Does sending CVs to random companies work?

patman99

First-off get the ball rolling with regards to signing-on for benefits, then worry about cv's and job hunting.
It pays to put your cv up on sites such as Fish4jobs, jobsite etc, but be aware that monster tend to send you lists of jobs outside your requirements. I got a call out of the blue after a company found my cv online so it is worth adding that to your arsenal of job hunting weaponry.

rachy86

To be honest, in my opinion you'd be better off applying for any and all job adverts you see (or hear of), as if a company has a vacancy then they are either going to handle the vacancy in house, or instruct an agency to recruit on their behalf. I've worked in places where we receive spec applications and although they do go on file, until a suitable vacancy arises nothing is going to happen with them - and then when a vacany does arise they will advertise for the job anyway!

You need to make sure you have a tip top cv AND cover letter.

My current boss is the fussiest man I have ever met when it comes to job applications. We were recently (and still are) recruiting for a senior sales position in the Company and he discarded all but two applications, where although the applicant had relevent experience, the language used in the covering letter and the general grammar just wasn't up to standard - some cover letters were clearly just generic "send to all" letters and this really does nothing to sell you to a prospective employer. SPELL CHECK!

Make sure every cover letter you write is unique to the job you are applying for. I have a "base letter" that I amend as appropriate for any job I apply for. If a job advert says a specific experience or qualification is essential, make sure you highlight that you have. It really is about selling yourself.

If possible ask a friend or family member to look over your CV and preferably your covering letters as they will be reading it as a prospective employer would. Ask them to be as honest as possible - fresh eyes on a document can really help make small improvements to give an overall better read.

Register with every agency in your area and regularly check the job websites.

I'm working currently as PA to the Chairman so we are in the same line of work. Check out local colleges and universities are there are usually a fair amount of administration jobs in these places (I should know, my mum is a university secretary!) so although they may not be PA roles, you should be able to bring the skills you have gained working as a PA to any admin role - amazing organisational skills, multitasking, able to use your initiative to assess whether a situation is urgent enough to interupt your chairman/director etc. Its not about WHAT you do in your day to day, but the SKILLS you have, and this is what you need to focus on.

Good luck!

sexki11en

This is actually one of the best ways to find a job right now.

Something like 40% of jobs are filled before they even get to advertising stage (either internally or friend of a friend) and if your CV lands on someones desk, yes they may throw it away but they may actually keep it. Even if there is nothing available there right now, when there is, they may call you rather than spending thousands on recruitment fees of advertising and you've cost them nothing!

Go for it - what have you got to loose?

All I would say is call the company first to find out who to specifically direct the CV to. No name on the envelope and you rish the receptionist opening it and it maybe never even reaching the right person.

Good luck and poor you for the situation you've found yourself in! :hugs:

SK x

spring_chicken

Hi, apart from my first job after leaving school which was for a local civil service recruitment drive, I would say that I have got around 95% of my jobs (and my husbands jobs) this way.

What I would do, would be to write to a company, enquiring if they have any vacancies either now or in the near future, add your CV too. Like some of the others have said, you may not hear back from some companies, others may say they will keep you on file, but dont give up, you will strike lucky sooner or later.

I will give you an example, I was taken on as a typist for the county council in the surveyors office, well our dept was being sold to a private company in a few months, and at my interview i was told that I would only be given a temp contract (by the council) but when the takeover happens, I will automatically become permanent, well cos I had nothing in writing, I started putting feelers out, and sending off my letters to various companies to see if they had any vacancies.

A month before I was due to get married, I arrived at work to be told that I wasnt going to be made permanent, nor were any of the others of temp contracts, in fact, we were gonna be given the push at the end of our contracts (which was about 2 months away) - not great timing, what with the wedding, but on the very same day, I got called up and asked to go along for an interview at an insurance company close to where I lived, and the very next day after the interview, I was offered the job! which I was over the moon to accept!

I was told that I was replacing a girl who had recently married and moved away, and that because personnel had my application already on file, they decided to call me in first (rather than pay out to advertise in the local papers) and if I was suitable offer me the job. So I would conclude that it really does pay off to send your CV's to companies, if I hadnt have done that, I would not have got that job - good luck wiith finding a new job x

scottishgirl87

Sorry to jump in on this post but from those who say this is a good idea....would you say it's better to post these CV's or e-mail them??

I'm only thinking e-mail as you might have a slightly better chance at getting even a quick reply.

RedSoleShoes

scottishgirl87 wrote: »

Sorry to jump in on this post but from those who say this is a good idea....would you say it's better to post these CV's or e-mail them??

I'm only thinking e-mail as you might have a slightly better chance at getting even a quick reply.

Email, definitely. Although I said earlier not to waste time sending CV out on spec, if you are going to do then at least this way you can fire out more for much less cost.

If I received a CV through the post at work my immediate thought would be that maybe this person is not quite up to date with technology and this would concern me. Obviously this is quite a generalistic view and is purely my opinion but it is what my initial thoughts would be.

rachy86

LilyDeTilly wrote: »

Email, definitely. Although I said earlier not to waste time sending CV out on spec, if you are going to do then at least this way you can fire out more for much less cost.

If I received a CV through the post at work my immediate thought would be that maybe this person is not quite up to date with technology and this would concern me. Obviously this is quite a generalistic view and is purely my opinion but it is what my initial thoughts would be.

I don't know mind, we don't accept email applications where I work. When I queried why this was the Financial Controller told me "for many reasons, largely legal". So it may be worth calling companies to ask them what is best. I suppose it would depend on the Company - some are old fashioned and keep paper files, others will scan and then discard the original anyway.

inmypocketnottheirs

Surely, anything that could result in an interview would be beneficial?

jessicamb

A couple of very highly skilled people I know have send out speculative applications after researching the company very well and writing down what they think they could do for the employer. Then they back it up with two days free work to get a feel for the place and see if there is an opportunity. That has a very high success rate. Normally I think it would be suited to very technical/specialist roles but I would think a very good executive level PA is probably as specialist - and the executives wont have a lot of time to interview staff so it could be a good way of proving your worth. Especially if you were able to try and find out some of the characteristics and priorities of the person you would be working with.

Rachel27

Hi.

Sorry to hear about your situation!!

When I was on JSA, the JCP sent me on a two week course to help me in my job search. They taught us how to write spec letters (among other things). So I sent out a few on the Tuesday, got an interview for a high street fashion store on the Friday, was offered the job and started the following Saturday and now 5 months later, I am very happy in my job.

So it worked for me! The only thing is, I would have been reluctant to spend the money on stamps due to JSA being my only income. The course I was on paid for things like that so I took advantage of it, and luckily it worked out.

Good luck!