Don't Send Your CV to a Stranger!

05 May 2023

There are many job hunters out there keen to get a foot on the ladder with an employer they really want to work for. It might seem like the only way to be noticed by that employer is to send a speculative CV in, hoping you'll be noticed. Many people assume this is the case because:

The employer doesn't advertise jobs externally
They recruit only through word of mouth/referrals from current employees
You don't know where they advertise their jobs, or
They recruit for all their jobs through agencies, and you get nowhere with agencies

Dealing with speculative CVs can be resource-intensive for employers, especially substantial businesses and well-known brand names. Employers can take several different approaches to these, depending on their recruitment processes or resources they commit to recruitment, including:

Putting all speculative CVs in the shredder/trash folder, with possibly a polite acknowledgement that they received your CV but won't do anything with it. This is, sadly, one of the more common approaches that you will encounter.
Writing back to you to confirm they don't retain CVs sent to them, but letting you know how and when you might be able to apply for a job
Keep your CV in a file, for a specified period, with hundreds of others, in case something suitable comes up
Sending your CV to internal managers who might want to see you

You could, of course, be invited in for an interview immediately, and offered your dream job. However, we don't think there's a high chance of that.

So, what to do?

The aim of candidates in recruitment is to be noticed and remembered for the right reasons. This is why we believe you need to take a different approach when sending your CV to an employer without responding to a vacancy advert. Instead of sending your CV to a total stranger or to the 'HR Team', here's what we suggest:

Do your research - find out, if you can, who it is you would want to work for in the company, be that the operations manager, admin team leader, or call centre manager. There are many ways to find out who you could talk to, i.e. who would have an influential role in the recruitment process for the job you want. If you can't find a name on the company website, have a look on LinkedIn or even call the company or site switchboard number to see if they'll help point you in the right direction. They will often be happy to help you and sometimes go out of their way to connect you with the correct person.
Once you've found out who you need to talk to, give them a call! Yes, we know, this takes some courage as you're effectively cold-calling, but you have a great reason to call! Then, once you've managed to get through, you've got the chance to be noticed and remembered.

What Should I Talk About?

You've now got to converse with them, avoiding the phrase 'can I have a job please?' or something similar.

We'd suggest you initially explain that you are in the market for a career move and are really keen to work for the company in their team, but you are looking to learn some more about the work/job requirements/skills needed etc. That should help break the ice before you can then move on to some relevant questions, some of which we have suggested below:

Ask how regularly jobs come up in their team
Ask about the sort of work the team do, the size of the team, and the skills they expect their staff to have
Clarify any qualifications needed for the jobs within the team
Ask how the Company help support staff in their own professional and personal development
Find out how they normally recruit staff

All of this is about building a relationship with your potential new employer/manager. We aren't saying they will offer you a job, but as a starting point, they will then start to know you and your name. Plus, you've now got an advantage over potential other applicants because you've been able to gain further insight into the company/team/work. This can be a daunting task, and not everyone likes talking on the phone, but it can be a great way to form a connection with someone at the company.

Once you've managed to have a positive conversation, why not ask if your new contact would take a look at your CV? Not to offer you a job but to see if you'd be suitable for a job should one come up or where your skills are lacking. Feedback is always important, and feedback in these circumstances allows you to act and improve your employability by enhancing your CV! It's a win-win situation!

If you manage to send your CV in, great! And if you receive some feedback, even better - make sure you act on it to improve your chances. CV feedback is some of the most valuable help you can receive.

And then what?

So, you've made contact, chatted, and maybe even received feedback on your CV. What next?

Here's where you make sure you keep in touch with your new contact. Don't call every week, but maybe every couple of months - make them remember you, have a friendly chat, and find out what's happening in their world of work and what's coming up job-wise. Connect on LinkedIn if you can. And, if you think it might work, see if you can organise a quick coffee/meeting.

Ultimately, you want them to think about you when a job arises. Having a professional relationship with them will go a long way to helping you get the job you want in the company you want to work for. Hopefully, now that they know you, they'll think of you when a job arises.

They might tell you to apply like everyone else or invite you to interview. Either way, you've boosted your chances already!