Another step that will add interviews is to call the managers from whom you haven't received a reply. This call will also provide the opportunity to develop leads and referrals, when managers have no openings to discuss with you.
If the initial mailing exhausted the list of potential employers, call the managers who sent you rejection letters. Thank them for answering your correspondence, then ask for suggestions concerning other companies to contact.
The importance of making these follow-up calls cannot be emphasized enough. You'll automatically increase your number of interviews by just calling each manager you wrote to.
Drawbacks to the Broadcast Letter
The broadcast letter is not without problems. Its biggest drawback is cost. In fact, it's the most expensive of the 30 job-search strategies. Although price decreases with volume, each letter can cost as much as $1.00. This expense is offset, however, by the speed with which the letter produces interviews and offers. If you're unemployed, it's costing you money every day you're not working. If you're employed, you're losing money each day you remain with your current employer, since you can expect to receive an increase upon changing jobs. A second disadvantage is that the letter precludes confidentiality if you're well known in your industry or geographic area.
Your interest in changing companies will undoubtedly leak back to your employer. For this reason, this strategy is often more suited to job-seekers who are unemployed, who are writing to companies in a different industry than their own, or who are contacting companies in another part of the country.
A third problem with the broadcast letter is that it's usually restricted to people who are seeking advancement in their field. If you're interested in changing careers, your accomplishments probably won't relate to the position you're pursuing. The letter will be of no use. You'll be better off trying to get interviews through the networking strategies.
A final problem is that this letter has been increasing in usage in recent years and some employers have come to view it more as a vehicle for concealing shortcomings than as a document for conveying qualifications. As a result, some employers are skeptical of individuals who use the broadcast letter approach. Therefore, if you are fortunate enough to have excellent qualifications for the position you're seeking-with no factors in your work history that might preclude your being interviewed-consider sending companies your resume. This is particularly the case if you're unemployed (you don't need confidentiality) and you're pursuing a senior-level responsibility In the latter case, employers often like to have a great many facts and details about an applicant before setting up a meeting.
The following is one of the direct mail strategies; where you can incorporate a broadcast letter or variation of it:
Third-Party Correspondence
This strategy consists of having someone who is well known and respected in your field or geographic area write a letter of introduction for you to managers at different companies. The letter presents your experience, significant accomplishments, and personal attributes, but doesn't disclose your identity. It also tells why the writer feels you're qualified for a certain position, states why you would make an outstanding contribution, and mentions that the writer will put the manager in touch with you to arrange an interview. This strategy enables you to "broad cast" your background while maintaining confidentiality as to your identity
There's another advantage to this strategy: Many managers will want to meet you due to the outstanding recommendation from the influential person who's acting as your sponsor. It's therefore an excellent vehicle if you want to make a career change. The letter will give you credibility and generate interviews, even though you lack the experience a position traditionally requires. If you have the appropriate individual to send this letter, "third-party correspondence" will produce more interviews than a broadcast letter.
The drawbacks to this strategy are: (1) you need the proper contact for writing the letter*, and (2) this person's reputation will probably be limited to a specific industry or geographic area.
* You can maintain anonymity by having a friend write this letter, but the fact that his name is unknown will result in far fewer interviews. If you try this approach, make sure your friend states that no fee is involved if the company interviews you or hires you. (It's possible that you could be denied interviews because someone believes you are actually being represented by an employment agency, which will charge a fee if you're hired.)
If you're currently employed, this strategy becomes more useful the higher your level of seniority. Since the likelihood increases that your name will be recognized, anonymity is needed with direct mail. "Third-party correspondence" provides this feature.
