Career Connections
"Should I bother sending in a resume to a company that has a hiring freeze?" -- submitted by Melanie C. ’02
For most companies, when they say they have a hiring freeze, it does not mean that are not hiring. It typically means that they still hire for what they deem essential positions, critical needs or when there is an open position and they want to keep the headcount the same in that department. These positions will vary depending on the field you are in and what the company has as goals for the immediate future.
This is the essential time to use your networking skills and find someone you know inside the company. Check our MaroonCentral to see if any UMass Amherst alumni work there and search all your LinkedIn contacts for a connection. Attend any networking events put on by professional organizations in your field or social groups that you belong to. Ask your contacts within the company if they would be willing to mention that you applied for the job. Sometimes all it takes to get an interview is knowing someone in the company.
If you cannot find any contacts in a company you want to work for, look for other ways to get your foot in the door. Schedule an informational interview with someone in the company whose job you are interested in or attend a meeting at the company that is open to the public. If there is a posted position, apply quickly. Send your resume in immediately and if you hear back, return any phone calls instantly. Know that the process may take longer than usual and try to be patient. It takes hard work to get a job – many people say that it is a full-time job to get a job!