Everything Old Is New, Getting The Attention Of Hiring Managers
An unsolicited resume will go straight to the trash bin. Hiring managers get hundreds of these, along with other emails they must wade through. Your resume email competes with other resumes, sales emails asking for a moment of their time and the bombardment of internal emails that every manager must deal with to effectively complete their job each day. But think about this. Though it is common for a busy manager to receive hundreds of emails a day, they receive very few letters. If you do your research well, identify the person with the power to hire you for the job you want to do, mailing your resume to that person may be an effective way to stand out.
Take it one step farther and consider attaching a handwritten note. Not many people receive letters and even fewer receive handwritten notes these days. You don’t need anything fancy either. A simple 5x7 plain, folded notecard will suffice.
What Do I Write?
Keep it simple and follow these steps.
Why are you writing them?
Let them know you looked them up and you know something beyond the fact that they listed a job.
Show them you’re more interested in working with them than everyone else.
Connect your value and show them how you can help them solve problems.
What Does This Look Like?
It could look something like this.
“I saw your job listing for a financial analyst online and I wanted to take the time to personally write you this note. At the risk of being too forward, I’ve attached my resume as well as sending it through your online job portal. I researched your company and noticed that you frequently launch new products. I’m sure analysts play a key role in the success of those launches. I sincerely hope we have the opportunity to discuss some of the launches I’ve been a part of and how I may be able to add value to your current team.”
Another way to think of your handwritten note is a teaser. You don’t need to spell out your career story. You just need to pique their interest. The next step is an interview, not the job offer. Your resume and note should lead to the interview. When you interview, you can give them more details to close the deal and secure a job offer.
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Sending Your Resume Uninvited
Emailing your resume to someone who doesn’t have a job opening listed is not likely to produce fruit. Only send your resume as an attachment when someone requests it. Why? Sending email attachments is a time-tested method that hackers use for spreading viruses and other malware. Organizations are very aware of this and teach their staff not to open attachments from people they do not recognize. Don’t waste your time spamming your resume to people who will never see it.
How to Send a Resume When Requested
If you email your resume to someone who has requested it, put the job you are seeking in the subject line and in the email itself. This makes it easy to search for in the other person’s inbox. Include a short paraphrase indicating any previous conversations you’ve had by phone or email. They’ve likely had many conversations and it will help to jog their memory about who you are. And I do mean a short paraphrase. Don’t make them spend too many brain calories. Convert your resume to a pdf. If you need a free pdf converter, here’s one.
To recap:
Include the job you are seeking in the subject line and the body of the email.
Write a short paraphrase of any previous conversations.
Send your resume as a pdf.
