On Friday’s I share my answers to job seeker questions! If you have a question, submit it below!
I have heard this question posed twice this week and thought it would be a good one to address! Thank you to this reader for submitting your scenario!
Job Seeker Question
I have applied for two opportunities that I think I would be a fit for. The job description and my strengths are very similar. I have submitted my resume for their review and they have not responded (>two weeks).
I am considering “suitin’ up” and go in person to speak with a decision maker regarding my resume. I would hope to leave the impression that I am persistant and support that effort by positive actions and my offer of being some service.
What are your thoughts about this action? Am I being too forward or pushy? Will I alienate myself from them by just showing up and introducing myself without an invitation? Am I way off base?
My response:
It isn’t uncommon for companies to ignore applications and emails. If you haven’t already done so, send an email to HR or whomever you sent your resume to and ask where they are in the process and if they received your resume.
It is also not uncommon for resumes to get lost in cyberspace, so it is absolutely worth checking to make sure they got it.
Another follow up strategy which you may have already considered is calling the company. If you don’t have the direct line for HR, call the main company number and get transferred.
Assuming you’ve done both of these things already or first, and gotten no response, then an in-person visit seems like the last option and one worth exploring. An unannounced visit has to be done with great tact. You need to be warm, sincere and polite. You may run into security issues (locked doors or closed parking lots), a rude receptionist (or no receptionist at all), or it could be a real win.
Your purpose in showing up is two-fold. To learn more about their company and environment (watch people and see what their facility looks like, how people who work there interact and how they treat you) and to see where they are in the hiring process and if they received your application. In that order!
It seems to me that “showing up unannounced” could potentially seen as desperate. So I would be interested to hear what you think… what is your opinion on this tactic? Comment, please!
Good luck and let me know what happens!
Here are some other folks who have written about this surprise on-site visit:
Why not ask “are you hiring?” by Julie Walraven of Design Resumes
Arouse Don’t Assault by Nance Rosen on Personal Branding Blog
Have you had success “showing up” at a company? Share in a comment!
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Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.