I normally don’t even bother responding to generic emails that indicate a person is looking for a job when they are too lazy to spend enough time on my website to learn my name and at least a rough idea of what the company does. However, every once in a while I get in one of those moods where I want to take a stand on the soapbox and spread the word to the people. Here is an email conversation I just had to that effect (this is me leveraging existing content).
— Job Seeker First Email —
Subject: (None)
To: info@(mywebsite).com
Good Afternoon-
Please find my resume as an attachment above. If there are any positions I am qualified for feel free to contact me at (phone number).
Thanks and make it a great day!
(Name)
— My Reply —
Mass-emailed resumes are not appreciated.
— Job Seeker Reply —
My submission was NOT a “mass email”. I do apologize if you were offended. I live in (town) and am interested in getting my ‘foot’ in the door of a marketing firm and I wasn’t sure how to contact your company.
You have a good day just the same.
(Name)
— My Reply —
Generic then at best – you didn’t even take the time to put a subject in the email or address it to anyone at the company. You didn’t do anything to express any knowledge of or interest in what our firm does.
In fact, it looks like you found our site in MSN and then only viewed the first page you were on for a few seconds before clicking directly on the “contact” page. Had you taken 5 minutes to look around the site you would clearly see my name and then could email me personally, which I would have been much more receptive to.
I normally just delete these b/c I get dozens each week looking for a job, but every once in a while I take a stand on the soapbox and try and help people out. My advice is to focus on quality rather than quantity. If someone sends me a personal email that shows they spent a little time learning about my firm, and can address me personally than I’m more likely to give them a few minutes of my attention and consider what they have to say. If you want to get your foot in the door with a marketing firm, as you said, I suggest you begin to understand that effective marketing is about targeting and reaching your market in a way they are receptive to. If you fail to do this and instead think the best way is to spend 30 seconds on 100 sites, just long enough to get their contact info and then send then a non-personalized email than believe me – you won’t have much luck. That’s the essence of marketing – reaching your market. If a business owner or hiring manager of a marketing firm is your market, than you’d better prove your ability as a marketer and reach them via something more than a generic email.
— Job Seeker Reply —
I have to say… I’m glad this didn’t work out.
— My Reply —
The most basic element is being able to market one’s self. If someone makes a weak generic pitch to me for a job, I’m certainly not going to consider hiring them. If they can’t market themselves how are they going to market clients?
Anyhow, best of luck in all of your endeavors. I was merely trying to provide a little advice. Take it however you may.
— End —
Sometimes I just get in funny moods, especially when it comes to solicitations – sales people, job seekers, spam emailers, etc. 🙂