I've had the luxury, perhaps outside of the first job, of looking for work while I have work. This makes it a bit easier to be targeted in my approach, so it might not work for everyone. But I use a resume to apply for a job, so every job gets a different resume.
At the top of every resume is a job description: a table that lists the company needs and my skills with respect to the requirements--even if I don't have any. Typically it's one page for a hiring manager to compare against the JD and decide whether she wants to look at the canned bullets of my work experience.
My current and prior jobs had a formal application process post offer: I did not go through an online application process or submit a resume to an electronic system until after we'd gone through interviews, etc.
If I find a place I want to work, I make some effort to find out who the hiring manager is for a given position. If I can find an email address, I'll reach out; if not, I look for a mailing address. If I'm really motivated, I'll try to find a phone number.
My experience with this approach has generally been positive: it helps identify good employers, makes, I think, a good impression, and ensures that we don't waste each others' time.
At the top of every resume is a job description: a table that lists the company needs and my skills with respect to the requirements--even if I don't have any. Typically it's one page for a hiring manager to compare against the JD and decide whether she wants to look at the canned bullets of my work experience.
My current and prior jobs had a formal application process post offer: I did not go through an online application process or submit a resume to an electronic system until after we'd gone through interviews, etc.
If I find a place I want to work, I make some effort to find out who the hiring manager is for a given position. If I can find an email address, I'll reach out; if not, I look for a mailing address. If I'm really motivated, I'll try to find a phone number.
My experience with this approach has generally been positive: it helps identify good employers, makes, I think, a good impression, and ensures that we don't waste each others' time.