Sometimes these ads are placed to check the availability of qualified employees working for the competition. Blind ads are also used to identify current employees who might be on the prowl. For this reason, replying to a blind ad when you are gainfully employed is dangerous.
MISCONCEPTION
The only purpose of a blind ad is to protect the advertiser.
REALITY
Blind ads can be used to gauge market activity and determine if current employees are looking for new opportunities.
Traditionally, blind ads draw weak responses from a quality and qualifications standpoint. Handwritten envelopes, poorly written cover letters, and disorganized resumes are the rule rather than the exception.
In good economic times, when a large percentage of the people looking for new jobs are still employed, it is rare for a blind ad to produce viable candidates. But if you are unemployed, there is no real risk in replying. The key is to do it right.
As I stated, employers don't hold high expectations for the responses to blind ads. So if you can respond in a professional manner, your paperwork will stand out in the crowd.
Use a safe salutation. When writing to the recipient, avoid addressing your correspondence with "Gentlemen," "Madam," "Sir," or "Ms." The person could be a personnel manager, VP of engineering, or even president of a recruiting company.
I have read over ten thousand responses to blind ads, and there are two safe ways to address the correspondence.
April 15,To Whom It May Concern or April 15 To: Box #1234
Re: Solicitation for a Plant Manager
Both these approaches are factual and don't make any incorrect assumptions.
MISCONCEPTION
Responding to a blind ad shows that you are desperate.
REALITY
A careful, well-orchestrated response to a blind ad will give the impression that you are a professional with a serious approach to finding a job. Don't oversell. Since you are responding to a blind ad, try not to oversell yourself by supplying too much information. You don't want the prospective employer to think you're desperate. When you supply bits of information, you have a better chance of piquing the interest of the advertiser. Personal letters that briefly state your reason for responding to a blind ad, accompanied by a short description of your work history without disclosing your employers, may be just what you need to flush out the advertiser.
Another approach that can be used effectively to flush out the hiring company, without revealing your name, is to contract a private outplacement firm to act as an intermediary. A credible outplacement firm can send a short letter and synopsis of your background and suggest that the employer respond with reference to a file number. The most attractive part of this process to the potential employer . . . no fee is involved.
A typical cover letter from a third party might have the following introduction.
To Whom It May Concern:
We read about your position for a plant manager with much interest. We have both good news and bad news for you. The good news is we have a candidate who meets all your qualifications and is available with no placement fee. The bad news is we cannot reveal the candidate's name. If you wish to meet with this individual, please contact us and refer to file #PM-234.
When an employer sees a short list of the right qualifications provided by a professional agency at no cost, you can be assured the letter will get attention. The out-of-pocket cost for such services usually runs between $75-$150/hour. It may be a worthwhile investment to consider. Because of this approach, our company has successfully placed individuals who were about to lose positions to downsizing.
One final note or word of caution on blind ads: It is not uncommon for a company to run two or maybe three blind ads in the same newspaper with slightly different qualifications to see who is applying for every position. We keep a file of all our respondents, and you'd be amazed at the stable of resumes some people have to fit whatever job is advertised. We had one person who responded to fifteen blind ads in the last five years with ten different cover letters and five convertible resumes.
The rule here is to limit your response to those opportunities that fit your qualifications while being consistent with your approach. You never know when the employers behind the masks will compare notes.
