Author: Lavie Margolin, Career Coach
A friend recently attended a job search presentation. One tidbit of advice presented included the following, “Go directly to a company and ask to see the hiring manager. Ask if they have any job openings and introduce yourself to him/her. Hand them your resume”.
In a post 9/11 security conscious world, most companies do not want you to just drop in. Building security will stop you at the door and ask you who you are there to see. In a best case scenario, you might be able to talk your way past security and end up in front of a receptionist, who will not know what to do with you. They may take your resume but it is unlikely to make it into the hands of a hiring manager.
The largest exception to this rule is in the medical industry. Some hospitals and nursing homes have personnel/human resources offices that are open to drop ins. They are likely to hand you an application and possibly provide an initial interview on the spot. If all goes well, you might get called back for a second round.
Another possible exception are companies that recruit aggressively for new candidates all the time (and are unlikely to pay a regular base salary as opposed to commission) such as insurance, financial adviser, multilevel marketing and sales. They are looking for every way to reach out to new applicants, why would they turn you away if you show up in their offices?
In terms of non professional (with the term here meaning entry level jobs requiring less than a college degree) opportunities, many hospitality, food services and retail industries are open to the drop in. Maximize the opportunity by picking a time that the business is unlikely to be busy. For example, look to speak with a restaurant manager at 10am as opposed to noon or seven pm.
If you are tired of the rejection of applying to jobs online, choose some more productive ways to get in front of hiring managers in your industry.
About the Author: Lavie Margolin is a New York-based Career Coach and the author of Lion Cub Job Search: Practical Job Search Assistance for Practical Job Seekers. To learn more, go to Lavie’s website, Lion Cub Job Search:www.Lioncubjobsearch.com