>> Now, how the **** do I tell them that? (Especially given that they seem
>> to want you to apply using an online application process where you
>> specify a specific job you're applying for, and there doesn't seem to be
>> a way to contact a human about this.) I think if I could just persuade
>> them to interview me and talk to me, they could probably find something
>> useful to employ me for. But how?
> 
> Cover letter.
> 
> If you can convey this kind of enthusiasm through that, it's a big step toward
> being noticed.  Look online for examples.  Find a way to relate your enthusiasm
> for learning and problem solving to their needs as a company.  I just sent a
> cover letter and resume to a company with one posting for an electrical
> engineer (not me!).  Since it didn't apply, I circumvented the website system
> and send it directly to HR, thinking it would surely disappear into the void.
> Instead, I'll get my chance to talk with them tomorrow morning.  The point is
> that no matter what, the worst they can do is to ignore you, and the best they
> can do is to hire you (OK, not strictly true, but let's be reasonable here).

Yeah, this was my general plan. [Since I'm so rubbish at making phone 
calls.] However, they seem to want you to go through their online process.

I guess I could just write a covering letter and send it to their postal 
address with "HR" written at the top of the address and hope it somehow 
ends up in the right place... Not sure if ignoring their online 
application process would get my letter summarily lossed in the bin 
though...

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On Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:21:20 +0000, Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:

>I'm just concerned that I apply for the "wrong" thing, they look, see I 
>don't have what's wanted for that job, and summarily delete my 
>application without realising that I'd be useful for some other job they 
>have. That's all.

You have a point but OTOH if they are having a recruiting drive they might
actually read your application. Years ago I got an interview with a company that
was having a recruiting drive for a job as an Instrument Tech. The day of the
interview I saw that they were advertising for Electronic Techs. So when I
arrived at the interview I just asked if I could be considered for the job I
wanted.
But things were different in bygone times, I know.
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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On Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:23:54 +0000, Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:

>
>I guess I could just write a covering letter and send it to their postal 
>address with "HR" written at the top of the address and hope it somehow 
>ends up in the right place... Not sure if ignoring their online 
>application process would get my letter summarily lossed in the bin 
>though...

Do both, apply online and send a follow up letter a couple of days later. Get
yourself noticed.
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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On Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:21:20 +0000, Invisible wrote:

>>> Is that how the game works? Hmm...
>> 
>>   Erm, YES. If you're useful in any regard, they will most definately
>>   study
>> you with much thought. Bloody hell man, SELL yourself! Jeez, just go
>> for it.
> 
> I'm just concerned that I apply for the "wrong" thing, they look, see I
> don't have what's wanted for that job, and summarily delete my
> application without realising that I'd be useful for some other job they
> have. That's all.

And if they do, when the next job comes up, submit a new application for 
it.  Don't be afraid of applying for the "wrong" job - the only "wrong" 
course of action is to not try.

>> Call them by phone, and tell them that you have more to say than you
>> can on the online form! Seriously. Life has many paths, explore the
>> ones that fit you best.
> 
> They deliberately don't provide a telephone number. You can call their
> sales department, or their finance department, but you're not allowed to
> call HR. You must use the online form. (Presumably because they get too
> many time-wasters...)

Call the sales department, finance department, support department, 
whatever number you have and ASK for a number for someone in HR.

Jim

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Orchid XP v8 wrote:
> OK, so I've been putting it off all this time until the new year. Well, 
> that's here now, so it's time to finally send this speculative 
> application I've been promising myself. I found a great looking company 
> to send it to, I've found out what kind of people they're after, I know 
> where they're based and how to get there, I've polished up my CV, now I 
> just need to tell them to hire me.

Just so you know... I submitted an online application last night. We'll 
see if this has any effect though. :-/

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"Thank you for applying to Imagination Technologies. I regret to inform 
you we will not be pursuing your application further as we feel that 
there are other candidates whose technical skillset & experience in 
relation to  computer graphics  is more suited to our requirements."

Damn. After all that work... At 4 minutes past 9 this morning, they 
summarily tell me they aren't interested. Well, there goes a whole 2 
months of planning and scheming.

Damn again. :-(

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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Welcome to the real world. ;)

  Don't let it get you down, and keep trying. Actually, it probably isn't 
anything you've done, a *lot* of companies out there are making snap 
decisions about how they operate and how they're going to budget just to 
keep going in the present financial climate. They may well be going down the 
pan since you spotted them a couple of months ago.

    ~Steve~

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On Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:44:51 +0000, St. wrote:

> Welcome to the real world. ;)
> 
>   Don't let it get you down, and keep trying. Actually, it probably
>   isn't
> anything you've done, a *lot* of companies out there are making snap
> decisions about how they operate and how they're going to budget just to
> keep going in the present financial climate. They may well be going down
> the pan since you spotted them a couple of months ago.
> 
>     ~Steve~

Yes, Andy, consider it practice for the next time.

Jim

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St. wrote:
> Welcome to the real world. ;)

I think "welcome to the desert of the real" would be a more appropriate 
quotation from that film.

>   Don't let it get you down, and keep trying. Actually, it probably isn't 
> anything you've done, a *lot* of companies out there are making snap 
> decisions about how they operate and how they're going to budget just to 
> keep going in the present financial climate. They may well be going down the 
> pan since you spotted them a couple of months ago.

I don't know... I actually found a company that's recruiting rather than 
firing. And not just one vacancy, but about 30 or so of them. And *all* 
of them targetting graduates with no experience. And in a high-tech 
company that seems to be doing interesting technical work. And I spent 
weeks trying to build a killer CV, and fussing over the best way to put 
myself across... and they decided in a mere 240 seconds that they 
weren't going to hire me.

I don't think any human being even looked at my CV. I think they did an 
automated search of the electronic details I submitted and their 
computer failed to find the magic keyword it was looking for, so they 
sent me an autogenerated rejection email.

I'm seriously considering either replying to their email or phoning them 
to enquire why they're not interested. I though I'd actually be quite 
useful to them, given what I know and what I'm capable (and motivated) 
of learning.

On the other hand, maybe I should just face facts and accept that it is 
essentially pointless for me to continue to remain alive. Maybe I should 
just go throw myself off a tall building and get it over with. Then I 
wouldn't have to put up with this suck-ass job that I hate, surrounded 
by people who don't want me around, being paid peanuts, living in a 
world that is completely indifferent to my pain and misery. Seriously, 
what do I have to live for? Is my world ever going to be better than 
this? 30 years' prior experience suggests "no"...

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On Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:21:20 +0000, Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:

>I'm seriously considering either replying to their email or phoning them 
>to enquire why they're not interested. I though I'd actually be quite 
>useful to them, given what I know and what I'm capable (and motivated) 
>of learning.

Do it!
You have nothing to lose.
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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