Some people know precisely which organization they want to work for. One great way to get a job in the 21st century is to target the employer of your dreams (or at least for the next step in your career).
Whether you’re a highly motivated rookie or someone more senior, many organizations keep a database of potential candidates, even if they’re not recruiting right then. It shows them you’re motivated, says Kurz-Firth of Microsoft.
Like everything, there’s a right way and a wrong way to go about this. Follow these do’s and don’ts to boost your chances of success:
- Do: research your target. When Kurz-Firth wanted to join Microsoft she jumped on YouTube and watched videos of the CEO to understand the company’s offerings and vision.
- Don’t: send scattergun applications. Researching each organization properly will pay off. So stick to a few applications at a time.
- Do: phone reception or search online to find out who’s the best person in the organization to contact, says Kurz-Firth. In the case of Microsoft, that’s probably the product manager.
- Don’t: drop a physical copy of your resume at reception, says Kurz-Firth. “No one is working with hard copies anymore.”
- Do: once you know who to contact, send a personalized email or cover letter with your resume. Rephrase what you’ve learned about the organization and how your skills and experience match, says Kurz-Firth.
- Don’t: rabbit on. Keep it brief and to the point. Senior staff members are busy people.
- Do: keep the contact live. If you don’t hear back, follow up with a phone call or your email will get lost, Kurz-Firth says. Network and find connections so you can name drop in the conversation.
- Don’t: be lost for words. Have your pitch ready. Practice it out loud. “Say: ‘hey I have sent in my resume and I wanted the opportunity to introduce myself’,” says Kurz-Firth. You’ll also need a spiel ready should your phone ring. Microsoft does a lot of succession planning and managers will call good candidates. If you don’t hear, it’s also okay to call again a few months later, she says.
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Whatever you do, make sure you tailor all your communications carefully. Tech companies like Microsoft love memorable resumes, for example. Sending yours printed on a t-shirt as one Kiwi candidate did will get you noticed. A bank, however, says Kurz-Firth might view this as too gimmicky for its culture.