Making a Career Move? Stop Submitting Resumés and Do This Instead

Most people want to be exceptional and sometimes all it takes is a minor tweak in our processes and a little courage in making that change.

When it comes to career moves, application portals can be like an endless abyss where resumés go to disappear. The challenge to you is to stand out in the talent pool and one way to stand out is to do more than just submitting resumés.

There is that extra thing that can make you stand out among other applicants. Doing this not only pulls your name to the top of the resumé pile, but also demonstrates to the employer your initiative and resourcefulness, qualities they want you to bring to the job.

That thing is: call (i.e. by phone) the Hiring Manager. Yep, call the Hiring Manager!

The idea is to pitch your candidacy to the person directly in charge of hiring for the position you are interested in. Here are possible steps to doing this:

1. Step 1: Identify the job you want to apply for. Easy.
2. Step 2: Find that company’s profile on LinkedIn and go to their Employees page
3. Step 3: Find the Hiring Manager(s) on the Employees page. Your target decision maker sometimes has titles like “Recruiting Manager,” “Manager of Talent Acquisition,” “Manager of People Operation,” “HR Manager,” etc.
4. Step 4: Call them. Two of the many ways you can get the Hiring Manager on the phone include: (a) Google and call their company main line and ask to be transferred to them or to the “Hiring Manager” if you do not find their specific name on LinkedIn and (b) Use tools like Lusha and Hiretual to get their contact information

This is a very rare practice among candidates so you will stand out to the Hiring Manager. You would be amazed at how many Hiring Managers will happily engage with you in fruitful conversations around your candidacy. Have the courage to overcome the unease of calling the Decision Maker.

There is no limit to how the core idea here can be applied.