Is Resume Distribution a Scam?

are at least six resume distribution services that havefor your skill set than another region. Obviously, if you
captured the market and millions of people have usedare able to pick up and move anywhere on a
them to send targeted resume 'blasts' to recruiters andmoments notice for a new job, you have an
employers. People like these services because theyadvantage.
are relatively cheap and fast - it makes us feel good3. Keywords and Format
to know we sent our resume to thousands of targetsThe resume you send to a distribution service must
in 24 hours.have targeted keywords. Remember, this is a mass
But, what did we accomplish?mailing and their is no time to focus on individual wants
That depends on three factors:and needs. You must select three main keywords that
1. Target Marketdescribe your skill set and lead with those. Create the
Blasting resumes to a specific category of recruiterssame resume in a MS Word, .txt and .HTML format to
will increase your chances of making a contact andmaximize the amount of recruiters the resume is
getting a response from the recruiter. But, this won't bedistributed to.
effective if your skill set is not in demand now.3. How Clean is that List?
Recruiters are salespeople who live in the moment.All resume distribution services say that their list of
They only focus on the job order at hand, and if yourrecruiters and HR managers is an opt-in list. That
resume does not speak to them in the exact termsmeans that all of the recruiting companies and
they are looking for it will be ignored.businesses that are on their list 'subscribe' to their
Everyone has heard of the hidden job market - theservice. This does not mean that the same person
fact that the majority of open jobs are neverwho subscribed is the person who will receive your
advertised. Some resume distribution services blastresume via email. So, because the undeliverable rate
resumes to HR departments in companies that doon most lists is about 20%, you are having your
direct hiring. HR managers may be a bit moreresume sent to a good number of strangers. For
responsive than recruiters, although they are inundatedexample, if your resume is sent to 1,000 recruiters
with resumes as well and don't have time to siftabout 200 of them are strangers to the service. If you
through the piles of resumes they receive. Again, timingavail yourself of a resume distribution service try to
is crucial. If the HR manager or their asistant isdetermine if the service cleans their list on a quarterly
sensitized to your skill set at that moment, you maybasis.
receive a response.Resume distribution can be effective if the timing is
2. Demographicsright. In order to get a hit, the recruiter must be looking
Resume distribution services can submit your resumeto fill a job that you qualify for when they receive your
to any city, state, or any combination of three statesresume. If they receive it too early or too late in the
simultaneously. Supply and demand dictates whetherprocess, you miss the boat.
that area of the country has a relatively greater need