Job Search The Speculative Approach
he speculative approach of
locating vacancies is often It shouldn't be when you look at
overlooked because is the efficient method we used when
appears to be the least employing the speculative
productive, however, looks can be approach. Our Jobclub members had
deceiving. a target of 10 job leads a day.
They typically looked for
The speculative approach is where advertised vacancies first as
the job applicant makes these took the longest to prepare
applications to companies who are for. The bulk of the remaining
not currently advertising a applications came from the
vacancy. In many ways this is speculative approach.
similar to cold calling and like
cold calling you can expect a Job leads for the speculative
similar number of rejections. approach come from locating
Please, please, please realise companies that employ people in
that this does not mean that the your chosen field by using
speculative approach is not publications such as:-
working, in fact you will find it
is working just fine. Local Newspaper
National Newspaper
Month after month the statistics Specialist Trade Publications
demanded of Jobclubs by Personal Contacts
Employment Services showed that Business Contacts
more of our members found Phone Directory
employment using the speculative Business Directories
approach than by any other Local library
method. Internet
Is that surprising? One key piece of information that
you should take time to locate is
the name of the Human Resources Now if you can find out a little
Manager or if it is a small bit more about the company, then
company the business owner (CEO you can make sure that you fine
or Director) or a Manager in the tune your approach to them.
Department you are applying for a
job in. But having located the potential
vacancy what should the covering
How do you get that information? letter look like?
The quickest was is by phone. Before I show you an example,
Call the company, you will please understand that you should
normally get a receptionist or always write in your own style,
switchboard operator answering. but certain phrases within the
So ask them! Simply say something example are key to the success of
like... the approach, in particular, the
one's that suggest why you are
"I have a letter for the person writing and the closing statement
that deals with job applications that prompts the employer to take
but I can't find their name, can action.
you tell me who's name I should
put on the letter?" Have a close look at the example
below, we can discuss it
How simple is that? Now I know afterwards (please ignore "."
some of you probably don't enjoy characters used for spacing):-
calling people you don't know by ---------------------------------
telephone, but does the minor --------------------------
discomfort really matter compared
to the potential results? It's a .................................
sixty second call, easy. ......123 Some Street
................................. with COMPANY NAME as a JOB TITLE
......Mytown would be suited to a
................................. similar position within your
......Whatever County company. Previous employers
................................. have found my skills coupled with
......Postal Code my ability to work as
part of a team or on my own
Named Person initiative to be a useful
Company Name combination.
Street
Town Should you have any suitable
County vacancies now or in the
Postal near future, I would welcome the
Code............................D opportunity to discuss
ATE my suitability with you.
Dear Named Person, I look forward to hearing from
you in the near future.
It was with interest that I
recently found details of
your company in a local Yours sincerely
publication and it occurred to
me that my previous experience Signature
may be a close match for
any positions you may have Your Name
available now or in the near
future. ---------------------------------
--------------------------
As you can see from my enclosed Right, lets take a look at the
resume, my experience structure. First off, this is a
business letter and so the layout should at this point stop reading
should reflect that in the the letter and start looking at
address and date layout. the resume, but just in case they
don't, it continues to build a
Next lets look at the opening desire to read the resume....
paragraph;
"my experience with COMPANY NAME
It was with interest that I as a JOB TITLE would be suited to
recently found details of your a similar position within your
company in a local publication company." At this point they
and it occurred to me that my should be trying to find those
previous experience may be a key skills in your resume.
close match for any positions you
may have available now or in the Now we come to something called
near future. third party credibility. That is
to say, we want to suggest that
By using language like "with other people think you are good
interest that I recently found at your job;
details of your company" is a
subtle compliment and leads them "Previous employers have found my
into the letter. The rest of the skills coupled with my ability to
paragraph is a polite way of say work as part of a team or on my
"any jobs going?" :-) own initiative to be a useful
combination."
The second paragraph is the real
key paragraph; The wording here is critical, if
you say "I am an expert at xyz"
"As you can see from my enclosed then you are blowing your own
resume" is an invitation to read trumpet, bragging etc, but that
the resume, in fact the reader does not help anyone believe that
it is so. If you imply that agree! But we have to get the job
someone else thinks you are good done in the best way possible and
at your job then they are much that means selling your skills.
more likely to believe it.
Next;
This is a commonly used technique
in advertising, for a quick "Should you have any suitable
example look at sales pages on vacancies now or in the near
the internet, most have future, I would welcome the
"testimonials" because you are opportunity to discuss my
more likely to believe the suitability with you."
product or service is good if
someone else says it is so. Is a polite request that you be
considered for any up-coming
We should never be afraid of vacancies, if you are lucky they
using these techniques because are about to start a recruitment
they actually work. campaign and you can save them
the trouble and cost. If you are
The covering letter and resume unlucky you may be put on file
should be a combination that work for a 2 or 3 months, that is not
together to sell your skills and a bad thing in the short term.
abilities, they are your sales
copy with the sole purpose of Finally;
getting you to an interview.
"I look forward to hearing from
Therefore to be professional in you in the near future." Is a
your approach you need to sell straight forward request for them
the features and benefits that to contact you. You could
you have to offer the company. substitute it with:-
Horrible idea you are thinking. I
"Should you have any questions, good line so long as you follow
please feel free to contact me." it up with a phone call to prove
you are good at your job.
And of course if you are actually
looking for a job in sales then For most people the traditional
you have to prove you are a sales ending is plenty good enough.
person:-
So, take some time to run through
"I look forward to hearing from this again tomorrow after you
you in the near future and will have had time to think about it,
call to discuss any forthcoming write out a similar letter in
vacancies with you in a few days your own words and see if you are
time." happier with your own words. But
what ever you decide, take action
How pushy is that? Please don't and use the speculative approach.
use that if you are not applying It really is a very effective
for a sales post. But if you are tool in the job search toolbox.
looking for a sales job it is a
About the Author:
Leaving the Royal Air Force, Steve worked for a Charity helping the unemployed to find work. Within a few months the two programs he ran were top of the counties league table.
Head hunted, Steve lead 7 similar programs, within 6 months they were all in the top 10 - including the number one spot.
http://www.911resume.com
Source: www.isnare.com
|
|
|
|
