach.
How have you kept your resume out of the recycle bin? Share with us in the comments below.
If you want to learn more Networking Skills read my book Networking for Mutual Benefit.
If you want to learn more Social Media Skills read my book Success using Social Media.
If you need coaching on LinkedIn so that you can manage your networks better, consider my LinkedIn Coaching Program.
* This post was written by Career Confidential LinkedIn Expert Teddy Burriss of Burriss Consulting, Inc. Follow Teddy Burriss on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook to learn more about his Social Media Coaching and Career Transition services.