Approaching Potential Employers

Job Seekers' Ways to Approach Prospective Hirers

Feb 13, 2008

Approaching Potential Employers, T Asiado

This article offers ways on how job seekers can approach or advance towards potential employers, an important step in getting that job.

Possible jobs are filled faster than job seekers often realize, so it pays to know the ways of approaching potential employers immediately.

Cold Calling Employers

In "cold calling" or "cold canvassing," the job is not or has not been advertised. Potential employer is contacted by telephone. The advantage of this approach is that job seekers can target employers they want to work for.

If an employer does not have an immediate vacancy, he may be interested in employing you in the future. Provide a copy of your resume for them and follow up at a later date. Persistence may pay off.

Answering Ads by Letter

Often, newspapers run ads for jobs which call for a written response. Sometimes the name of the company is concealed with only a blind box number given. Although this tends to be a somewhat low yield effort, there may be occasional advertisements that are particularly suited to your special skills and experiences.

Suggestions in Answering Ads:

Identify the key assets that the advertiser is seeking and table them, then identify as many of your own assets (skills, experience, qualifications) related to the needs stated.
Work out this double table of needs and assets into the first section of your letter, where it will draw immediate attention.
The rest of your letter should be short and should refer to an attached resume to highlight further qualifications.
Avoid the issue of salary requirements by either leaving it off altogether or by giving a very wide salary range.
Develop a file of form letters to minimise the time needed in responding to advertisements.

Look for companies running large advertisements too. Even if your qualifications don’t exactly match those jobs featured, there might be other positions available when companies might restructure.

Be aware of firms that are expanding or moving in other areas. They might hire you at a later date and staffing plans might be advanced if you are available.

Target Companies or Industries

"Target companies" are strong potential employers. They are the ones for which you will be mounting a tailor-made campaign. They are chosen according to the requirements you, as a job seeker, have been developing to date, including location, profitability, opportunity for promotion, pay scales.

The bigger the market for your skills or pay level, the more selective you can afford to be in narrowing your job search to a smaller number of target companies.

Cover Letter

Along with a resume, one of the most important marketing tools that a job seeker uses is the letter accompanying the resume, often called the "cover letter." For efficiency, a standard letter form should be developed.

Suggestions when composing a cover letter:

Address the letter correctly by sending it to a specific person with title, if available.
If posting, take note of documents you are asked to include but NEVER send originals.
Ensure all information given is relevant to the job – don’t write about personal problems.
Answer that all requirements you meet are listed for the job in the advertisement.
Keep to the point. Be positive but don’t overstate or understate your case.
Highlight who you are and what you can do for the company in the first paragraph or two.
Indicate that you intend to call or interview availability.
Proofread your letter from spelling and grammatical errors.

Some employers rely on job searchers approaching them, to save them money and time. Others also think that those who contact them show they are proactive, a quality that can well be regarded.