“Inquiry letters can pump up job search” plus 1 more

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Inquiry letters can pump up job search

Posted: 17 Jan 2011 01:39 AM PST

Q As an experienced 47-year-old manager, frustration is eating me alive in my search for employment. Job boards don't seem to be paying off for me, and networking is a slow process. I need to do something that'll revive my search. How much faith do you put in taking the initiative and reaching out with e-mail letters to land a job? And what is the difference between a "broadcast letter" and a "letter of interest? — B.Q.S.

AWord games. Career advisers use varying terms for self-marketing, unsolicited direct mail, whether it is presented via e-mail or on paper. The big differences between broadcast and interest letters are merely time and terminology.

Self-marketing direct mail in the 20th century was almost always called "broadcast letters," while the same breed today is often referred to as "letters of interest" or "inquiry letters." By any name, you send these letters to big numbers of potential employers with whom you have no connection. Or you may send them to recruiters who specialize in your function, industry or career level.

•Competent campaign To stack the odds in your favor, you have to do more than write a wimpy "I-I-I" letter (I discovered your company, I'm looking for this, I want that — and other expressions reflecting your hiring hopes from your perspective). Instead, switch mentalities with the busy individuals who read your letter by remembering this five-word formula: TELL THEM WHY THEY CARE. You may be a whiz at finance, office management, whatever — but so what? Make the profit connection for readers — tell them why they care.

After writing a powerhouse letter, your next task is to get it to the right computers. Compiling a list of leads is a real time buster. A company called Custom Databanks can help. Custom Databanks is the premier distribution vendor, long used by professional résumé writers and career coaches. Now the company is expanding to serve individual job seekers.

For $9.99 each, you can download an e-book directory that lists hundreds of search firms in your field or locale; each listing includes the data you need — firm name, key contacts, e-mail and postal address, phone number, description, industry and position specialties, whether retained or contingent, and minimum salary of assignments.

The e-book directories are available on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. They are designed to be read on Kindle or Nook e-readers. If you don't have an e-reader, both Amazon and Barnes & Noble offer free apps that allow you to use your computer, tablet or smart phone to read the directories. You can sample before you buy. For more information on saving time, money and sanity to proactively distribute your résumé, you can pay a visit to customdatabanks.com/e-book-direct-ories-2.

•Multiple versions Customizing your résumé for the job you seek is infinitely more effective than relying on a one-size-fits-all generic résumé. But there's a technical hiccup: Many search firm databases do not permit you to store more than one résumé version, making it impossible to customize resumes. What to do? Systems often store by phone number, so use different phone numbers for résumé A and résumé B.

But when you're completely in the dark about how the search firm stores résumés, consider the advice of ace John Lucht (ritesite.com): "The best you can do is make your success in different roles and functions shine from the pages of the single résumé those search firms will keep on file."

•Reality check Having seen stunning success resulting from a campaign of intelligent distribution of well-crafted inquiry (or broadcast) letters, I definitely would add a direct e-mail component to my search, whether homegrown or professionally done.

As upscale direct mail expert Bob Bronstein (profileresearch.com) says: "If you have good credentials and employers are hiring your bundle of skills, they're going to call you."

Improve job-search skills at informational meeting at Whittier Area Community Church

Posted: 16 Jan 2011 10:19 PM PST