Going out "knocking on doors" - Job Searching...

[D1on]

Tomorrow I am beginning to go looking for work...
Having never done this before and only ever searched on the internet, What is my best way to approach an employer?, Do I go in and ask for the manager then hand them a copy of my cv?
Also I will be wearing a suit, Which colour tie will be best in these circumstances a light grey one or a navy blue one/maroon one?.

Certain people have said companies don't employ this way anymore and it will be a waste of time, however I am willing to try anything now to find employment.

Hope you can help,
Thanks

[UK345]

What sort of places will you be approaching ? Some employers like this approach as it makes you stand out from the usual internet application. You never know your luck and well worth trying it out. Dress smart, plenty of cvs and know the direction you want to go.

[Brigand]

You may have some luck with small companies, but unlikely with larger ones. Everything is done online these days so even if they did like the look of you, they'd probably tell you to look on their website and apply there anyway. There's no harm in trying though, and it might just yield a good result!

As a side note, I saw some program a little while ago like Question Time that had Duncan Bannatyne on, with the subject being about jobs. He said people should do what he did when he was young and go knocking on doors like you suggest, but he was countered by someone in the crowd who said that in today's world, if you did that you'd find yourself being told to apply online anyway, so would be something of a pointless exercise.

I think the modern version of that is sending out speculative emails to companies with your CV asking if they have any work. I've done that a few times in the past year but never got anything in return, but its always worth a shot.

[edc]

Brigand said:

I think the modern version of that is sending out speculative emails to companies with your CV asking if they have any work. I've done that a few times in the past year but never got anything in return, but its always worth a shot.

Unfortunately, you need to try a bit harder than this. A CV to a generic email address or posted to Reception is just one of hundreds of pieces of 'junk mail'.

Do what a sales person does. Identify the your audience, identify the decision maker, be clear on your worth and benefits, do your research to understand why the company may want you, make contact with the key decision makers, understand their process, build a rapport etc.

[andy-xr]

Go on LinkedIn and find the right person to contact, it's often not the most senior (they pay people to do st for them) but there's no point in speaking with the Admin team at first point of contact.

In a previous role I found a company who I thought I might like to work for, researched them on analyst reports then went for the VP/Sales who had 2 conversations with me and passed me to HR to make a formal interview with a hiring decision based on that

Find out a few things so you're armed and ready rather than scattergunning the crap out of everyone

[RobinOakapple]

I should think that saying what you do and where you are would be a very good start, you never know, someone on here might have or at least know of a suitable job.

So unless you correct it, you have already missed one opportunity, don't miss any more.

[essayer]

I worked with a guy who got made redundant in the height of the recession, he was in his late 50s and ran the small stockroom before it all got outsourced. Ordering parts, repairs etc.

I really thought he'd struggle - but off he went knocking doors, best suit and CVs in hand, and found a similar role at a big company within a week. He certainly put some miles in doing it, but by all accounts improved his situation a lot.

As mentioned, the personal approach goes a long way in today's bland, regimented e-mail/web form job application structures. Good luck!

[MadDad]

edc said:

Unfortunately, you need to try a bit harder than this. A CV to a generic email address or posted to Reception is just one of hundreds of pieces of 'junk mail'.

Do what a sales person does. Identify the your audience, identify the decision maker, be clear on your worth and benefits, do your research to understand why the company may want you, make contact with the key decision makers, understand their process, build a rapport etc.

Sage advice indeed.

I have a friend who used to own a car franchise, he built it up over 20 years with a partner and eventually sold it to a large UK chain, as part of the deal he had a pair of golden handcuffs applied for 18 months. At the end of the 18 months he had enough redundancy money to take time off, one day merged to another and 2 years down the line he was knocking on the door of 50 and in need of a job!

He tried the usual approach of eMails, agencies, responding to ad's and speculative letters with no success. He took some time out to decide who in the UK he wanted to work for, what brands had cars that were likely to sell well in the future, then used his old network of contacts to identify who he needed to speak with at his target employers. Once set he put on a suit, printed his CV out and rocked up at their offices asking to speak to the contact by name. First two came to nothing, 3rd company offered him an interview - 3 years on he now run's their largest and most profitable dealership!

[BigGingerBob]

Depending on the job I would say that knocking in doors is a great idea. I got my last job by doing just that. I walking into a St Albans branch of an estate agency just as a branch in the next town along needed someone. They were impressed by my approach and I had an interview.
I'm going to do the same thing this week and hopefully will get the same result!
I'm in the south west this time though instead of the south east so it may be a different story!

[BigGingerBob]

Oh yes, red tie always.