How To Get A Job With A Company That Is Not Advertising Open Positions

Some employers are difficult to see, and it takes creative strategies to gain entry. It also takes a lot of old-fashioned persistence.

I am reminded of a saleswoman who wanted to make an appointment with a purchasing executive in another city, and knew that person would probably be hard to see. She wrote ahead and said she would be calling the executive when she arrived in town, figuring that would ease the way. But when she called, his secretary said the man was busy and could not take the call.

That story was repeated every time the woman called. She had scheduled four days of appointments in that city and called the purchasing executive every day without success. She was about to give up on the morning of the fifth day, only a few hours before she had to catch a plane home, but decided to give it one more try.

To her surprise, the purchasing executive answered his own phone, apologized when told she had been trying to reach him all week, and told her to come right over. She made her presentation, which resulted in a major sale. Whether the purchasing executive had in fact been too busy to see her or whether her lack of access was caused by an overzealous secretary, she was persistent and successfully completed her mission.

If you have your sights set on a certain company, more effort is required. You might want to call the hiring manager early or late, before or after the start of the business day. You might be able to make direct contact with the employer when the secretary isn't there.

If you do, offer to make an appointment at his convenience, before or after the regular business day if necessary. That will send the message that you are interested in the company enough to make the extra effort to be interviewed. It also will show that you are not likely to be a nine-to-five worker, recognizing that the hours of the business day have expanded to encompass whatever time is needed to get the job done. Both are very desirable impressions to make on a prospective employer.

Have you sent this person your resume? What type of a resume was it? Many job seekers do not have the type of resume they need in today's market. If your resume was the traditional one-and-a-half or two pages that briefly outlines your goals, work background and education, you have done yourself a disservice. Today you need to add specific examples of your accomplishments for previous employers. You should focus your resume away from your own objectives and concentrate on what you have to offer a company. A self-centered resume that discusses your goals is going to wind up in the trash.

If need be, revise your resume and just sit outside the hiring manager's office until you can be seen. Sooner or later, the person will likely talk to you.

There is, of course, the possibility that an employer may not be interested in you. It is not pleasant to contemplate, but you have to consider it. However, you should not let it lessen your sense of self-worth. Do not put all your eggs in one basket. There are lots of excellent jobs out there. If you still have no success after making your best effort to see this hiring manager, take your experience to another employer.

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