Approaching an Employer for a Position You Have Applied For

Addressing an employer is an essential part of the non-traditional marketing campaign.  If your efforts to get into the organization are being headed off by a gatekeeper (e.g. HR Department, Secretary, etc…) then your LAST resort is to go directly to the decision maker in a non-threatening manner.

The typical communication should follow the following timeline:

Day 1 - Send application and/or resume with a personalized piece of work that you have developed for the company.

Day 7 – Follow-up with the HR Department or hiring person (if provided or allowed) to ensure successful receipt of your materials.  Ask when a call back or decision will be made.

Day After Call Back Date:  If you receive no response by this day call the HR Department back and inquire.  If the position has been filled or they are still accepting applications inquire about an additional time frame.

If Position Filled:  If the position has supposedly been filled there is no harm in contacting the Manager/Decision Maker for an “Informational Interview.”

If Additional Time is Needed:  This is a difficult spot – If you are very qualified then it may behoove you to contact the Manager as indicated above.

However

You may also wait for the additional time to pass before doing this.  Many organizations want to see that prospective employees will respect organizational constraints and not go outside the line of command.

How to Get Around This

Contact the Manager/Decision Maker for a 10-15 minute “Informational Interview.”  DO NOT indicate that you are an applicant for the position available, this is all about them!  Probe into how they got their job, the requirements, happiness with decision, etc … 

At the end of the interview provide them with one of your “Personal Employment Cards” or a “Resume” (although this maybe too formal) and indicate to them that you are extremely interested in this type of work.  Reinforce the items they indicated that you need to be in their position with experiences from your past.

Remember – Show, don’t tell! (This is where a personal inventory assessment is pivotal!!)

If they believe that you have the qualifications for a position, let them bring it up!  If they say, “We have a position for XYZ open right now; you should send an application over to our HR Department.”  Thank them for that advice and for their time.

Now you’re in! – What to do now?  You have already submitted the application, but now have pivotal information as to what the organization is looking for.  Can you change your submission?

 We will look at that issue and how to follow up with the Manager in our next post!