After the Work Programme

AP007

tomterm8 wrote: »

Yeah, in my book it is a fob off. Unless they say something specific about your application that suggests they read it I don't pay much attention.

So therefore specs are worthless and I may as well email them all back and say don't keep me on file.

What application? It is not an application it's a speculative letter.

Yes some did mention things on my CV as they are the same industry that I have 20 exp in so they say mention where I have worked. One HR manager was even once a bar manager where I worked when I was there.

tomterm8

AP007 wrote: »

So therefore specs are worthless and I may as well email them all back and say don't keep me on file.

Nope. They may be useless to you, but I've got interviews from them.

AP007 wrote: »

What application? It is not an application it's a speculative letter.

In my book a speculative application is just as much an application as a response to an advert.

AP007 wrote: »

Yes some did mention things on my CV as they are the same industry that I have 20 exp in so they say mention where I have worked. One HR manager was even once a bar manager where I worked when I was there.

Those are good, useful data points. They're still rejections, but IMHO they are a better class of rejection. They suggest you are doing something right.

Edit: Here's a question for you. How many times did you change the cover letter that you sent with your CV in those 1100 applications?

AP007

tomterm8 wrote: »

Nope. They may be useless to you, but I've got interviews from them.



In my book a speculative application is just as much an application as a response to an advert.




Those are good, useful data points. They're still rejections, but IMHO they are a better class of rejection. They suggest you are doing something right.

Edit: Here's a question for you. How many times did you change the cover letter that you sent with your CV in those 1100 applications?

Of course they are rejection letters as they had no jobs!

The cover letter is changed for the type of company (industry)

tomterm8

Ok, another question or two: how did you find leads (i.e. the company you were applying to) and who did you send the spec letters to? Did you send them to hiring managers, or just a generic address?

Podge52

AP007 wrote: »

Sorry? What way is not working? I apply for advertised jobs and write to companies. It's not working in the way that you are still unemployed.

I have sent over 300 spec letters in the last year! And how many advertised did you apply for ?

If they are looking to fill a role its advertised not 'we will keep you on file' So do you think all the companies that advertised new jobs on any given day of the week didn't know the day before that they needed somebody?

In every industry there is a job turnover rate. Let's say in accountancy that's 5%.
The law of averages says that five out of every hundred spec letters you send will end up in the hands of somebody who is looking to employ.
The fact that you have had no response so far isn't indicative to me that your cv or cover letter is in anyway lacking, it is the fact that you don't put enough effort into this method of applying.

AP007

Podge52 wrote: »

In every industry there is a job turnover rate. Let's say in accountancy that's 5%.
The law of averages says that five out of every hundred spec letters you send will end up in the hands of somebody who is looking to employ.
The fact that you have had no response so far isn't indicative to me that your cv or cover letter is in anyway lacking, it is the fact that you don't put enough effort into this method of applying.

How many specs do you think I should send each week then?

10? 50? 200?

Chester666666

csmw wrote: »

That link has to be the most ridiculous thing anyone has posted on here.

Far from it
I can point out many comments that are ridiculous
JohnnyVoid is excellent

Denning.

AP007 wrote: »

How many specs do you think I should send each week then?

10? 50? 200?

In London? 50 at least.

red_devil

Only your feathers will fly as no skins off the staff nose if you end up with a benefit sanction.


They are there to help. How would they liked their wages stopped?

tomterm8

AP007 wrote: »

The cover letter is changed for the type of company (industry)

Ah, okay. The interviews I got were all from spec letters that were customized to the company I applied to. Normally, the first line would say something like, (this is of course a hypothetical example)

"I saw in <local paper> that your restaurant is introducing a new Cowboy themed menu and thought you might need an kitchen porter with the following qualities:

1. Selling point 1 (the most selling thing on your CV)
2. Selling point 2 (an occasion you solved a problem for your employer)
3. Selling point 3. (something else that you think might make them want to hire you)

I've included a CV for your consideration, and look forward to hearing from you.

Yours Sincerely,

X."

Of course, I gathered leads by looking for obviously expanding companies, for companies that were adverting roles I wasn't qualified for in my industry, but also by looking for companies that had advertised in the past in my field. My experience was that applying for companies that had listed a job five or six months ago had a pretty good hit rate. Of course, I didn't say that I was applying to an old job

I think how you gather your leads and how you customize the cover letter is the most important part of this. Spec letters work best when they land up on the desk of a hiring manager at the right time.

But this is just what worked for me. Nothing says it will work for anyone else. (And it didn't do me very much good because I'm just not very hire-able as a person )