<p>just wondering if it has actually worked for anyone? Whenever I try to follow up, say a week or two, after I submit my resume and application on the company’s website, i usually can only get to HR (if they even answer the phone, which they frequently don’t). Then, the HR person usually says they can’t give me the hiring manager’s name or email address. They may leave me their voicemail, but the hiring manager never responds to my message anyways. So I’ve only been able to contact the actual hiring manager I don’t know… maybe 3 times at most, after trying to follow up maybe 100 times?</p>
<p>am I just wasting my time trying to follow up? I had heard that its very common for the hiring manager to not even see a submitted application and resume unless the applicant follows up</p>
<p>No, it’s good to followup, usually after a week.</p>
<p>If you know the hiring manager’s name, an old headhunter’s trick is to call the main company switchboard and ask for payroll (ex-employees call all the time and ask for payroll). When you get to payroll say “Oh, man. They directed me to the wrong number. I’m trying to reach Joe Smith. Can you forward me?” They’ll usually look up his extension and forward you. Then Joe Smith sees “Payroll” on his caller ID and everyone answers when payroll calls.</p>
<p>But this is the advantage of going through your career services department - no issues like this.</p>
<p>One other thought. If you’re willing to relocate, try sending your resume to companies in Seattle. Look at Seattle.craigslist.org and see if there is anything that you can apply for, and send your resume in. We have a lot of young people in Seattle and employers will be more excited to work with a “green” person hear than many other places.</p>
<p>‘If you know the hiring manager’s name, an old headhunter’s trick is to call the main company switchboard and ask for payroll (ex-employees call all the time and ask for payroll)’</p>
<p>well that’s the problem, I can never find out the hiring manager’s name. Whenever the operator answers the phone and I tell them the position I applied for, they usually say they don’t know the hiring manager’s name since they have multiple managers. Also, HR usually say they’re not allowed to give out that information</p>
<p>bigtrees, thanks for that suggestion about Seattle. I’ll look into that</p>
<p>Chances are you won’t be able to get in touch directly with the person, but just keep trying anyway. Be sure to send your resume and cover letters to plenty of companies. Once you get your foot in the door, it’ll be a bit easier.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>A headhunter called me at work on my desk phone recently… I bet this is how they got my number, since I only give out my cell number and am out in the field all the time. I felt like I was being stalked!! haha</p>
<p>Nah. What they usually do is call you up, tell you about a job, and ask if you’re interested. If you tell them you’re not, they ask you for other people you know that might be interested.</p>
<p>If you give them names, the headhunter will keep calling you with opportunities. If you don’t that’s the last call you’ll ever get from that headhunter. People generally like to hear about other offers and opportunities out there, so they give some names and numbers.</p>
<p>Yes, headhunting definitely works with smaller companies. I have done, it worked for me. Go to Inc 500. This is (excuse me) a " wanna-be" Fortune 500 company list. There are some companies that are growing over 1000% year after year and are looking for people to join them. When I called one of the companies in NY, it was the vice president himself who picked up ( after transfer). This was last year and I ended up taking a position with another company elsewhere. In some cases, you can reply to a confirmation/rejection email and ask questions if you have any. The weirdest thing happened last week when the hiring manager turned out to be a 3rd level connection on LinkedIn! </p>
<p>It’s not always possible to find out who the hiring official is but with a lot of detective work and maybe some social engineering skills it may be possible. For example: read between the lines of the announcement for the speciality area and the companies online directory (most have one) for the head of that branch and call the number. Most often you’ll get an assistant, then use your charm to get through to someone in the dept. that does what the announcement says. You may have to start by saying you’re doing research for a paper - or some such tactic - or just be direct; “I’ve applied for X position and can’t seem to get an answer from HR. Can you help me?” . </p>
<p>well if the hiring managers tell the HR that they don’t want any phone calls or emails from job hunters for their openings, won’t they get angry and automatically disqualify you if you find a way to get their contact info? I mean, lets say you were able to bypass HR and use some kind of tactic, such as through payroll or saying you’re doing research for a paper, and then speak to the hiring manager. What are you gonna say when he/she asks how you got their number? if you tell the truth, won’t they get angry?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t play games like that with them, and especially not for someone green (fresh out of college with no experience).</p>
<p>Your problem is that young people (fresh out of college with no experience) are a huge flight risk because you haven’t decided what industry you like, what kind of company you are looking for, etc. You are essentially trying on different jobs until you find one that seems to fit and makes you look good. </p>
<p>So nobody wants to hire you because they don’t want to waste a ton of money on training you and then have you leave.</p>
<p>Sneakily getting around the various blocks to try to talk directly with the hiring manager won’t change their opinion of someone green, and worse, it will make you look like you can’t play by the rules.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I have no good advice except to say - keep sending your resume out there to companies. I would focus your effort on the companies that have recruited graduates from your school, and also focus on areas that hire young engineers (like Seattle).</p>