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Writing Letters for Cold Canvassing (IT) Jobs? 60

Posted by Cliff from the getting-yourself-noticed dept.
jtan163 asks: "I'm trying to help a friend write job applications for cold canvassing jobs in the IT industry but we're quite stuck. His CV/Resume shows his skills and employment history and even to some extent, what he is looking for. So, what do you put in the letter for cold canvassing IT (and probably any other field) job applications? With cold canvassing, is the letter really important or is it just 'fluff' so the CV/Resume doesn't get lonely in the envelope (electronic or otherwise)? We'd love to hear about what has worked or not for you. Or, if you happen to be a job application consumer, what you look for in, or at least what would make you consider (or at least not throw out), a cold canvassed application?"
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Writing Letters for Cold Canvassing (IT) Jobs? More

Writing Letters for Cold Canvassing (IT) Jobs?

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  • Print them on the cheapest paper you can find (Score:3, Insightful)

    by bconway ( 63464 ) * on Monday June 06, 2005 @06:16PM (#12740739) Homepage
    Because they're all going to be thrown out. Seriously. There is such an oversaturation of qualified people in the current tech job market, that unless you're sending a tailored resume AND cover letter, it's just going in the trash. No employer is going to take the time to try to fit you to one of their jobs when they already have two dozen qualified applicants that were able to correctly follow instructions for submitting resumes.

  • Have you read... (Score:3, Informative)

    by afabbro ( 33948 ) on Monday June 06, 2005 @06:20PM (#12740780) Homepage
    ...What Color is Your Parachute? [amazon.com]

    That book has been the bible for job seekers for as long as I can remember...and it's a pretty good book on the subject. There is a section on how to look for jobs and techniques for each...I don't recall if there is a specific section on cover letter writing. However, if that's all you've got for a job search method now, then WCIYP will give you loads of other ideas and the reasons why they work.

  • Here's your content: (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Neil Blender ( 555885 ) <neilblender@gmail.com> on Monday June 06, 2005 @06:24PM (#12740836)
    To whom it may concern,

    Please allow me to waste ten seconds of your life.

    Sincerely,
    459 of 3021

  • Step One. (Score:4, Funny)

    by HotNeedleOfInquiry ( 598897 ) on Monday June 06, 2005 @06:26PM (#12740855)
    "Or, if you happen to be a job application consumer"

    Learn the proper title.

    If you're addressing your applications to "job application consumer", I can see why you're not having very good luck.

  • Networking (Score:4, Insightful)

    by geekyMD ( 812672 ) on Monday June 06, 2005 @06:31PM (#12740897)
    I'm sure you've heard it before, and you will hear it again, but in my humble experience networking is the best (the only?) way of breaking into the tech industry. Ask a friend at the company you're applying to, a former boss, contacts from conferences, etc. if they would be willing to submit your resume and give you a recommendation at their company. Many companies will look more favorably upon recommendation from within. Even consider asking former coworkers if they'd be willing to put in a good word at their old job: anything to lift you out of that cold-calling pile. Networking.

    Beyond that, I don't have much. But I would definately at least Include a cover letter. If you don't its going to look like you don't care, and thats the last thing you want.

    *now I'll sit back and wait to be corrected* :-P
    • You stand CORRECT my friend.

      So he should write a pile of those letters, then get his friends to HAND DELIVER THEM to the right person.
    • Networking isn't the only way, but it is the best. I broke in without it. When I graduated college I blew it at my oncampus recruited interviews so I was stuck. I couldn't get past the first interview anywhere for a good IT job. So I had to sink to first line ISP tech support with the MSCSE and there ilk of know nothings. It took me a few years but I broke in to mid-level application development and should be moving foward.
    • I don't know... I got my latest job without sending a cover letter to the company. Hell, I didn't even send a resume. The job came and attacked like a lion stalking a gazelle. Here I was, trying to avoid work and collect unemplo...errr recoup my taxes, and out of nowhere, this company called me up and asked me if I was looking for work and if I would like to come in for an interview on Thursday. I couldn't refuse, otherwise I would jeopardize my tax recovery plan. Doing my best to fail the interview an
    • Send your resume to all the big contract agencies (in the UK, this might include Lorien, Computerpeople, Elan, Parity, Hayes IT, etc etc). Go for a big, fat contract. The agency makes money from placing you and so has a vested interest in doing it: and they are always crying out for fresh meat.

  • I haven't tried it in the real world yet, but.. (Score:3, Informative)

    by Knights who say 'INT ( 708612 ) on Monday June 06, 2005 @06:44PM (#12741031) Journal
    I'm writing a cover letter and rewriting a resumé according to some guidelines from http://www.job-secrets-revealed.com/ [job-secrets-revealed.com]. It sounds interesting.

  • You could have it professionally done (Score:5, Informative)

    by Gary Destruction ( 683101 ) * on Monday June 06, 2005 @07:01PM (#12741226) Journal
    That's what I did and I got good results. As it turns out, I wasn't marketing myself well enough. I had a resume and cover letter done for $195. Then I sent my resume and cover letter to over 1400 recruiters across the country for $60. A month later, I'm still getting responses.
    • Absolutely!
      You would not believe the difference that a nice looking, well written resume and cover letter can make. This is one area where hiring a professional is the best financial decision you can make, unless you have an eye for layout and tasteful yet distinctive color and fonts, well-honed grammar and the ability to objectively focus on your selling points without drowning the reader in detail. A professional resume consultant is usually worth every penny they charge.
    • A ditto from me. My wife had her resume rewritten (I think it was via Monster) and at $300 for a couple of pages it seemed like a waste of money.

      But companies started falling over themselves to give her interviews, and she was able to choose where to go rather than taking what was offered.
    • FWIW, I used TunaRez [tunarez.com] and was very happy with the results. They are tech-savvy and publisht their prices up-front so there's no wondering what each function they provide will cost you.

    • Re:You could have it professionally done (Score:5, Interesting)

      by mcmonkey ( 96054 ) on Monday June 06, 2005 @11:09PM (#12743096) Homepage
      Argh!

      First, someone above mentioned "What color is your parachute". Absolutely 100% required reading.

      Second, someone also suggested calling rather than mailing an unsolicited resume. Absolutely 100% correct.

      We're technical folks, you're looking for a technical job, why aren't you taking a technical approach?

      If I told you to write a program, what the first question you would ask? Ok, after, how much am I paying? You'd ask what the program is supposed to do. You need to know the desired features, the target audience, etc. before you can get started.

      You friend should do the same with a job search. Okay, What is the purpose of the cover letter/resume? The purpose of the resume is to get the interview. Period. That's it. So sure, send "fluff" if you like wasting your time, paper, postage, time of the person you're sending it to, etc. Otherwise, the cover letter and resume should peak the target's interest. The goal is to get that person to invite you in to their office.

      A call is better than an unsolicited resume fore several reasons.

      First, a personal call has more weight. There are jag-offs out there spamming 1400 recruiters at a shot. For all I know, the resume you sent me is one of 1400. You call me, I know you're not on the phone with 1399 other people at the same time.

      Second, a personal call demands attention. I may give you brush off, but at least I have to do it when you call. A resume comes in the mail, I put it in a 'to do' pile, I shuffle it around, maybe I read it, maybe I don't.

      Third, a personal call gets you to do a little more of your homework. An unsolicited resume to the 'HR Department' or 'IT Hiring Manager' gets filed away. Odds are, it is never even read. You find the person you want to work for and call that person by name, A)you've done a little research into the company and judged it as a potential target. No sense in wasting my time by sending me a resume, having me call you in, only for you to decide my company isn't right for you. B)You've got my attention. Mail to 'Generic Title' ends up in the stack of papers I really should go over but don't have time for. Mail to 'Mr. Smith' at least gets opened. A phone call to 'Mr. Smith' at least gets my voice mail, if not me in person. And if I don't return vm, you don't want to work for me anyway. C)If I'm paying attention when you call, I realize you've done your research to find my name and phone number for your targeted search. You've shown you're willing to work towards your goal. You're up on 75% of the competition already. (And you're blowing the unsolicited resume crowd out of the water.)

      Forth, you may get out of writing a cover letter all together (or at least have an easier time of it). The call may end with a request for your resume. You'll need to include a cover letter, but you'll mostly just need to refresh my memory of our phone conversation. (Dear Mr. Smith...resume as we discussed...my experience as I mentioned...also bring these skills to the table...hugs and kisses, and so on. It practically writes itself.) If all goes well, and this is the goal of the conversation, we end by arranging the face-to-face interview. No cover letter needed!

      And there ya go! You've done a little work targeting me as a potential boss, and in doing so, set yourself ahead of the unsolicited resume crowd and created the impression of a focused, not-looking-for-the-easy-way-out, go-getter that would make an excellent addition to my team. Congratulations, when can you start?

      Now, about the parent post. Get some help with cover letters and resumes. Can be professional, can be an experienced friend or family who's been through the job hunt/hiring process a few times. BUT! remember, you have to back up every single word of that resume. You can dress it up, you can spin it, but it better be true. And you had best be able to discuss it. If you put it to paper and send it in, it is fair game. If I ask you about something on you

  • suggest drinking on the first interview. (Score:4, Funny)

    by infonography ( 566403 ) on Monday June 06, 2005 @08:22PM (#12741945) Homepage
    Send this as cover letter

    25 Reasons Alcohol Should be Served at Work

    1. It's an incentive to show up.
    2. It reduces stress.
    3. It leads to more honest communications.
    4. It reduces complaints about low pay.
    5. It cuts down on time off because you can work with a hangover.
    6. Employees tell management what they think, not what managers want to hear.
    7. It helps save on heating costs in the winter.
    8. It encourages carpooling.
    9. Increase job satisfaction because if you have a bad job, you don't care.
    10. It eliminates vacations because people would rather come to work.
    11. It makes fellow employees look better.
    12. It makes the cafeteria food taste better.
    13. Bosses are more likely to hand out raises when they are wasted.
    14. Salary negotiations are a lot more profitable.
    15. Suddenly, burping during a meeting isn't so embarrassing.
    16. Employees work later since there's no longer a need to relax at the bar.
    17. It makes everyone more open with their ideas.
    18. Everyone agrees they work better after they've had a couple of drinks.
    19. Eliminates the need for employees to get drunk on their lunch break.
    20. Increases the chance of seeing your boss naked.-SCARY!!!!
    21. It promotes foreign relations with the former Soviet Union.
    22. The janitor's closet will finally have a use.
    23. Employees no longer need coffee to sober up.
    24. Sitting on the copy machine will no longer be seen as "gross."
    25. Babbling and mumbling incoherently will be common.
    http://www.realestatehumor.com/index.php?inl_theme =default&t=sub_pages&cat=28 [realestatehumor.com]

  • Don't write, call (Score:4, Insightful)

    by DamienMcKenna ( 181101 ) <{moc.annek-cm} {ta} {neimad}> on Monday June 06, 2005 @08:40PM (#12742108)
    Don't write to prospective employers, call them. Research each one you are interested in, find out who would be the hiring manager for a position you are interested in and contact them directly.

    People are overly sensitive to junk mail these days, especially managers, so unless you are willing to take the time to research it properly you're going to go nowhere.

    Damien

  • Introduction (Score:3, Informative)

    by Bitsy Boffin ( 110334 ) on Monday June 06, 2005 @08:44PM (#12742150) Homepage
    Introduce yourself, tell them why you hav decided to write to them, why you are looking for a job, highlight the areas of your curriculum vitae that are particularly relevant to the business area, personalise it a bit (so it doesn't look like a form letter, they can see you've actuall put some thought into it) and thank them for thier time.

    You might want to also include a "business card" with your name, primary skills and contact details - while the CV might get binned, the business card might just make it to the card file.

  • my experience (Score:3, Funny)

    by larry bagina ( 561269 ) on Monday June 06, 2005 @11:05PM (#12743077) Journal
    Work a street corner as a tranny hooker. Take pictures of executives having hot man-on-man gay sex. Include these pictures when you send in your resume.

    The best part about this job is, they pay you not to show up!

  • There's a job opening there, they're getting ready to fire me. Read my slashdot journal to find out why. Oh, what the hell, I can summarize why... they read it too!

    Haha. I hate the place.

  • Cover Letters (Score:3, Interesting)

    by ignorant_coward ( 883188 ) on Monday June 06, 2005 @11:39PM (#12743285)

    Cover letters can seem hard, but I've noticed that if I have a lot of trouble thinking up a cover letter for a job it means that probably isn't the right job for me. A resume can be only so long, so a person with strong experience has to leave stuff out. This leaves the cover letter as a prime location for adding additional details and making them relevant to the company you are applying to.

    That is, if companies even bother reading the thousands of cover letters they get...sigh.
    • Cover letters can seem hard, but I've noticed that if I have a lot of trouble thinking up a cover letter for a job it means that probably isn't the right job for me.

      Bingo!

      When I got downsized in February, my former employers paid for me to attend an outplacement consultants for 3 months. There were some very helpful seminars, CV (resume) reviews, "self-marketing" guidance and the like.

      It sounded really pointy-haired, but it helped a great deal in landing me my new job.

      I wanted to apply for a job as a

  • Has anyone had success with online resumes?

    As a consultant, from a hiring perspective, I'd certainly be impressed with anyone who submitted a resume in this format.
    To the contrary, if applicants could *not* email, then there was no way I was going to hire them into a tech position.

    The great thing about an online web resume, is that you can comb the logs to determine what companies are showing interest and what information they are viewing.

    http://kevindawson.ca/ [kevindawson.ca] for my example.
  • I suggest you take a look at "The Perfect Resume", by Tom Jackson. (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/076 7916239/ [amazon.com])

    Among other things, he describes a "job creation" strategy, which will beat the heck out of any cold-calling plan you can come up with.

    Highly recommended.
  • Pretend you're Indian. All you have to do is completely mangle the English language, lie like a maniac on your resume (you don't know .Net, you know EVERYTHING -- Java, .Net, Perl, C/C++, Lisp, assembler, etc -- and you've been doing it for ten years, even though you're only 21) and fake an accent if they call you.

    Barring such subterfuge, you might as well forget about it. That whole "job" thing? Yeah, it's gone.

    Good luck, though.

    P.S. When you've completely given up, try civil service. It's a good living
  • You don't want to cold canvas. That's a good way to ensure they never call you back.

    Try dice.com

  • I did this once (Score:2, Interesting)

    by ReidMaynard ( 161608 )
    Back in 1982, and I was looking for a part-time, afternoon only tech job while I went to school in the morning.

    I printed up a bunch of resumes, got out the phone book (yellow pages) and just started going down companies who I thought would hire tech people.

    I just started with the A's and spend afternoons driving to the address and leaving my (single page) resume.

    WHen I got to the C's, and I was leaving my resume with a particular company, the receptionist said "hold on" and she walked away.

    She came back
  • Sorry, but what is "cold canvassing", anyway?

    Even Google doesn't know [google.com]!

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