In the competitive world of job hunting, it can be a challenging task to stand out from the crowd. One powerful strategy that is often overlooked is reaching out to an employer directly. This approach can help you establish a personal connection and, at times, open up opportunities that you didn’t know existed.
Remember that not all companies advertise their roles - in fact many don’t have the time to update their websites and post jobs publicly. By contacting them directly you might just have made their lives 100x easier!
Directly contacting an employer allows you to create a personal connection, which can set you apart from other applicants. It shows that you are proactive and genuinely interested in the company.
By taking the initiative to reach out, you convey your enthusiasm and your willingness to go the extra mile. This can leave a positive impression on potential employers and make you immediately stand out.
Reaching out can also be an opportunity to gather more information about the company, its culture, and a specific job role if they have one. This knowledge can be invaluable when crafting your application and preparing for an interview.
Start by compiling a list of companies that could offer great employment opportunities. Find awards lists in the industry you want to get into or compilations created by other sites. Check out our tips for this in Hidden jobs and where to find them.
Think about your criteria for the list - it could be that they have a Living Wage accreditation, they have a welcoming careers page, or the work they do really aligns with your longer term career goals. We recommend focusing on companies with under 250 people where they are likely to have less structured processes to their recruitment.
Before contacting an employer, thoroughly research the company and industry (check out our Resources and Training section for more help on this). It doesn’t matter if they say they aren’t hiring right now! Take the time to explore their values, mission, and any work they’ve published on their site. This information will help you craft a personalised message.
Identify the appropriate person to contact within the organisation. This might be the hiring manager, department head, or even the business owner themselves. LinkedIn and the company's website can be useful resources for finding the right person. Usually companies will have a generic “hello@” or “info@” email address that might be listed on their careers page, so if in doubt, you can always try that.
LinkedIn is a valuable platform for connecting with professionals and employers. Send a connection request along with a personalised message explaining why you’d love to connect - it could be just to ask for advice on how to get into the industry. This can open the door to further communication.