Courting a Prospective Employer
Is there a company you would like to work for, however, every time you check they have no openings? Don’t let that discourage you. You can still court a prospective employer even when they haven’t hung a “help wanted” sign in their window. The following 5 tips will help.
1. Make connections
Career-minded individuals should always be networking. This can help you court a potential employer as well. Do you know anyone who works for the organization? If so, see if he/she might be able to introduce you to someone in the human resource or accounting department. If not, take measures to meet employees on your own. Sometimes businesses sponsor or frequent community events and participate in job fairs. The more you learn about an organization the more opportunities to interact with employees you will discover.
2. Write a letter of introduction
A letter of introduction is similar to the cover letter that accompanies a resume. However, a letter of introduction does not discuss a specific job opening but rather it’s an opportunity for you to introduce yourself to an organization and express interest in contributing to their success. As with a cover letter, you should briefly share your professional background and explain why you are a good fit for their business. And while the letter’s tone should be confident, it should not be pushy or overbearing.
3. Consider temp work
Often the best way into an organization is through temp work. This provides the perfect opportunity to wow an employer and is a chance for you to test drive the organization to see if it measures up to your expectations. You may find that upon closer examination it’s not quite what you had hoped. On the hand, you may determine that it’s just the place you want to rest your briefcase, long-term.
4. Ask that your resume be placed on file
You’ve sent your letter of introduction and some time has passed. Go in and ask human resources to place your resume on file. Chances are your letter of introduction was cause to create a file for you. Your resume will draw attention to that file and evidence your genuine interest in this organization. It’s good to present your resume in person; take advantage of every opportunity to become more familiar with the staff. And always be cordial and courteous. These individuals will likely be asked what they thought of you-you want those impressions to be favorable.
5. Follow up
It’s important that you not be pesky. Follow-up frequently enough to remind the organization of your existence, but not enough to irritate or annoy. You may choose to call or email in order to keep your correspondence subtle and unobtrusive.
Regardless of whether or not a company has posted the right job for you, there are things you can do to court an employer and make yourself a prime candidate as soon as a position does open. It may require patience and determination; but it can be done.
Often the best advice you can receive regarding job hunting is from peers who are experiencing the same struggles and achievements you are. For this purpose, Universal Accounting Center has created an accounting and tax forum where you can interact and network with peers both near and far. Join the forum today. They’re free and provide you with the perfect opportunity to widen your network.
