Stinger
Apr 2nd, 2012, 04:49 AM
I've always held the belief that finding a professional, non-intrusive way to be as personable as possible when submitting a resume can help that extra little bit.
Whether it is visiting the office directly to drop off a resume or simply finding out the name of the hiring manager and addressing them by name on your cover letter.
However, regarding the latter, I've recently found it harder and harder to get this information from companies unless you have a contact already inside. I've been stonewalled at nearly a dozen+ businesses when trying to even find out the last name of who may be handling hiring for a specific position when cold calling reception, or even when I've managed to dig up a department's direct reception desk.
It's almost always the same of one of two shoot downs; either "We don't divulge that information", or "Why don't you just address it as "To Whom it May Concern?"
I could understand with a large business with a dedicated HR department and a confusing management ladder a person simply not knowing, however this seems to persist to small/medium sized businesses as well. It's as if company employees, especially management, are supposed to be some trade secret. Even if I am asking for just a last name and gender :!:
Is this common in the day of non-personal web based job seeking? Anyone have any tips on creative ways to find out the individual(s) managing hiring?
I've had to make do with "Dear Hiring Managers" but I can't help but feel this could be the difference between trash bin target practice and more than a passing glance.
Whether it is visiting the office directly to drop off a resume or simply finding out the name of the hiring manager and addressing them by name on your cover letter.
However, regarding the latter, I've recently found it harder and harder to get this information from companies unless you have a contact already inside. I've been stonewalled at nearly a dozen+ businesses when trying to even find out the last name of who may be handling hiring for a specific position when cold calling reception, or even when I've managed to dig up a department's direct reception desk.
It's almost always the same of one of two shoot downs; either "We don't divulge that information", or "Why don't you just address it as "To Whom it May Concern?"
I could understand with a large business with a dedicated HR department and a confusing management ladder a person simply not knowing, however this seems to persist to small/medium sized businesses as well. It's as if company employees, especially management, are supposed to be some trade secret. Even if I am asking for just a last name and gender :!:
Is this common in the day of non-personal web based job seeking? Anyone have any tips on creative ways to find out the individual(s) managing hiring?
I've had to make do with "Dear Hiring Managers" but I can't help but feel this could be the difference between trash bin target practice and more than a passing glance.