Sending a proper application and resumé bundle beforehand remains the most courteous and appropriate way to apply for a job. By doing so, you are providing your potential employer an opportunity to fit you into their schedule. This consideration for their time and effort will leave a good impression of professionalism, which undoubtedly helps boost your chances of being hired. Most of the time, this is done through email or direct application functionalities incorporated into job portals.
But before you hit “Send” on that email or job portal application, keep in mind that you will have to establish that you are willing to communicate appropriately with the company. The best way to do that is to speak to them through a different channel.
You can contact them through these methods to express your intention to apply, and then go ahead and send your resumé through some of them aside from email or a job portal.
1. Give them a phone call beforehand. This is as direct and personal as you can get when corresponding with companies, without actually making a visitor’s appointment. A simple call to introduce yourself, explain that you’re interested in applying for a job with them and verifying how to undergo the application process is very polite and professional. The recruitment team will feel your sincerity and confidence even more. A phone call also seems so much more alive and feels more human than other ways of sending a message – which is perfect for establishing rapport with your potential future employer.
2. Send them a simple text. This remains one of the simplest ways to communicate with companies. Not everyone has constant access to mobile data services on their phones or knows how to use online messaging apps, but everyone still knows how to send texts. Keep in mind that texting a potential employer is different from texting family members or friends. Compose your text message as if composing a proper letter or email. Keep it simple and stick to your purpose.
3. Try sending your application through post instead of email. The postal service is very much alive despite the continued rise of email and social media. Apart from that, there are other good reasons to send hard copies of application credentials via mail. Companies continue operations during blackouts by going manual; they do old-fashioned paperwork. Also, they would most likely still prefer to keep a hard copy of applicants’ resumés as backup for soft copies sent to them. If you would like to use your application to set an appointment (as opposed to walking in), mailing them your resumé is perfectly valid. And when all electronic channels fail, this will ensure that your application is received.
4. Dare to be modern: contact them through social media. Companies with younger (or more savvy) management may implement measures to capitalize on the popularity of social networking sites, image and video hosting apps and other platforms. This can be seen in special “Contact Us” sections on their website where you can submit an inquiry, which automatically gets sent to their official email. Also, more and more websites are installing a live chat feature, which you can use to reach out to them. In a time where basic Internet connectivity is becoming more accessible to a greater number of people, showing your familiarity and comfort with using social media in these ways can be an edge that gets technologically forward companies to notice you. Plus, it can be done in real time via instant messaging apps, generally much quicker than through text provided that you have a reliable Internet connection.
And as a reminder for using these methods:
5. Don’t overcrowd them with messages. Communicating with your potential employer works best with moderation. As a healthy guideline, keep in mind: you don’t have to use every single one of these methods. One or two in combination should be good enough. Otherwise, you might be considered a spammer or a disturbance by the company, which might have negative effects on your application.
This broad range of communication should help you convey your commitment to finding a job, and your willingness to be evaluated by a potential employer. Most importantly, these methods ensure that the application process retains a human quality to them: a subtle reminder that what matters most in the link between career-seeker and potential employer is the connection and understanding between people.