Here’s another dose of the obvious: computers don’t hire people. People do.
"Chances are, unless you get face to face with the hiring manager, you will not get the job. After creating a top-notch resume and cover letter, your next major goal should be to meet hiring managers at companies you want to work for,” says Minneapolis, Minn. recruiter Larry Harris.
If you’re searching for a job locally, a powerful way to increase your odds of meeting a hiring manager is to pick up the phone and call.
Here’s what Harris suggests.
“Never just send your resume and leave it at that. Call and ask for the hiring manager. If he/she answers, explain why you are calling. Tell them why you are perfect for the job and ask for meeting. Typically they will ask you to just send your resume.”
But don’t let that stop you.
According to Harris, an excellent response is this: “I could send you my resume, but I’m going to be about five minutes from your office tomorrow around noon. If you don’t mind, I’d like to stop by and drop it off. When I do, I’ll ask for you. If you’re available, I can introduce myself and personally give you my resume. If you’re not available, I’ll just leave it with the receptionist. Would that be OK?”
This is a non-threatening proposition that many hiring managers will agree to. At worst, it gives you an excuse to call the company and build rapport by phone with your prospective employer.
Action Step: You can get more face-to-face meetings with hiring managers by offering to hand deliver your resume. The worst thing they can say is no.
But if they agree to meet you briefly when you drop off the resume, you’ll in effect be getting a mini job interview at the same time, since you’ll have a chance to discuss the position and the company’s needs when you meet. That will give you a huge advantage over other candidates who simply mail or email their resumes. Which can dramatically reduce your time out of work!
Compliments of David Perry and Kevin Donlin
