Maya asks: “I understand that it is best to address your cover letter to a person instead of “To Whom It May Concern”. However, in a situation where you are applying to a company and there are upwards of 50 recruiters and you apply via their on-line application systems, this is a challenge. Who do I contact to find the name of the specific recruiter? And how do I go about getting this name when the only HR contact info, at best, is something to the effect of: hr@bigcompany.com and no one responds?”

Your question is a common one, Maya. You’re absolutely right in that you should try to address your cover letter to a hiring manger or specific recruiter whenever possible. “To Whom It May Concern,” or “Dear Hiring Manager,” can end up sounding like junk mail, but, it can be difficult to attach an actual name to the job.

Your best bet in this situation is to contact the company directly. Log on to the company’s Web site and do some digging, or call the main phone number and ask a receptionist for the name and title of its corporate recruiter. Another option would be to ask the receptionist whom you would report to in your desired position — it’s perfectly fine to address your cover letter to him or her, also.

Maya asks: I agree that following up is necessary. But again, with the big companies… if I don’t know where the résumé was sent in the first place, who do I even follow up with?

Another great question. If you were able to get the name of a corporate recruiter or manager from the company Web site, or by calling the receptionist (as suggested above), it will be easier to get the same person’s e-mail address or phone number to follow-up. If you had to send your résumé to a nameless person, however, following up can be a little more tricky.

I would suggest, again, calling the main number for the company. Tell them you sent in your application materials XX days ago, and you would like to speak to the person in charge of receiving those materials. The receptionist should be able to point you in the right direction.

Tom asks: I am 56 years old, non-degreed and unemployed for over 18 months. I have over 20 years of experience in Field Merchandising Management and Supervision. I also have managed national retail programs and projects. My most recent position was as the Director of internal Operations for our client, Microsoft. My company was a 3rd party labor company. I have posted my résumé on the top 10-15 job boards and applied to 200+ positions. Any suggestions?

Tom, it sounds like you are rightfully frustrated with your job search and we’re sorry to hear you haven’t found anything yet. You’ve taken the right steps in posting your résumé on job boards and applying to many jobs, but I advise you not to apply to every single job you find that’s available. I realize you are anxious and probably willing to take any job that comes your way, but I encourage you to think in the long-term. The last thing you want is to end up in a job you hate and will end up quitting, anyway. Then you’re back at square one.

Try targeting your job search a little more. Search job boards, newspapers and networking sites for general terms like “merchandising,” “merchandise supervisor,” and “internal operations.” Then, look closely at the job titles  that come up. Look for the specific skills and experience required for each position, and compare them with the skills you have. This will give you more targeted titles and skills to look for.

Additionally, utilize social and professional networking sites. Join Facebook, LinkedIn or BrightFuse and advertise your job search through those vehicles. Many companies and recruiters are recruiting these sites for viable candidates, so put yourself out there.

If you’re still coming up short, you might want to try working with a local recruiter. A good recruiter knows who is hiring and who isn’t, what jobs will suit you and which won’t. They can also give you tips on your résumé, cover letter and interview skills. The best part? It’s free to utilize their services!

Hang in there. Be as patient as possible and find a job that you love, which pays the bills and that you can see yourself at in the long run.

Rachel at The Work Buzz