blogPeople are tuning out from the assault of mass advertising, therefore it stands to reason that hiring managers are aggressively filtering the bombardment of job applications raining down on them.
To be considered for your dream job you need to cut through the clutter. Recently I used the following direct marketing techniques to get an interview with Catalyst Direct Inc., a direct marketing agency in Rochester, NY. Three hours after sending the application I had Catalyst Direct calling to set up an interview, that is when you know you have sold the sizzle and not the steak.
- Personalization
This involves more than changing the company name in your resume and cover letter. It requires diligent research. What is the business known for, what sets them apart, mention something specific. Notice how I reference in my cover letter (sales letter) a singular campaign undertaken by Catalyst Direct, and how I align my resume objective with what the company accomplishes for it’s clients.
- Constrained creativity
I applied for a Jr. Marketing Analyst position in support of Catalyst Direct Inc.’s Email and Analytics groups. To spruce up my cover letter I sent it as an HTML email message using a service called Campaign Monitor. Pretty straight forward to use, and free if you are sending 5 or less email messages in each campaign. And in my case it demonstrated my technical proficiency for the position.
- Call to action
You do not send out a $10,000 direct mail campaign without requesting that people call a specific phone number, fill out a form on your website, etc. The same goes for your job application. Ask for the interview. - Follow Up
If you hit the nail on the head, you will reveal yourself as the solution to a deep seated need and the hiring manager will call you. However, this is not always the case therefore it is best to let them know in the cover letter you will follow up at a specific time.Do not forget to follow up with a thank-you after your interview.
- Measure – learn from your results and improve your future efforts.
A great feature of Campaign Monitor is that you get reports of who opened the email and the links which they clicked, and if they forwarded the message on to someone else in the company. This definitely helps in gaging the interest level of the recipient.
Following these techniques will definitely set you above the pack, increasing your chances of landing the coveted job interview.
For those of you wondering, did he get hired for the Jr. Marketing Analyst position at Catalyst Direct Inc.? Unfortunately the answer is no, however it did prove to be a learning experience.
