A 5000 email resume spam campaign may get you a job. That’s why there are people who will legitimately mail, email or fax your resume to a boatload of recruiters. If you want to spend the money on it, go ahead.
Putting your resume on a hundred job boards may get you a job. On my blog sites I have a link to Resume Rabbit, who will do it. If you want to spend the money, go ahead.
How to REALLY get a great job is personal contact. Here’s why: if I put an ad in the paper or on a job board, 50 to 1000 job seekers will reply. Most of those will be unqualified for the job. Basically, I have to wade through spam to get a few gems. Similarly, last week the same resume was sent to me 5 times. It was from a guy in Texas who tries to hide where he is from so I will call him with a job “anywhere in the US”. It is spam. I delete a lot of spammed resumes. I call 1 out of 50 of them.
The people who get my attention every time are:
1. Recommended to me by their friends, or
2. Call me personally and introduce themselves, or
3. Are recruited by me when I call them directly at their jobs.
All three are guts and glory ways of contacting someone. Getting a friend to recommend you or calling yourself is a very high risk and high reward way of looking for a job. Sending an email or applying online is a no risk and very low reward way of looking for a job.
Cowardice is too strong of a word, but an effective one. Email is not cowardly, it is just the least effective avenue of attack you have.
Personal calls and recommendations from friends are the most effective way to get that job you really want. Hiring managers insulate themselves from job hunters so they aren’t bothered by unqualified and ill prepared job seekers. If you are absolutely qualified and prepared why not use the absolutely most effective job hunting techniques you can?
Do a search for “networking” on my blog site archives. I have written a lot of articles on how you can find the people you need to contact. Look for a title that includes “networking”.
The easiest way, however, is just to call the company. Ask, “Who is in charge of US sales?” or, “Who is the head of computer programming?”, or “Which VP runs commercial lending?” Then call that person and ask them what you can do for them. Say, “I’m Jim Tarrington. At my company I report to the guy who does your job. I’m looking for a job. Is there a place I would fit into your group?” Then listen.
Try a high contact, high risk, and high reward way to job search. Give it a shot.
Something To Do Today
Which 3 companies would you most like to work for? Or, which 3 advertised jobs do you want the most? Get a friend to recommend you, or call in yourself.