Anyone ever done this? Being, you go to the company, talk with HR about the company, hand them your resume, and roll out?

I've had a career workshop counselor say that he has his students do this all the time and it usually works, but that was in Salt Lake City. I'm looking to go to an engineering company today that has a job opening that I'm kind of qualified for, and they work in fields that I am otherwise versed in.

I figure this is a better alternative to just applying online, which has not worked with any of my other job hunts.

Suggestions?

8/17/2010 1:05:44 PM

What have you got to lose? They might get annoyed but they also might not. They definitely will remember you more than the 8,000 people that applied for that position online. I can't see it hurting your chances compared to not doing it.

8/17/2010 1:09:26 PM

yes

8/17/2010 1:09:28 PM

Agreed, I'm not worried about how they'll see me or if I'll annoy someone since it is the front desk person's job to insulate the company from the annoyances of the outside world. I'm just curious how others have approached the employee at the desk.

(The similarity to a "omfgagirl" situation is kinda funny)

8/17/2010 1:13:55 PM

Just walk up to her (or him, whatever) and tell them why you're there, hand them your shit, and walk out. "Have a nice day!" If you see anyone else, wave and say hello. Make sure you're dressed snappy. Maybe they'll strike up a conversation. If not, just leave. You're riding a fine line between enthusiastic applicant and annoying asshat. Don't bother people especially if you're going at lunchtime.

Be friendly with the desk person, it'll be their responsibility to get your shit to someone who matters so if you piss them off you just made going in person less effective than applying online. Try to pull off confidence so if they do get your info to someone who matters and that someone asks them what you were like they can say good things.

8/17/2010 1:20:29 PM

Patiently, politely, and courteously.

You'd be surprised how many people don't.

8/17/2010 1:22:07 PM

Yes, absolutely do this.

Have you tried to set up any informational interviews in any of the companies you're interested in? Even if they don't have a position matching your interests/experience now getting your name out there in a positive manner really is never a bad thing.

I know a lot of people are worried that execs or hiring managers won't want to be bothered by you (and some won't, truth be told) but a good deal absolutely will and it will get your name in their heads.

8/17/2010 1:53:03 PM

I think it depends on the company too. better luck with smaller companies.

I say go for it, but when i was applying for jobs I did this and got turned away several, several times. I'd say 7-8 out of 10 times -they'd tell me that they only accept online applications. almost every single one were larger companies gsk, labcorp etc....

i had one receptionist tell me that if she gave them my application the hiring manager may throw it away b/c i didn't "follow directions"


but by all means, i say go for it, dont let that discourage you

8/17/2010 2:05:45 PM

Quote :

"Have you tried to set up any informational interviews in any of the companies you're interested in? Even if they don't have a position matching your interests/experience now getting your name out there in a positive manner really is never a bad thing."

I have an inside contact to one small company in Cary that is my ideal company, but he hasn't responded to an email in a few days now asking to go get a drink or lunch. He said to contact him when I got back to the States with this in mind, but I'm wary to start bugging him.

I tried to go to his company in person but I couldn't find it and they had no phone number listed. I sent an email to their info line asking for road directions but no response either. Something tells me that it isn't next to the Wal-mart on Tryon.

^Yeah I have the feeling that will happen with this company. They are midsized, with the online applications and all that, but shouldn't hurt to try.

Off to give it a shot, will report back later

8/17/2010 3:12:35 PM

Well, the woman asked if I had applied online and I said I didn't, but she took my resume, called the woman (who was busy) and put it in a folder and said she'd give it to the woman in charge of the position. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure I'm not qualified for the position (she asked what job and I said the one that I had in mind), but we'll see. Maybe it'll get my resume an actual look and referral to another position.

On a topic related note, I went hunting again for the other company, and after a lengthy search determined that the address they have listed on their website is in fact their box at the UPS store on Kildaire

8/17/2010 4:40:38 PM

I don't know how hard up for a job you are, but you may want to work some place besides some dude's basement.

8/17/2010 4:47:23 PM

Quote :

"What have you got to lose? They might get annoyed but they also might not. They definitely will remember you more than the 8,000 people that applied for that position online. I can't see it hurting your chances compared to not doing it."

8/17/2010 8:05:56 PM

there are too many rules with how resumes have to be handled - most large companies won't accept a resume in person

8/18/2010 12:04:17 AM

I can't say it has ever really worked in the end for me. But sometimes it gives you an HR contact to use as a point of contact later. But be straight and honest to the front desk, I'm XXXX and would like to speak to the hiring manager for no more than 2 minutes on the position. Can you ask if he has a moment to take a walk? I've had the receptionist say "he's in a meeting" and you drop off an envelope, not a loose resume, and I've had the hiring manager come out, shake hands, make a good impression, let him judge you instantly on the spot, and leave it in their hands. Problem is sometimes that they give you an interview because of your effort, when they know well in advance you don't qualify or wouldn't be a great fit. That sucks because of the time taken out of your day to dodge your current job or trek across the county.

8/24/2010 8:52:54 PM

Quote :

"Anyone ever done this? Being, you go to the company, talk with HR about the company, hand them your resume, and roll out?"

Ask to talk to someone in the engineering department, not HR.

[Edited on August 24, 2010 at 9:16 PM. Reason : -]

8/24/2010 9:16:21 PM

how is it that ThePeter is unemployed?!?! Good luck, buddy.

8/25/2010 8:01:23 AM

Quote :

"Problem is sometimes that they give you an interview because of your effort, when they know well in advance you don't qualify or wouldn't be a great fit. "

This really burning me. I got flown back from Europe, ending my internship early, for an interview. A lot of the people asked if I had manufacturing or database experience, which I don't have any formal experience in, and I think that cost me the job. Sucks, because I could've gone without the hassle if they already knew they wouldn't hire me. Not saying that it was nice to get home early, but still.

^^I'm hesitant to do that with a larger company, or even a smaller one, since I've watched front desk people just troll the fuck out of people trying to get to employees that they didn't want them talking to.

^Thanks! I didn't really get to job hunt while in school because I had a 3 month internship in the summer set up, so now I'm playing catch up.

8/25/2010 11:10:10 AM

A few points...

1. As someone mentioned, the "following directions" might be a reason to toss a resume dropped off at the office. Its not necessarily them being jerks. Its a way to weed out unqualified people. For instance, if you are looking for jobs working with computers (generic, I know), its reasonable for a company to assume you should be smart enough to navigate their online page to search and find job postings. If someone isn't smart enough to do that, they probably are not qualified in the first place.

Applying online and THEN visiting might not hurt.

2. With big companies, HR is getting further removed from having much to do with hiring. They are there to make sure things like background checks and drug tests are run . . . and maybe have a brief interview with candidates to make sure there are no red flags on their check-list. They might not even know about open positions until a hiring manager is looking to set up interviews. By that time, resumes have been submitted, reviewed, and already hand-picked.

In my experience, its the team / hiring manager that has all the power in posting jobs, choosing resumes, and choosing the final candidate. So they would be the best to talk to. Granted, they are also some of the hardest to find and make time with. Mine is on the third floor of a building in the back corner . . . in Pittsburgh (I work in Raleigh).

---------

Small companies where things are much more intertwined might have better luck with this since there is more communication with HR and throughout the building in general.

8/25/2010 11:54:39 AM

Never underestimate the power of rapport and relationship building. If you can go in there, in person, and make a good impression; your odds of getting hired will sky rocket.

This works both ways, though. If you go in sloppy and come off as rude, you'll probably fail.

[Edited on August 26, 2010 at 9:37 AM. Reason : .]

8/26/2010 9:36:47 AM

ThePeter I have done this and it works. This is what I did and how it paid off.

I found the places I wanted to go to and made an entire day of it. I found out the name of hte HR person before by going on LinkedIn and doing some basic research. This research also provided me the information I needed to know the name of the hiring manager I would need to speak with while there as well. About 50% of the time I got to speak with both people, if only even briefly. Some of these conversations let me know they were looking for something different which was good because I could scratch them off my list and not focus on what would happen there. About a fourth of those I spoke with were interested and wanted to discuss the position with me further.


With these lined up I went on linked in and found others in the company. If they were someone I knew or someone who knew someone I knew great. If not, doesn't matter, still good. I would take whomever I could find and write them a nice little note on linked in telling them what I had to offer and why i liked the place. In every instance this made the interview much more relaxed.

After that I nailed the interviews and made my choice of where I wanted to work.

I think it is important to note that I went two months with no feedback from anyone but once I took this approach I had three interviews in under three weeks and three offers from which I chose one. This cost me thirty dollars joining linkedin pro so i could message people and a few dollars in gas. But I gained some good contacts, a nice experience and showed that I have balls and drive. Do this and you will have a job in a month.


Oh one more note, after meeting with the people on site in person that initial time I wrote thank you notes via linkedin to the hiring manager, hr person and receptionist (if she was online).

8/26/2010 10:04:10 AM