A lot of career experts share tips on getting past gatekeepers to get to the CEO or other senior executives who can influence whether or not you get an interview or are ultimately hired. Although they all have their subtle nuances, most involve strategizing the timing of your call, asking the administrative assistant to verify the spelling of the person’s name as a way of getting his or her mailing address, or even writing “Personal and Confidential” on the outside of your envelope to ensure the executive you are trying to contact will actually read your resume and cover letter. Although these outdated strategies might work 1 in 50 times, based on everything I hear when speaking with hiring companies, there’s a better chance it could hurt your candidacy than help it.
Technology has changed the way we can access hiring companies. Gone are the days of picking up the phone and calling a company in response to a job posting in your local newspaper. Today, you’re forced to navigate a labyrinth of call trees that would require the skills of a seasoned private investigator. And that’s assuming you can even find a number to call on their website.
The increase in Web traffic also means companies are inundated with applications like never before. One company I spoke with said they received 100,000 applications last year. Let that number sink in for a few seconds…100,000. If even 5% of applicants tried to call the CEO, that would equate to 5,000 calls. I don’t know about you, but somewhere around the 500th call, I would probably be more than a little cranky. After all, when they’re not responding to your calls, they actually have to run a company.
Instead of going straight to the top, start small. If you’re about to graduate from college or you only have a few years of full-time work experience and you want to get noticed, identify contacts in junior-level positions that can help you navigate the application process. Because they aren’t as far removed from finding a job straight out of college, if you slip up they are more likely to be forgiving because they can better relate to the challenges you’re facing. Plus, many college recruiting teams are comprised with junior alumni from your college or university. If you push them to the side in your attempts to connect with someone more senior within the organization, you could be shooting yourself in the foot.
