- Responding to Advertisements with a Post Office Box Number
To implement the strategy, begin your correspondence by making reference to the ad. Then follow the same procedures for answering an ad placed by a local company that identifies itself. Conclude, however, by stating that it's because you're in the same industry as the advertiser that you must initially remain anonymous. The letter will be unsigned and furnish a post office box number for response.
Because you're omitting your name, this type of reply will generate fewer interviews than had you identified yourself. For this reason, this approach shouldn't be used unless you have superb qualifications for the position that's being advertised.
- Responding to Advertisements via Third-Party Correspondence
The letter should begin by noting the ad.
Next, your sponsor should state that he's writing for a highly qualified individual, citing your title and type of employer, who wishes to remain anonymous because he's in the same industry as the advertiser.
Your strengths, accomplishments, and responsibilities will then be listed, in the order of their importance and in the broad cast letter format. A paragraph can also be included to furnish additional pertinent information.
The letter should conclude by stating that the writer will put the company in touch with the individual he's representing and that no fee will be charged for this service.
Again, this type of response will produce fewer interviews than had you answered the ad yourself. However, if your sponsor holds a key position with a company in the same industry as the advertiser, he should cite his title and the name of his employer. (In this instance, it isn't necessary to state that a fee won't be charged for arranging the introduction.) This will give him credibility and increase your number of interviews.
Responding to ads via third-party correspondence is preferable to using a post office box number. It also eliminates the expense of taking out the post office box and the inconvenience of picking up mail.
- “Placing a Position Wanted'' Advertisement
Most publications run a column titled "Positions Wanted" for this purpose. If you select the Wall Street Journal, Tuesday is the best day to run an ad, since the paper runs a special column, "Positions Wanted," on that day.
The ad should state the position you're seeking and briefly list your key qualifications. Its size need not be more than 5 to 10 one-column lines.
Although this isn't a preferred strategy, it occasionally brings results. Unfortunately, you may receive more responses from employment agencies and retail outplacement firms than from companies wanting to arrange interviews.
This approach can be of assistance to the job-seeker who wants to work in a specific part of the country, particularly if he has a background that's in great demand but is difficult to find. Placing an ad can also be used when the objective is to work in a particular industry; in this case it's best to advertise in trade publications.
