Re: Question about sending one's resume to companies

Subject: Re: Question about sending one's resume to companies
From: Bruce Byfield <bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 14:05:58 -0300


Tom Murrell wrote:

It has been suggested to Bonnie Granat <bgranat -at- editors-writers -dot- info> that she
"send 200 or more e-mails containing my resume to companies as part of my job
search. I am not sure why, but I have resisted this idea in the past, thinking
it was something that would not be appreciated by the recipients. Am I wrong
about this?"

FWIW, *I* think that would not be the wisest course of action.
There's a slight chance that a mass mailing of resumes will be seen as spam, but not, I think, a great one. From my experience, even a small company gets about twenty unsolicited resumes per week. And that's when no particular position is being advertised. When a company advertises a position, that number can increase ten times - and many of the resumes won't be for the advertised position, either. So, on the whole, you're not going disqualify yourself from consideration simply because your resume was unsolicited. Companies are used to receiving resumes they don't especially want.

The real problem is crafting a cover letter that will make the company interested in you. A general letter is all very well, but you probably stand more of a chance with a letter that is specifically aimed at a single company, and shows that you know something about the company's business. A possible compromise is a general letter that contains a paragraph that you can customize for each company; it's more work than a general letter, but less than a specific letter, and is more likely to be noticed rather than filed away.

Also, where in this form email/resume do you tell ME what you have to offer to
meet MY needs. A long time ago, before the ready availability of the Internet
and email, I sent out 200 pieces of regular mail with my resume. From that I
got zip, zero, nada by way of response. My understanding of mass market mailing
is that you can expect no better than a 1% 'hit' rate on a mass mailing, so the
best you can hope for is two responses. I usually need more responses than that
to get an interview.

My experience is very different. I average 4-6 responses out of 25 (about the most semi-individualized e-mails I can send out in a day before I go crazy with boredom). I'm not sure why - possibly I've hit on a working formula, but, more likely, it may just be that Canadians are politer than Americans.

Still, bottom line: it doesn't hurt to try. These days, I find increasing resistance to cold calls, so unsolicited e-mails may be a reasonable alternative.

--
Bruce Byfield 604.421.7177 bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com

"'Untie these bands from round my hands,
And give to me my sword,
And there's not a man in all Scotland,
But I'll brave him at a word."'
-Traditional, "Macpherson's Rant"





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References:
Re: Question about sending one's resume to companies: From: Tom Murrell

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