Common question: Resume distribution service, is it a good idea?
They used to be a popular choice over 10 years ago, but what do we think about this service now?
Resume Distribution Definition
Let’s talk about what this is for those that are unfamiliar with the concept.
A resume distribution service is designed to be used in conjunction with other tools to ‘help’ people find jobs. We wrote ‘help’ because that is what the intent was. We will get to why we feel it’s not a good idea as it could hinder your chances of securing a job (and ruin your reputation).
A career company will take your resume (with your personal details) and send spam it to recruiters (strangers) and whomever it happens to reach (who knows where it will go). The hope is that someone will get your resume, call you and find you a job.
Spam and Privacy
One concern is that it’s spam. We get a lot of spam from all over the world about a host of service offerings from companies. We recently received offers for bulk steel… We have no idea. The point is that it’s non-specific; it’s relentless and unwanted (the steel company’s marketing team should be terminated for wasting their money).
So, by sending your unsolicited (not asked for) resume to over 15,000 recruiters as one company advertised these could occur: a) flood inboxes with a resume that is not matched with a job posting and b) the personal connection is lost, which plays a big part in finding a good recruiting professional.
The other reason is you don’t specifically know where or who is going to receive your personal details. Details that may contain your address, phone number, and if you are from another country, your marital status, religious status, and family status.
There’s a better way of doing this.
Some better hands-off methods would be: a) subscribe to email job alerts with a reputable job board so they will send you jobs, and you can decide which to pursue, or b) contact a recruiting agency and ask them if they are looking for your occupation.
You can also use LinkedIn, word-of-mouth, volunteer placements and your barber/hairstylist, or barista. They see lots of people, so tell them to keep their ears open! (that’s how I landed a job during university).
Final thoughts
Do you have any comments on using mass distribution services? Was your experience positive or negative? We would like to hear from you, and feel free to comment below, share this post or contact us anytime.