# Is it a good idea to hand out resumes in person? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 9, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-good-idea-to-hand-out-resumes-in-person/599110 "2011-10-09T21:21:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-good-idea-to-hand-out-resumes-in-person/599110/1 "2011-10-09T21:21:22Z")
I haven’t been having the best of luck looking for a job, so I’m exploring this option. Anyone ever try going to an employer’s place of business and handing them a resume? Has anyone ever been on the receiving end of a resume being dropped off in person? Does this strategy sound like a good idea? I’m searching for a job in the legal industry. I graduated in May, but Bar Exam results come out in November, and finding a job before you get your results is somewhat difficult. All advice is appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-good-idea-to-hand-out-resumes-in-person/599110/2 "2011-10-10T03:30:35Z")
Nope. It’s a terrible idea. Especially for a professional job like lawyer. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-good-idea-to-hand-out-resumes-in-person/599110/3 "2011-10-10T14:15:37Z")
Yeah, I have to agree with msmith537 on this one. Terrible idea. Have you exhausted your networking possibilities through your law school? Should be lots of connections to explore there. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-good-idea-to-hand-out-resumes-in-person/599110/4 "2011-10-10T14:37:53Z")
At most places, you won’t be able to hand out a resume in person even if you try. Security will stop you long before you get to anybody who matters. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-good-idea-to-hand-out-resumes-in-person/599110/5 "2011-10-10T14:44:23Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > At most places, you won’t be able to hand out a resume in person even if you try. Security will stop you long before you get to anybody who matters. And I think to myself…what a wonderful world. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-good-idea-to-hand-out-resumes-in-person/599110/6 "2011-10-10T14:50:09Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > At most places, you won’t be able to hand out a resume in person even if you try. Security will stop you long before you get to anybody who matters. I would be doing this with small and mid-sized firms. I don’t think they have security. I agree this would be a bad idea for a large firm or government agency. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-good-idea-to-hand-out-resumes-in-person/599110/7 "2011-10-10T14:59:00Z")
You can’t hand them out in person, but you can mail them to firms you’re interested in. I didn’t love the book Cover Letters That Knock 'Em Dead by Martin John Yate, but I think you should see if your library has it, **Lakai**. There are dozens of examples and instructions for writing a cover letter for companies that are not advertising open positions. Some of the examples are indeed for law firms. The author swears that this method gets results, and you won’t be facing security this way at the very least. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-good-idea-to-hand-out-resumes-in-person/599110/8 "2011-10-10T16:19:39Z")
My son-in-law is waiting to hear also, so good luck and I know the problem. But I agree with those who suggest networking. Even if the place you go to has an opening, what is going to make your resume stand out over the zillions of others they have received. Assuming you’ve decided on a specialty, have you gone to meetings of lawyers involved in that specialty? Do you know what a particular firm does, and have you structured your resume to match it? Do you know anyone who could introduce you to and recommend you to partners in a firm? ---
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-good-idea-to-hand-out-resumes-in-person/599110/9 "2011-10-10T16:32:03Z")
Honestly, if you are sending off resumes to unknown parties, I would pay the expense and send it via FedEx. From a personal perspective, it has worked for me several times and as being someone in the hiring position, receiving a FedEx package with an unfolded letter on nice stationery with letterhead (+ writing samples +articles +resume) causes me to read the letter. First of all because the letter is literally sitting open in front of me, but also because I make the vain assumption that this person is targeting me and is very interested in the position/the company. When I receive 50 emailed applications, a FedEx (not mail! make me sign for it, damnit!) leaps to the top of the applicants in my opinion. So don’t drop off in person, FedEx it. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-good-idea-to-hand-out-resumes-in-person/599110/10 "2011-10-10T18:24:45Z")
**Disheavel** makes a good point. If you’re going to be ballsy, don’t half-ass it. Go all the way. I would also find out something about the places that you target. So that when the phone rings and the top partner calls and asks how you know about the firm, you can give an impressive answer. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-good-idea-to-hand-out-resumes-in-person/599110/11 "2011-10-10T18:47:59Z")
> [@Disheavel](#): > > Honestly, if you are sending off resumes to unknown parties, I would pay the expense and send it via FedEx. From a personal perspective, it has worked for me several times and as being someone in the hiring position, receiving a FedEx package with an unfolded letter on nice stationery with letterhead (+ writing samples +articles +resume) causes me to read the letter. First of all because the letter is literally sitting open in front of me, but also because I make the vain assumption that this person is targeting me and is very interested in the position/the company. When I receive 50 emailed applications, a FedEx (not mail! make me sign for it, damnit!) leaps to the top of the applicants in my opinion. > > So don’t drop off in person, FedEx it. Note: This method may backfire if you are trying to get a job with UPS. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-good-idea-to-hand-out-resumes-in-person/599110/12 "2011-10-10T18:52:31Z")
At one time this was a standard way of doing things. Have you ever heard the phrase “pounding the sidewalk” in reference to job hunting? I’m guessing that it’s still done that way for service jobs like retail or restaurants and blue collar work like manufacturing or construction. But for anything professional, such as the legal field, I would mail or email it, or possibly use something like FedEx. Just to show how times have changed. A few years back, when I was looking for full time IT work, I searched by using employment agencies and by answering online ads with emailed resumes. When visiting my mother, I’d complain about the lack of jobs, and we’d get into arguments. She’d maintain that I should be presenting myself in person at the businesses where I wanted to work and that nobody would ever consider anybody so lazy as to just send an email. She finally gave up that argument when her brother, a very successful retired businessman, told her that times had changed and I was doing it correctly. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-good-idea-to-hand-out-resumes-in-person/599110/13 "2011-10-10T19:40:44Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > At one time this was a standard way of doing things. Have you ever heard the phrase “pounding the sidewalk” in reference to job hunting? > > I’m guessing that it’s still done that way for service jobs like retail or restaurants and blue collar work like manufacturing or construction. > > But for anything professional, such as the legal field, I would mail or email it, or possibly use something like FedEx. Perhaps a Doper lawyer can tell us how much email is used these days. My interaction with attorneys lately has all been phone or snail mail, with no suggestion that emailing would work - and this involves a lawyer in Silicon Valley. IT jobs are very different. Our system would have to scan in a paper resume, and it might just be tossed. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-good-idea-to-hand-out-resumes-in-person/599110/14 "2011-10-10T20:01:50Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Perhaps a Doper lawyer can tell us how much email is used these days. My interaction with attorneys lately has all been phone or snail mail, with no suggestion that emailing would work - and this involves a lawyer in Silicon Valley. IT jobs are very different. Our system would have to scan in a paper resume, and it might just be tossed. You could be right but I think the point still stands that a personal visit is not the proper way to do it. Some other form of contact should occur first. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-good-idea-to-hand-out-resumes-in-person/599110/15 "2011-10-11T18:42:27Z")
I’m going to try the Fedex method. That seems like the best way of doing things. If it works out I’ll post the results. ---
**Author:** ![AndyLee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@AndyLee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyLee)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-good-idea-to-hand-out-resumes-in-person/599110/16 "2011-10-11T18:56:32Z")
I would advise against it for any job. More and more, H/R people are using software that will grab keywords out of a resume and bring them to the front of the heap. What you want to do is look at your resume from an online point of view. What would my potential employer want? Then you need to make sure your resume has keywords that can be searched and come up that would answer that question. ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-good-idea-to-hand-out-resumes-in-person/599110/17 "2011-10-11T20:01:27Z")
I keep reading it as “is it a good idea to hand out resumes in prison”. I’m thinking not. Nothing helpful to add; sorry. I did once deliver a job application in person, since I’d only seen the advert the day of the deadline, but that’s different. ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-good-idea-to-hand-out-resumes-in-person/599110/18 "2011-10-12T19:13:33Z")
Not relevant, but I just went to a campus job fair to schmooze and hand out a brief resume for part-time low-skilled labor to help me with extra cash through the winter break. most didn’t want to the resume, just fill out an app. Pump the handshake three times, though, or you’re hosed. And if your contact is female, wink and look coy with a toothy grin. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-good-idea-to-hand-out-resumes-in-person/599110/19 "2011-10-12T19:35:16Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > You could be right but I think the point still stands that a personal visit is not the proper way to do it. Some other form of contact should occur first. No argument with that. Handing a resume out in person is somewhat less effective than praying for a job. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-good-idea-to-hand-out-resumes-in-person/599110/20 "2011-10-12T20:02:52Z")
I think you’ll find that most places will not accept resumes in person, and _very_ few would let you speak directly to someone who makes hiring decisions. If you do get a receptionist that accepts it, she’s going to put it in the same stack with the ones that came in the mail, so you’ve gone to all that trouble for nothing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-good-idea-to-hand-out-resumes-in-person/599110.md?page=2)