Pamela writes:
I have been actively looking for employment in the legal field for over 3 months. I have 6 years of experience, but have moved to smalltown, USA, and there aren’t many job postings. Is it acceptable to send a “blind resume” to all the attorneys in the area via email, even though they aren’t advertising employment opportunities? What should I say in the first paragraph?
The Career Doctor responds:
I am so glad you sent me this question because I feel like the method of job-hunting you are proposing is the most overlooked and underrated tool of job-seekers.
The direct method of contacting employers — something I call cold-calling employers — often leads to multiple opportunities and job leads. It is a great method for job-seekers who are searching for a job in a specific geographic location.
When you consider that most of the job market is closed — that most job openings do not get advertised — then the two most important methods for tracking down those job leads are through networking or cold contact.
Here’s what you must do. I recommend both an email and postal mail strategy. Gather the names (double-check spellings) and addresses for all the attorneys. Develop or polish an amazing cover letter and resume for each attorney. In that first paragraph of your cover letter, state the three reasons why you are a perfect candidate to work in that law firm. (Hint: One way to customize each letter and resume is by using some of the same words the lawyers use on their Websites.)
Finally, follow up your letters and emails with a phone call — and ask for an interview (even if no jobs are currently available.)
Find more specific guidelines and tools for directing your own direct-contect job search by reading this article published on Quintessential Careers: Cold Calling: A Time-Tested Method of Job-Hunting.
