Harness the power of direct mail. The first thing you need to do for a prospecting letter is compile your list. Find 5-10 companies you want to work for based on your research. Compose a letter to your network of contacts asking them if they know of anyone who works at any of the companies on your enclosed list.
When a contact does know someone at one of the companies ask him or her to forward your resume to them and let you know how to follow up on the referral. Enclose an eXtreme makeover resume or a functional one with 3-5 bulleted accomplishments that would be of interest to hiring managers at the companies you target.
- Send the letter to all your direct contacts first: lawyer, accountant, friends, colleagues, former employers.
- Send the list to your closest neighbors next and then people that you don’t necessarily know but you’ve always meant to stop by and introduce yourself to.
- Attach a hand written note to your list and sign your name
- If you hit a dead-end find out who supplies the company with computer products, stationery or any other service and approach them the same way.
- Don’t be surprised if someone calls one or two of your target companies and tells them you are doing research on them… that’s not a bad thing to have happen.
Compliments of David E Perry and Kevin Donlin. For more creative job search tactics, go to the Guerrilla Marketing for job hunters blog and download the free audio CD.
