No Calls Please

I know someone who is looking to land a teaching job. They have experience and a passion for the job. I've told them that after applying for each job and/or sending in their resume they should call the appropriate person and ask for an interview. Their response was, "Principals don't like it when you call them." Really? I addressed this somewhat last month - http://tinyurl.com/nkee56

We've all seen the help wanted ads that said "No calls please." I suppose there is a possibility that the person doing the hiring could get upset at you for not following simple directions but what have you got to lose?

If you really want the job and you are certain you can be great at it then I propose that you are doing that company a disservice by not calling them! The reason they put that verbiage in their ads is so their day isn't filled with calls from people going, "You probably don't want to hire me do you?" or some other mindless dribble.

They don't want to sift through hundreds of applications and resumes and then make dozens of phone calls to set up a week's worth of meetings. They have work to do! If you can assist them in filling that open position with a well qualified individual and do it quickly...more power to you!

Assume you get an interview through the old fashion method of submitting your application and waiting. Once you get in front of someone you still have to "sell yourself" right? Why not be proactive and start by "selling" the idea of interviewing you. "Hello Mr. Hiring Manger. I'm calling about the open position and wanted to let you know that after reading the job requirements I got really excited! Given my experience there is no doubt that I can make you a hero by hiring me. I understand you are extremely busy but I would appreciate a few minutes of your time in the next couple of days to tell you why I'm the perfect person for this job. All I need is 10 minutes and I promise that I will not waste your time."

What's so difficult about making that call? Chances are very good that the first couple of times you do call you'll end up leaving it as a voice mail. What do you have to lose??? Not the job...you don't have it!

Think about the quote from my book at the beginning of Chapter 6 from Marcia Martin, “What I point out to people is that it's silly to be afraid that you're not going to get what you want if you ask. Because you are already not getting what you want. They always laugh about that because they realize it's so true. Without asking you already have failed, you already have nothing. What are you afraid of? You're afraid of getting what you already have! It's ridiculous! Who cares if you don't get it when you ask for it, because, before you ask for it, you don't have it anyway? So there's really nothing to be afraid of."

Don't wait for someone to give you a job...go out and get it yourself! Don't wait for someone to stumble across your resume or application...sell them on why they should hire you...immediately!

Happy Selling!