How to Let Someone Know You Are Interested in a Job

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Before becoming a news anchor, I received hundreds of rejection emails. There was one detail news station in Seattle that I wanted to intern for, and every summer, I dutifully filled out an online application and emailed my resume to their Hour department only to be met with radio silence. When I realized this task-search strategy wasn't working, I followed the popular net advice and took more than initiative, emailing individual reporters at the company to inquire about open up roles.

Nevertheless, I was never invited to interview.

It was at this point that I decided I needed to endeavour something different: Pitch myself directly to the news managing director. During a educatee scholarship anniversary, I was given that opportunity, and the following calendar week, I interviewed and received an offer soon afterwards. In that role, I worked with some of the best journalists in Seattle and built reporting skills that I could accept never learned in a classroom.

Pitching yourself directly to employers can actually give y'all an advantage over other applicants.

Years later, that news managing director and I reconnected. "It's funny," he said, "in all those years that you were applying, your resume never made it onto my desk. You were a swell intern though."

Although I was conspicuously qualified for that function, I wouldn't take been hired had I continued to follow the application process detailed on the company website. This is why I encourage students, mentees, and clients to proactively pitch themselves to employers, instead of reactively applying for jobs subsequently the openings are posted online.

As part of the research I conducted for my company Career Survival Guide — which provides women and professionals of color with resources to assistance them succeed in the workforce — I interviewed a series of career counselors, educators, and early to mid-career professionals around this topic. I learned that many job-seekers (especially starting time-generation college students and students who are the children of immigrants) are hesitant to pitch themselves to employers out of fearfulness that information technology volition offend hiring managers or injure their status as candidates.

But, contrary to this belief, pitching yourself direct to employers can really requite yous an advantage over other applicants.

Here'southward a vii-step guide on how to practise information technology.

1) Get your timing right.

"A lot of people will know about a chore opening before it's even posted online," Lizzie Ann Jones, a sometime Fortune 500 recruiter, told me. "Past the time a task description is published externally, the company is tardily in the recruiting procedure because the chore has already been socialized internally."

During this time, the hiring manager and other team members are starting to tell their friends and networks nigh the opportunity, and potential applicants (including internal employees) are starting to express interest in the part.

Because of this, y'all should programme to pitch yourself to the employers yous want to work for equally early as possible in your job search, regardless of whether there are electric current openings that align with your skillset. More than specifically, if you lot're applying to internship programs that require you to be in school, it's important to start applying months in advance. Otherwise, you lot might miss out on your window of opportunity.

Pro tip

If you're a college student who is looking to have a full-time chore lined upwards, showtime reaching out to employers at to the lowest degree 12 months before graduation. Making the first movement communicates that y'all're eager to work for them, and building that relationship will take time. Remember that hiring managers prefer to hire people who are not simply qualified for a role, simply who are too excited most it.

2) Place key players at the company (or the hiring manager's boss).

Once have chosen a place you desire to pitch yourself to, don't simply shoot out an email. First, practice your research. Narrow downwards a specific squad within the visitor that you would similar to be a function of. For example, if you lot want to be a salesperson, focusing on the sales or business development departments will probable be more beneficial to you than focusing on the HR department. Likewise, if you want to exist a copywriter, your best bet is to look into the visitor'south marketing or social media teams.

Key players have the power to connect you, and if they do, you're much more likely to get a response than if y'all were to accomplish out common cold.

Whatever you decide on, the next step is to place employees who take decision-making power at the visitor and who can influence hiring decisions — either beyond the lath or on the specific teams you're interested in. I telephone call these "key players." At pocket-size companies or startups, this might just exist the founder or employees at the executive level. At a larger corporation, these could be folks with the words "senior director" or "managing director" in their job titles.

Your goal is to get these employees to be your advocates and eventually refer you to the hiring managers of the teams yous're interested in. Key players take the ability to connect you, and if they practise, you're much more likely to get a response than if you were to reach out cold.

Especially if you're targeting larger organizations, expect to spend a significant amount of fourth dimension on this step. Information technology helps to take contacts within the company who can aid y'all in identifying key players, but if you don't, the internet is a good substitute. When applying for journalism roles, for instance, I searched "news manager + [company proper name]" and "executive producer + [company name]" on Google and LinkedIn.

Once you find a contact y'all want to attain out to, it'southward time to request an informational interview. Message your key actor, either on LinkedIn or through their work electronic mail. Say something along the lines of:

How-do-you-do [name],

My proper noun is _____, and I'chiliad reaching out because I noticed you work on the _____  squad. I would honey to learn more about the piece of work you're doing on [team] and your feel at [company], equally I'm planning to use for [specific part] openings on your team this fall.

Would yous be interested in coming together with me 1:ane? I would actually capeesh your feedback on means I can fix myself up for success in the application process.

Thanks in advance for your consideration!

Await to look at least a week for a response. Non everyone volition get back to you, but some volition — and then don't give up if you don't hear back from the beginning few people.

Pro tip

If you have the proper name of the team member you want to connect with but cannot find their contact information for some reason, email guessing tools tin can help you find their work electronic mail addresses.

3) Nail your informational interview.

At present that you've landed an informational interview, make sure to practise some enquiry on the person you have reached out to. You'll get the well-nigh out of these connections if yous build relationships around shared values, and it volition be much easier to carry a conversation if you and the other person are discussing topics yous're both passionate about.

During the chat itself, be certain to express your interest in their specific line of piece of work. Ask questions near their experience at the company ("What'south the workplace civilization like? Do you experience supported in your role?") and how the task you are targeting fits into it all ("What types of decisions would I be making? Do yous know how responsibilities are split up amid that particular team?"). Encounter if they accept any tips for you as you prepare to apply.

As the conversation wraps up, ask your new contact if they would be willing to introduce you to a hiring manager or other employees who can influence hiring decisions. You lot can say, "Give thanks you so much for your time today. Our word has made me even more excited to employ for a office here! Are there other team members you would recommend I speak with before I apply? … Would yous experience comfortable introducing me to the hiring manager for this part?"

Pro tip

Some other option is to accomplish out to a junior member of the squad on LinkedIn, limited your interest in their piece of work, and ask if they'd be willing to speak with y'all. Afterward forming a relationship, you tin and so ask your new contact to connect you to their manager. This person can also give you lot tips around how to all-time communicate with the managing director: Practice they prefer emails to be brusk and to the point, or practise they prefer to read longer, detailed emails? Are they slammed with work right now? Would information technology be ameliorate to reach out afterwards the fiscal yr ends? These are all important considerations to proceed in heed.

iv) Connect with the hiring manager.

Hopefully, by this indicate, you've secured the hiring manager's contact information or been introduced formally past a cardinal player at their company.

At present it's time to transport your first email. In this message you have a few goals: Innovate yourself, express interest in their company, explain the value you lot can bring to their team, and request a meeting. While it should be articulate that you lot are interested in a chore at their company, don't ask for a job offering in your initial electronic mail. Your pitch will come up afterward, when yous talk to the hiring manager ane-on-one. Subsequently all, you don't know what their specific needs are yet, and you'll want to tailor your pitch to this data.

The higher up the recipient is on the corporate ladder, the less time they'll have to read your e-mail, and the shorter your email, the better.

Your initial electronic mail doesn't need to be every bit long as a embrace letter, but you should include relevant details most your skills and past experience. Follow this format:

• Start with a descriptive discipline line.
• If you lot are emailing them without a formal introduction, introduce yourself and explain how you got their contact information.
• Briefly explain your relevant skills and experience. Most importantly, connect this to how you would add value to their squad.
• Be articulate about what you want to discuss with them.
• Link to your LinkedIn or portfolio, so they can learn more almost your background or view your work samples.

Beneath is a sample electronic mail I would send if I were a graduating college senior, pitching myself for a political news reporting job in television receiver.

Discipline: Coming together to discuss MMJ roles at [company/team] | Referred by [common contact]

Hello [hiring manager],

My proper noun is Starla Sampaco, and I am an intern at [visitor]. [Name of mutual contact] recommended that I contact yous, as I am highly interested in starting my career at [company/team] after higher.

I am currently double-majoring in journalism and constabulary, societies, and justice at the University of Washington and have interned at various newsrooms in Seattle, including KING 5. In my most recent internship, I was an on-air host and producer at TVW, where I covered Washington state's legislative session. I promise to go along covering politics and immigration as a multimedia journalist later on I graduate from UW in June. I have enjoyed watching [company]'s political coverage for several years and would be eager to contribute to this coverage as a reporter on the clearing beat.

If any multimedia journalist roles open upwards at [company], I would dear to be considered. Would you be interested in meeting with me over Zoom? I would like to larn more well-nigh how I tin set myself up for success every bit I employ for openings on your team.

Beneath, I've linked to my reel and recent piece of work samples. You can as well discover more details almost my groundwork on my LinkedIn profile:

[link 1]

[link ii]

Pro tip

In general, the higher up the recipient is on the corporate ladder, the less time they'll take to read your email, and the shorter your email, the better. Mirror the advice fashion and e-mail etiquette norms of your manufacture. I've noticed that in academia, for example, emails tend to be more verbose than emails sent in the media and technology industries.

v) Follow up (if necessary).

Once you've sent your first e-mail, be patient! It'due south okay to follow up, but don't overdo it, as you lot might adventure annoying the managing director. Look at least a week before reaching out again, and when yous practice, continue it short:

How-do-you-do [hiring manager],

I'm writing to follow upwards on my previous e-mail. Would you be available to chat in the coming weeks?

Thanks in advance for your consideration!

If you still don't hear back, wait around two weeks between follow-up emails. You tin say something like:

Hi [hiring manager],

I'thousand writing to follow up one last time. Would yous be interested in meeting with me over Zoom adjacent month to discuss potential openings on your team?

In the case that yous are ghosted, move on to contacting other employers, and try non to take it personally. It's possible that this person receives a loftier volume of similar emails and merely cannot respond to each and every one.

Pro tip

If you still haven't heard back after multiple emails, endeavour adding the hiring manager on LinkedIn. If they take an inbox filled with unanswered emails, information technology'southward easy for messages to fall through the cracks. A LinkedIn notification might be the reminder that prompts someone to finally respond to your emails.

6) Sell yourself.

If the manager accepts your invitation to meet, congratulations! You've basically landed an informal chore interview, and you should treat it equally such.

This starting time meeting, like whatever job interview, needs to be a two-manner conversation, not just an opportunity for you to list your accomplishments, so show up prepared with questions to ask them. I recommend starting with questions about the company's business organisation needs, their priorities, and the direction their team is heading in.

Then, discuss your skills and feel and how y'all could provide value to the company. Recollect to tailor this part of your conversation to their response to your previous questions about the company'due south priorities. Equally an applicant, it'due south your job to connect your skills and accomplishments to their needs. Show them how yous would make their piece of work easier or how your skills could help their team attain their goals faster. You can also exercise this past giving examples of new projects you would start or sharing how yous would fit into the team's existing initiatives.

It's not about bragging or showing off — it's about giving the other person prove that y'all can actually practise what y'all say y'all tin do.

Throughout this chat, demonstrate that y'all've done your research on the company. Advise areas of the business concern you lot would like to focus on or possibly develop farther — this volition make you look similar a go-getter and someone who is passionate almost the company's missions.

Lastly, make the ask: "The work you are doing hither at [visitor/team] is very interesting, and I would love to be part of a team like this after graduation. Are y'all considering opening any roles in the coming year? … And based on what we've discussed, exercise you call back I would be a adept fit for this team?"

The manager'southward response to that concluding question will either give you conviction that you're on the right rail, or you lot'll go feedback that tin assist you improve your candidacy.

Pro tip: Many people find it hard to talk about their accomplishments out of fear that they will come off equally inauthentic or arrogant. In response to this, Jones suggests framing these accomplishments within the context of passions or topics that bring yous joy. For case, Jones said, you could say something similar: "I beloved creating content, and I recently created a blog mail on [topic] that had x,000 views." Jones told me that it's non about bragging or showing off — information technology's about giving the other person evidence that you can actually exercise what you lot say you can do.

7) Don't be put off by a "no."

Rejection is unavoidable, but don't mistake it for failure. Sometimes, "no" really means "not now."

I learned this years ago, when I pitched myself for a video reporting office with the assist of a mentor who worked for a company I was interested in. When I showtime pitched myself to the hiring managers, they saw value in my skill set just didn't have space for me on their team. While I was bummed that our meetings did non immediately consequence in an offer, my fourth dimension was not wasted. We kept in touch, and merely three months after, those managers created a role that was a good fit for my skills, and I was hired.

Pro tip: If your ideal office doesn't exist, pitch a new function. Don't underestimate the power of having internal allies who can advocate for you.

My final slice of communication…

When you lot are on the job hunt, it doesn't hurt to set up job alarm emails or to apply for job openings you find online. Yet, proactively reaching out to hiring managers will requite you more than advantages over the other applicants. One time you've built these relationships with employers and people who can influence hiring decisions, you'll be more likely to receive notice nearly upcoming openings before they are posted online, and you'll have access to more than insider information that can assistance you strengthen your candidacy.

And then don't expect. Go make the first move!

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Source: https://hbr.org/2021/07/how-to-pitch-yourself-to-an-employer

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