The Baby On The Doorstep Technique

Baby On The Doorstep is a sales technique named after the proverbial "drop the baby off on the doorstep and someone will make sure she is taken care of" method of adoption. Ever hear of a baby that was turned away? Or left on the doorstep? Never. And that forms the basic premise for Baby On The Doorstep--if I called you on the phone and asked you to adopt a child, you probably would not even consider it. But if that very same child appeared on your doorstep, what would you do? You would at least take her in and see to it that she finds a proper home.

This sales technique is used every day by energetic salespeople who call on customers unannounced, in person--many with a great deal of success. Baby On The Doorstep involves some courage on your part since you will be doing what most companies ask you not to do: show up in person without a scheduled interview. But it is actually quite simple. You just pack up your resume, head down to the company location, and try to find your way as close to the hiring manager as possible. Ask if the hiring manager is in, state your name and that you have a personal package to be hand-delivered. If the person is out, ask when he or she will be in again and call at that time. If the person is in, ask to meet briefly. When and if you do get through, say that you were "in the neighborhood" and decided to drop off your resume personally. State your interest in working for the company and ask if the person would schedule fifteen minutes so that you can talk further. Do not push for anything more than that. If you are offered time right then, go for it. If not, be willing to come back at a later time that day or later that week. Remember that you are interrupting the person's day and schedule, so take only what you are given and don't push for more.

Even though you are interrupting unannounced, do not assume that you will be turned away. Managers are not continually occupied with "A" priorities throughout the day. Also, you may be stopping by at a time when hiring is an "A" priority. So know the company going in and be prepared for a potential full interview. It does happen. Be prepared.

The reality of Baby On The Doorstep is that you may only get one or two minutes face-to-face with the hiring manager. But that amount of time is quite sufficient for establishing yourself in the mind of the manager. Up to that point, you are only a piece of paper or a voice on the phone. Now you are a real person. Assuming that you present yourself well, that one to two minutes has the same--or greater--initial affect than the formal interview, since you are being evaluated with very scrupulous eyes.

It's an aggressive technique, one which some may shun or shy away from. But if you are failing to get through to a company, this technique offers a solid alternative.

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