Frustrating job search? Try a new approach.

Disheartened by applying for jobs for which you seem to be ideally qualified only to receive a cold terse message from an auto responder telling you your application will not be progressed unless you have heard in the next two weeks. Frustrated by talking to a recruitment consultant who seems excited that you might be the right person for a role they are working on only to find that they never return your calls.

It can seem so difficult to talk to decision-makers when the recruitment market is populated by organisations using keyword searching and automated recruitment processes or dealing with recruitment consultants who are motivated by securing a fee not necessarily in finding you a new role.

Often the process will be burdened with requirements designated as essential or desirable that allow key word searching algorithms, or consultants with a pile of CVs to sift through to take out the vast majority of applications. How often have I heard or overheard, "I don't understand, my experience was ideal for that role but after applying I never heard another word".

Directly approach the hiring manager.

Why not try approaching a hiring manager directly?  True you don't always know who will be recruiting but your local or national news will often tell you when companies are involved with activity that is likely to drive a recruitment need. Of course you won't know who the hiring manager is. A minimum amount of research should make it clear to you using either LinkedIn or the companies website.

 Write from the reader's perspective.

 Many people when looking for a new role will start a letter with something like, " I have worked in FMCG sales for five years", " I read with increasing interest your advertisement......", "I have been a finance director for 10 years". All written from the perspective of the writer but with a little research again you will be able to open a letter from the readers perspective. Local news or a company's website, often in their news section, will give you the information you require. E.g. " You must be really pleased to win ' own label supplier of the year", " Congratulations on upgrading your ..... test facility". "You must be excited to achieve x%age growth'. The variations are endless but writing from the reader's perspective will act as a hook.

You can then use your imagination to consider what the hiring managers greatest frustration may be. Your perspective is not that of a jobseeker but as an interested person, encouraging the hiring manager to believe that you may have an answer to their problem not that your CV should be sent to HR. You have experience of their possible frustration and you may be able to relieve it if they just give you a call and arrange to have a chat over a cup of coffee.

Close your letter briefly but with a positive message from the reader's perspective, ' If increasing sales is important to you and warrants a conversation contact information is on my CV".

 Does it work?

 Not every time. A well written letter and appropriate CV however, will often work and can have a hit rate, for a telephone call or email arranging a meeting, of one in four. If you wish for more information on this approach call me on(07525) 857389 or email me at [email protected]