Writing Your Resume with No Job in Sight

Have you ever thought about trying to apply for a job with a company that has not posted a job opening? Most people have not because it's a pretty scary proposition. Not only do you not know who to talk to at the company to get noticed, but you don't want to be presumptuous enough to assume that a company would actually create a position for you when one isn't available.

But you'd actually be surprised by the number of people who were able to secure contract, part-time or full-time positions by simply putting themselves out there. If you want a job and don't see one available, here are some ways to build up your resume to approach companies.

Think About Your Talents

When preparing your resume, you obviously can't use the same approach that you would if you had a job posting sitting in from of you. You're working with a bit of a clean slate so you're going to have to look at your talents and decide which ones you want to add.

The good news is that taking on this challenge could help you reflect on where you've been, what you've accomplished and where you hope to go. It could also give you the confidence boost you need to convince companies that they'd be better off with you on their team.

Who Could Benefit from Your Talents

Your next step is to think about who could benefit from your talents because you're going to need to address them directly on your resume. The last thing that an employer wants to see is an unsolicited resume that looks like a template, so it's up to you to do search for companies that seem to need help then give them all of the reasons you're right for them. By showcasing your skills and accomplishments in your resume and giving further explanation in your cover letter, you may be able to convince them to bring you on to make a real difference in their company.

Putting Yourself Out There

After you've put together a resume that does a great job of convincing an employer that you're right for them, it's time to put yourself out there. To do this, you want to call human resources and find out who is the right person to send your package to. Get a mailing address, email and phone number and make contact all three ways to show how serious you are about being an asset to the company.

If you feel that the task of putting yourself out there for a job is too daunting, you could locate resume writers who will gladly help walk you through the process. But this is something you could do on your own and would be a great learning experience, so give it a try. The worst that could happen is that you put a bug in someone's ear about your talents.