Pongo Resume

A job seeker reached out to Pongo’s Customer Support team this week with this question: “Would it be a good idea or a bad idea to walk in and present my resume and cover letter in person, instead of applying online like everyone else?” That’s a tough one. It might help ... or it might not.

Here are some guidelines to help you decide.

Guideline 1:
Always Follow the Employer’s Instructions

That means if the job posting says apply online, you should absolutely apply online. Furthermore, if the employer specifies “Please email your resume and cover letter to hiringmanagerX [at] bbdb.org,” then that’s exactly what you should do. Don’t assume you can just hit the APPLY button in an online job posting and be done with it. Follow the submission instructions precisely, because it’s probably a screening tool to see if you’re paying attention.
 
Bottom Line:  Always apply the way they ask. Only then should you try to determine whether an in-person visit would be a good way to emphasize your interest—or a good way to get you branded a stalker. (And that depends, largely, on the size and culture of the employer.)

Guideline 2: 
The Smaller the Company, The Better Your Chances

Dropping in uninvited at a large corporation could get you escorted right back out by security. It’s unlikely to help your case, anyway, since most major companies use automated databases to track applicants and store resumes, and there’s often a recruiting or HR department that screens all applications before the hiring manager ever sees them.

But in a small company, if you play your cards right, you could make a memorable impression and generate some buzz around the water cooler. One of our web guys here at Pongo did that a few years ago, and although we still tease him about it sometimes, it obviously worked!

Guideline 3.
Get In. Make Your Point. Get Out

If you decide to supplement your “proper” application with a hand-delivered hard copy, be sure to follow these rules of resume-delivery etiquette:

• Dress the part (business casual should suffice).
• Respect the staff’s time and privacy—remember you’re interrupting their workday.
• Do not ask to see the hiring manager, request an appointment, or make any other demands.
• Identify yourself, the job you’re interested in, that you’ve applied through the proper channels, and that you’re just dropping off an extra copy of your resume and cover letter.
• Thank the person for their time, and say you hope you’ll be considered for the job.

You never know what will happen next. Most likely, the person will thank you and send you on your way (then deliver your packet to the hiring manager, with a comment about whether you seemed nice, weird, or something in between). The best-case scenario would be an instant interview—don’t expect it, but be prepared just in case!

Have you ever hand-delivered your resume and cover letter?  What happened? Share your success stories or horror stories in a comment below.

RELATED LINKS
What Happens to My Resume After I Send It?
Snail Mail: The 'New' Way to Get Your Resume Noticed
Hey Employer, Your Online Application Sucks!

The last time I hand delivered a resume on a "cold call" I immediately recieved an interview with the Dept supervisor and Chief Engineer. Even though they did not have an opening advertised, I recieved an Email 2 weeks later requesting a second interview basically to discuss expected pay. I think possibly it puts a face with the resume. That leads me to a question: Do you think it wise to put a picture on a resume?

Well, its a good strategy for small companies, but when I went to some very big companies, I was just asked to put my resume with the gatekeeper. I am not too sure if that resume ever reached to the hiring manager, because I never got a call from these companies. But if you know someone in the company you should go and submit your resume yourself and also meet the person you may know there. He may lead you to the proper person and to the job also.

I have submitted resumes in person successfully, and the real consideration here is whether you know someone , not necessarily the hiring manager. Even the receptionist will do. Presentation is extremely important. I would not do it now as I am a "mature worker". That can work against you - better let an experienced resume do the job.

@T. Jones -- Wow, congratulations -- that's one of those stories where you should put a disclaimer that says "Results Not Typical." Regarding your question about a photo on the resume, the answer is "no" if we're talking about the U.S.; some countries do expect a photo, but here it's frowned upon.

And as our other two commenters above said, it often comes down to knowing someone in the company. That can definitely give you an edge.

Thanks for commenting, and best of luck to you all!

--Julie

Delivering your resume in person can be beneficial in a small company but in a large company you never know.

It's best to stick to the conventional methods. However, if delivering your resume in person is done professionally and tactfully it is a possibility it could be beneficial. You never know. In delivering a sales resume this type of assertiveness is viewed as a positive attribute in the sales profession.

Re: Photo on resume

The industry to which you are applying determines whether or not you should include your photo. If you are an actor or performance artist, you are often required to send in a headshot. Otherwise, yes, submitting a photo should be avoided because puts the company in an awkward position in regards to discrimination issues.