Having provided CV services for many people, we’ve found that there are many firms out there that aim to take money from folk and milk vulnerable folks by selling access to the unadvertised job market. The very first thing to realize is that there really is no such thing as an unpublicized job market. These firms are basically sending your Resume out speculatively to potential employers who may have need of your services and employing a database of information to match or target your Curriculum Vitae to the requirements that market could have.
Let’s use the example of a sales manager who has worked for a food manufacturer selling to the Uk retail sector in the South East of Britain. When looking out for a role, one of the first things this person should do is to be certain their CV is recent and works for them. When this has been done, we advise beginning to draw up a list of firms the sales executive would like to work for. This will include competitor businesses, other manufacturers in the sector and so on. The more firms you can find from which a hit list can be drawn up, the better the chances of your success in the long term will be. Get the name of the Manager, CEO or Chief Recruiting Officer, the higher up in the business, the better.
There are a few research tools that you can use; for example, your own diary and network of contacts is something that people need to use and quite often fail to make correct use of. It’s not in any way a negative thing to be out of work. Most folks will have several career changes throughout the course of their lives and if asked, the great majority of people will help you along the way. The internet is another tool that if used properly can find you massive lists of companies from which you can draw up a shortlist of those you may need to target. Social networking websites like LinkedIn can be useful as they mix the power of your own private network with that of the Net and that will pay huge dividends. Also, register the CV with as many job boards as you can and also target recruiters specialising in your target sector as well as more local recruitment agencies. Don’t overlook the possibilities in your personal network (LinkedIn is a good tool if used correctly)
The real magic however is the method you really use to aim at and contact these businesses. When you have an inventory of about 100 target firms, the main thing with the Curriculum Vitae now is to get it out there- target the firms you want to work for, get the name of the MD and send a personal letter to them with your Curriculum Vitae printed out on excellent quality stationery (like Conqueror). Writing a physical letter is the key as so many folk ignore mails and everyone does like a letter- just as significantly, they get read.
The solution to your unasked question of why write to the Manager or the most senior person that you can unearth is given here as follows. Firstly , they're going to be less sure to pay no heed to or reject your letter without doing something first to check if there really are any vacancies. If managers lower down the scale get a note from their CEO, they are very improbable to pay no attention to it. The other reason is that it is often true the MD actually wants to try a change and sack someone or try a project for which you may have the right skill base. The probabilities are this will be unpublicized and that's what you are tapping in to.
The unadvertised job market thus truly doesn't exist but you will find by adopting the methods I have printed above, you may succeed in the end. It could take you a little time and indeed a degree of effort and maybe some refusal. The primary advantage though is that your CV is not competing against a massive pile of job applications and your diligence and initiative will get a reward in the end by your being interviewed when others who just email will get rejected.
Glenn Hughes is a CV writer who owns a successful CV services business based in Britain
Recent Comments