| Your mind is set on a company and a position that | | | | unsolicited resume may tag you as a |
| you want. This could be your dream job, but the | | | | “stalker.” This slang refers to unwanted calls |
| company is not hiring. Before crossing your fingers | | | | from individuals seeking employment when the firm is |
| and submitting your resume, consider the some of | | | | not hiring. These people are in effect, |
| the risks that accompany your unsolicited | | | | “stalking” the company while waiting for an |
| resume. Your initiative in pursuing your dream job | | | | opportunity that does not exist. You may feel that |
| may actually sabotage your employment search. | | | | you are showing tenacity in seeking employment. It is |
| Unsolicited resumes are those received by a | | | | much more likely you are alienating yourself from |
| company when no employment openings are | | | | those in the hiring process. |
| available. These resumes carry some baggage that | | | | If you have been searching for some time, you may |
| will not benefit you in the job search. Despite your | | | | begin to feel frustrated and perhaps a little |
| best intentions, an unsolicited resume has little chance | | | | desperate. It is natural to feel that way and many |
| of landing you an interview. Unsolicited resumes carry | | | | people have experienced those feelings. But, do not |
| some stigma for a number of good reasons, but we | | | | allow your feelings to provoke you into rashly |
| limit this discussion to three. | | | | submitting a batch of unsolicited resumes. This |
| 1. Unsolicited resumes are an irritant to Human | | | | practice is unproductive and will set you up to feel |
| Resource personnel when the company is not hiring. | | | | worse when your “shotgun” approach fails |
| The HR staff has a multitude of duties aside from | | | | to produce calls from excited hiring managers eager |
| those related to hiring. They will not spend time | | | | to schedule an interview. |
| examining resumes for positions when the company | | | | Landing the right position requires strategy, timing, |
| is not seeking employees. | | | | skill, and a little bit of luck never hurts. But, those |
| 2. These resumes are seldom read, but go straight | | | | who properly prepare often make their own luck and |
| into a file for a specified period of time before finding | | | | that is your goal. Map out an effective job search |
| their way into the shredder and finally the recycle bin. | | | | strategy that will work for you and your |
| When the company is hiring, H.R. will begin from a | | | | circumstances. There is not a one-size-fits-all solution, |
| pool of current resumes rather than from a file of | | | | but there are effective job search strategies that will |
| stale unsolicited documents. Unlike wine, your resume | | | | work for you. Develop your job search strategy and |
| does not improve with age. | | | | you are going in the right direction. |
| 3. Calling the HR office to follow-up on your | | | | |