To your question, definitely send your resume and cover letter to the contact you've identified. Indicate in your cover letter you are following proper channels and have submitted your application on line as their firm requests. Share your qualifications for the position you are applying for. Let him/her know you wanted to make him/her aware of your electronic application and appreciate his/her review of your resume.

Good luck!

I tried the approach of calling the firm with a question for their Recruitment Department. It is a simple question, asking whether the firm organises on-campus recruitment drives. &I got the name and email of the firm's regional recruiter!! Such good luck!!

However, another question pops up in mind. Since I have the email of the regional recruiter, should I send my cover letter and resume to the recruiter's email eventhough I will submit my online application? Will it annoy the recruiter by sending my documents twice?

Once again, thank you for sharing such invaluable practical tips!

Perhaps you could call the company with a question for someone in H/R. When the receptionist passes you through, you have a name. Make the question valuable. Don't just pull a random something out of your brain to use as your excuse. If you're going to get to talk to someone, you should make sure the conversation provides you with more information and helps you stick out in the mind of the person you are speaking with.

If that fails, I'd get out Google and LinkedIn. Recruiters usually have their names all over the place. They are the front faces for their organizations. They attend career fairs, are quoted in articles, participate in professional trade associations, etc. Odds are in your favor, especially if the organization is well known, of finding a contact name.

Also, even though you may not know someone at the firm, don't discount the potential of someone you know having a link. Ask your college advisors and professors. Heck, ask in your Facebook status if anyone knows someone at ABC company. You might be surprised how many connections are at your fingertips.

Could you kindly suggest how to go about requesting the name of a recruiter from the receptionist?

I am submitting an online job application to a reputable international consulting firm. I am also aware that it is best to attention to a recruiter in my cover letter rather than merely addressing "To whom it may concern", even in an online application.

I mentioned the above during my phone conversation with the firm's receptionist. However, she replied that I just attention my cover letter and resume to the HR/Recruitment department as they do not disclose names of recruiters.

In this case, is there any effective yet gracious approach to obtain the name of a recruiter from a phone conversation with the receptionist? I would really want to increase my chances to an interview with the firm. (Unfortunately, I do not know anyone working for the firm as a referral in my cover letter)

Thank you!