Is it a good idea to hand out resumes in person?

In My Humble Opinion
21

100% agreed that you need to find places you have a genuine interest working for. Find somewhere that resonates with your personal values, goals, ambitions. A famous public figurehead who you admire, or something important that the company has done that you want to be a part of. Make a list of places like this that are really important to you.

Then write sincere, dedicated cover letters and mail them along with your resume. Show them a passion, enthusiasm, and most of all, what you could offer them and why it is important that they consider you for a position. The best cover letters are the ones that show exactly why you care, and make them care about you at the same time.

It certainly won’t hurt your chances of getting hired, and it’ll probably feel good too.

22

Here’s how it worked at the last place I worked.

Hopeful applicant comes in and is immediately blocked by the receptionist.

Applicant gives resume to receptionist, who promises to forward it to the department head.

Department head receives resume. If she’s actively looking for someone, she puts it in a pile with all the resumes that have been mailed, emailed, forwarded by HR, passed on internally, etc. If she isn’t actively looking, she puts it into a pile labeled “Stuff I didn’t ask for.”