How helpful is dropping hard copies of my CV in offices?

Dear Jarus,

Kudos for a job well done. Your blog site is one of the best I have ever seen.

I can see you are more experienced in terms of career and life pursuit. My question is: I intend going to some organisations, especially few banks to submit my CV in hard copy. How do you think I should address this issue when I get there because I know nobody/insider. Do you think I should just walk down to the customer care and tell them politely of my intention or can I get to see the HR of the bank?

Please I have had these thoughts up my mind ever since and I need a very precise and workable strategy.

God bless you as you take your time to reply.

Omobolanle O.

Dear Omobolanle,

I don’t know the exact role you want to apply for. Your qualifications could have also given me clue. Are you a graduate? Or an ND holder?

Still, the truth is, we have gone past hard copy CV era, especially for skilled jobs – those that require you to have certain level of formal education and training. For unskilled positions like cleaners and semi-skilled ones like office assistants, maybe hard copies of CV are still acceptable.

Today, most organizations either ask you to fill some forms online or ask you to email soft copies of your CV to a designated email address. I doubt dropping hard copies of CVs (except expressly called for) is fashionable again. Most of those CVs end up in guguru seller’s shop.

So if your intention is to apply for jobs that would normally be required of a graduate, then I’m not sure dropping hard copies of CVs around can help (it used to, few years back). But if it’s for some clerical or unskilled jobs (office assistants, drivers etc), maybe dropping CVs can help.

The other issue is, bank branches usually don’t have power to hire. The hiring decision is taken from the head office (or sometimes regional office). So I don’t think the man at the branch office will be able to help you with your hard CV.

My advice: subscribe to job websites and surf the internet for openings that you are qualified for. Here is an ongoing bulk teller recruitment for a bank, if you qualify: Bulk Tellers Recruitment

While banks are not likely to recruit for skilled positions through hard copy CVs, some small firms like ‘Jarus & co’ may do. So there may not be anything wrong in trying those ones, if you must circulate hard copies of your CV.

You may also try networking with insiders in companies to help pass on soft copies of your CV to the HR (CVs submitted by insiders usually carry a little hope, because the insider knows the right person to drop it with). Bank branches don’t have HR department, so the maximum the officer you meet at the branch (irrespective of department) can do for you is to help forward your CV (in soft copy, by email) to the HR department or any other top guy that can pull some weight. But while networking, be careful not to be taken advantage of, as a lady. You know what I mean.

All the best.

Jarus

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