Approaching a company directly with your CV
Discussion
This is related to my other post but thought it useful to create a separate one here.
It has been suggested that I, in my job search, approach companies I would like to work for directly but my question is:
Do I write to them with a general 'Hello, I am skilled in these areas, your company would benefit from my skills, I'd really like to work for your company, etc. viewpoint?
Or
Do I write to them along the same lines but suggest what I could do for them? This is challenging because its hard to find out exactly what they are doing now and I could look silly suggesting something they are doing now.
It has been suggested that I, in my job search, approach companies I would like to work for directly but my question is:
Do I write to them with a general 'Hello, I am skilled in these areas, your company would benefit from my skills, I'd really like to work for your company, etc. viewpoint?
Or
Do I write to them along the same lines but suggest what I could do for them? This is challenging because its hard to find out exactly what they are doing now and I could look silly suggesting something they are doing now.
You will be lucky to get even a 1 in 100 response. I get quite a few unsolicited cv's and always respond, although it's to decline them. All of the people I respond to say I'm the only one who bothered to do so.
You would get better results by finding the person in each company who's doing what you want to do, phoning him/her up on the basis that you're looking to do what they do and could they give you some advice.
People love to talk about their work generally, and also love to be asked for advice or an opinion.
You are far more likely to find doors opening like this, and it will give you access to those peoples networks. They will likely know of openings, or opportunities, or will think of you if something comes up.
You would get better results by finding the person in each company who's doing what you want to do, phoning him/her up on the basis that you're looking to do what they do and could they give you some advice.
People love to talk about their work generally, and also love to be asked for advice or an opinion.
You are far more likely to find doors opening like this, and it will give you access to those peoples networks. They will likely know of openings, or opportunities, or will think of you if something comes up.
I sent out CV's like that when I when I was job hunting, and only got one response. I now work for one of the companies that I had no reply from, when they wanted someone a month or two after I'd contacted them they found my CV online and called me.
If you have contact with someone within the company, many firms offer a recruitment bounty so you'd have someone on the inside championing your CV which might help, also well worth building up a decent network on LinkedIn as many recruiters look on there, and if they're only a couple of links from you you're more likely to get spotted.
If you have contact with someone within the company, many firms offer a recruitment bounty so you'd have someone on the inside championing your CV which might help, also well worth building up a decent network on LinkedIn as many recruiters look on there, and if they're only a couple of links from you you're more likely to get spotted.
The direct and customised approach probably works best on small owner managed businesses, who I assume get the fewest direct applicants.
I have received around 10 approaches in a decade. I had a coffee with and gave advice to all of them, hired two and gave work experience to several.
I have received around 10 approaches in a decade. I had a coffee with and gave advice to all of them, hired two and gave work experience to several.
Actually this is the best thing to do, but your milage may vary depending on your business segment. Do avoid the approach of blanket email/ letters.
Instead, you need to be selling your self. Create your self a profile on linkedIn. Treat that profile like your CV. Complete all the relevant sections. Then start linking to friends and colleagues. Join groups related to your expertise, and participate to get your expertise noticed.
Then start linking to people in the companies you are interested in.
Instead, you need to be selling your self. Create your self a profile on linkedIn. Treat that profile like your CV. Complete all the relevant sections. Then start linking to friends and colleagues. Join groups related to your expertise, and participate to get your expertise noticed.
Then start linking to people in the companies you are interested in.
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
If you do that don't do the "dear sir" thing. Find out the names of specific individuals & tailor your letter accordingly.
As said, 100:1 chance, but why not give it a go, you might just hit the mark.
Although don't ring up a company ask for someone's name whose part of the sifting process and then in your CV qoute them as saying they recommended you. As said, 100:1 chance, but why not give it a go, you might just hit the mark.
As when it ends up on their desk it goes in the bin!
And yes someone actually tried that with me. Annoyingly he seemed the most suited and was a full on petrolhead but lying on your covering letter gets you nowhere.
If following standard routes to secure your next role have failed, then of course why wouldn't you go down the speculative route. I would say however that standard routes do normally exist, and if you're competent for the role being advertised, then you have as fair a chance as the next candidate.
I'd be interested to know why you think you've not been successful using standard routes. Your profession and industry as well as location would be of interest too.
I'd be interested to know why you think you've not been successful using standard routes. Your profession and industry as well as location would be of interest too.
Undirection said:
This is related to my other post but thought it useful to create a separate one here.
It has been suggested that I, in my job search, approach companies I would like to work for directly but my question is:
Do I write to them with a general 'Hello, I am skilled in these areas, your company would benefit from my skills, I'd really like to work for your company, etc. viewpoint?
Or
Do I write to them along the same lines but suggest what I could do for them? This is challenging because its hard to find out exactly what they are doing now and I could look silly suggesting something they are doing now.
I think it might have been me who suggested that. If it was, then I'm happy to add to it. It has been suggested that I, in my job search, approach companies I would like to work for directly but my question is:
Do I write to them with a general 'Hello, I am skilled in these areas, your company would benefit from my skills, I'd really like to work for your company, etc. viewpoint?
Or
Do I write to them along the same lines but suggest what I could do for them? This is challenging because its hard to find out exactly what they are doing now and I could look silly suggesting something they are doing now.
The way you're looking at it, from what you've written I think isnt quite understanding what the business needs are. You're thinking 'Hi, I'm great, I can do really good mailshots' and you're bothered that they'll come back with 'But we already do mailshots'
If you put yourself into a COO or MD's shoes, have a think what they're bothered about. For example, MD Bob Smith of Geddit Ltd (North East) offers services to the Industrial sector. What keeps him awake at night is likely going to be things such as
1) Are sales as competitive and hungry as they should be
2) Have they got the tools to do what we need of them
3) Where are the gaps in our services
4) Do we communicate to our target sector as well as we should
5) Where are we losing business to our competitors
6) Why are our competitors picking up our customers from under our noses
7) Are we well known enough that we can attract the right people to come and work for us
8) Do we do enough in the local community
9) How resilient are we that we can switch sectors if we need to
When you start to look more strategic, more long term, zoom out, however you choose to term it, you'll see that there's a conversation you can have that's nothing to do with whether they do mailshots, and everything to do with getting the company in as good a position as it can be. And you, of course, can help them in that journey.
Lets be honest, the chances of it coming off are lower than someone who's advertising for a role that you have the skillset and experience in. But if those job postings arent netting you anything, you cant just sit back and wait for something to be posted online and hope you're in the top 20 of the 350 people who apply.
People will take other people on if they're somewhere between 80% and 120% matched to skills, any less and they're going to struggle, any more and they're going to leave. But the skills arent the only thing people are taking on for, they need cultural fit as well, and someone who's got an idea of why what they do has an effect on where the company goes.
Also, in past jobs you must have some idea (and you're referenced it in your CV, right?) of how what you've done has changed the course of history for that particular company? So you can work out how what you've done has a measurable, it's impact, and if it didnt work out too well, how you went back and changed things?
You could for example prospect Bob Smith to say 'Hi Bob, I want to let you know of my availability, from January I'm looking for a new opportunity. Over the past 5 years I've helped XYZ Company increase their customer engagement by 38%, I headed up a campaign to regenerate lost customers which netted £3,1m to the company and I'm proud to have helped XYZ move towards their goal of increasing overall customer retention by 50%.
I'm a Senior B2B Marketing Manager, I'm contacting you specifically as I see a good fit with my experience and would welcome a chance to sit down a discuss where you're headed over the next 2-5 years. I'm enclosing my CV, and if you have availability we can go through it either by phone later this week or if you'd like we can meet. I'm less than 30 minutes from you, Mondays and Tuesdays are usually good for me'
Thanks
Undirection'
They might turn you down. They might reply saying thanks, but we dont have headcount. They might not reply at all. But if it's between never having heard of you and having some kind of contact, they might come to you in the future. Beats sitting pressing refresh on Indeed though
Edited by andy-xr on Monday 23 November 12:01
Yep, good advice.
Rog, I am following the usual channels and getting lots of approaches from recruitment agencies and have good results based CV but they all fade away and often I know I won't be the right fit for the clients they have because they (the rec agent) doesn't understand marketing enough. Its all just painfully reactive and slow and I am keen to sort myself out with a position hence the potential approach directly.
I have been thinking along the lines of offering one sector a solution to a problem I know they have and so I am putting together a small proposal which may be effective. All the companies are large and so could create a role for this potentially.
A job will come along but I'm going a bit stir crazy waiting!
Rog, I am following the usual channels and getting lots of approaches from recruitment agencies and have good results based CV but they all fade away and often I know I won't be the right fit for the clients they have because they (the rec agent) doesn't understand marketing enough. Its all just painfully reactive and slow and I am keen to sort myself out with a position hence the potential approach directly.
I have been thinking along the lines of offering one sector a solution to a problem I know they have and so I am putting together a small proposal which may be effective. All the companies are large and so could create a role for this potentially.
A job will come along but I'm going a bit stir crazy waiting!
Sending an email doesnt = job hunting.
That said you may get lucky as it's all about timing - if you do get through and get read and they are looking for someone like that there and then...
Just keep it all really short - aim for a foot in the door not give a full fluffed up life story at age 22.
HTH (but it does all also depend a bit on industry/sector)
That said you may get lucky as it's all about timing - if you do get through and get read and they are looking for someone like that there and then...
Just keep it all really short - aim for a foot in the door not give a full fluffed up life story at age 22.
HTH (but it does all also depend a bit on industry/sector)
andy-xr said:
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