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This is really non-church related, but I do need some advice. Late last evening I got a call from an acquaintance (I can’t say we’re really friends, I haven’t seen or talked to him in a couple years) telling me that someone at his former place of employ (he’s retired) has suddenly left. He knew I was qualified for the job and apparently no one else there is and his informant had said they were in a bit of a lurch. Knowing my employment status he said he immediately thought of me. The job won’t be posted for at least several days (there’s a board involved with approvals, etc.). He thought I should make myself known immediately as someone qualified and available, even if temporarily. The knowledge of the sudden departure is second-hand, but I’m sure the info is reliable and I’m sure there’s no one there to fill in. It’s the type of position where the person can be gone on vacation for a week or two as long as the admin assistant is there but generally someone needs to do the job and only that job (it’s not in the admin assistant’s job ladder and she is not even remotely qualified). The question: How do I approach this?
Unfortunately there is no right way, although there are probably many wrong ways. I am fairly specialized in my field and have a nice updated resume and I interview well. I still have sent out my resume without any responses.
There was this one job on the west coast that I saw advertised 3 times in an 18 month span. I applied each time with a cover letter explaining that I had family that lived in the area and my enduring interest to work there. No response! Then some months later the CEO calls me out of the blue and we do an impromtu phone interview. I never heard from him again.
Ideally you would have your contact take your resume to the hiring manager and champion your cause. There is no substitute for a personal recommendation.
Barring that, you could contact the hiring manager yourself. That may work or it may seem to pushy. 50/50. I think some hiring managers resent people trying to circumvent the normal hiring process.
I am a fan of LinkedIn as a way of getting to know people in the industry at different locations. They may not know me well enough to be my advocate – but I can at least ask them questions about the position available, work conditions, company culture, etc. They may even agree to be a personal reference.
My $.02
I agree with what Roy said. If you are trying to get in the hiring door early, it would be best to do it all through your contact within the company so it doesn’t look like you are trying to be pushy or sneaky. If you can get your acquaintance to hand your resume to the hiring manager, it would be best all around. If you end up contacting the hiring manager yourself, you don’t have to lead with your resume. You could just say that your acquaintance told you the position was going to be open, you’re qualified, you’re available immediately, and would they like to see a resume. I wish there were straightforward answers to job hunting situations. I’ve been hunting myself due to being laid off recently. I’ve sent out over 20 resumes over the past couple of weeks. I’m now in the situation of having a company that wants to rush me through the interview process so they can make a decision this week while I’m waiting to hear back from a more desirable company that will also probably pay me a lot more. What to do? I’m trying not to let desperation overtake my rational thinking, but it’s hard. I don’t want to commit to a low-paying job tomorrow if I’m going to get an offer for twice the pay the very next day. But I also hate to pass up an opportunity to be employed if it turns out the other company isn’t going to make an offer after all. Bleh.
Roy, I’m kind of the opposite. I have a great resume, and I can write a mean cover letter. But I’ve never been very good at interviewing. I just don’t think well on my feet.
Daeruin wrote:Roy, I’m kind of the opposite. I have a great resume, and I can write a mean cover letter. But I’ve never been very good at interviewing. I just don’t think well on my feet.
I firmly believe that we are all given different gifts. However, I do have some tips for improvement:
1) Practice – Yeah I know. It is a cliché but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true.
2) Talking Points – These would be stories and achievements that reflect you at your best. Use the questions as vehicles (within reason)to get to your talking points.
3) Toastmasters International – It is a public speaking organization that will give you practice speaking in front of others and thinking on your feet.
4) LDS Church – I also believe that Mormons tend to be better at this than many other churches because of the practice that we get at it within our lay ministry.
5) Research – Go into the interview prepared. Call ahead to get a better understanding of the position and environment. Much info will be available on the website. Maybe walk the facility and have friendly chats with the staff.
My $.02
What Roy said. Generally speaking, it’s best if the employee goes to the hiring manager and says, “I have a friend who would be perfect for this position. What should I tell him to do to get priority consideration?” Let the hiring manager set the approach, then follow that approach.
If, for whatever reason, your acquaintance isn’t comfortable doing that, you can do the same thing and simply reference the person who recommended you apply. Get the hiring manager’s email address and say, however is most comfortable for you, “So-and-so contacted me and told me about the ______________ position that is open. He knows I am qualified and suggested I contact you to find out how I should approach applying.”
Thanks for your responses. I did mention my contact is retired, but I didn’t mention that he has been retired for 5 years and he’s a snow bird – he called me from Florida. I don’t know who his inside guy is, and I don’t have anyone I now there. The current manager is temporary while they search for a new one, and has only been there a couple months – he does not know my friend. As Roy mentioned, I’m afraid of being too forward, on the other hand my friends suggestion that I get my name on the radar seems valid. I’m torn at the moment between sending them sort of a general resume and letter mentioning I am aware of the “potential” opening(which I could actually hand deliver, it’s fairly close) or waiting for some sort of opening announcement (the board doesn’t officially meet mid February).
FWIW, my resume is up to date because I have been in a long term unemployment and underemployment (currently the latter) situation for a number of years, and have applied for literally hundreds of jobs in that time. These positions tend to be very political, and they are as much about who you know as anything else, aside from the appropriate certification (which I do hold). Since this is a local organization, I am very acquainted with them and I know exactly what the position is and its requirements – I could literally write the job description because it’s the same in all similar organizations.
Ask your acquaintance if there is anyone at the company who knows and respects him – someone who would be willing to be your point-person. If not, absolutely hand-deliver your resume to the HR Director – and mention the recommendation explicitly. I’ve been a decider multiple times, and I always will look more closely at someone who is recommended to me, especially before the announcement is posted, more closely than someone who simply applies.
Curtis wrote:Ask your acquaintance if there is anyone at the company who knows and respects him – someone who would be willing to be your point-person. If not, absolutely hand-deliver your resume to the HR Director – and mention the recommendation explicitly.
I’ve been a decider multiple times, and I always will look more closely at someone who is recommended to me, especially before the announcement is posted, more closely than someone who simply applies.
Thanks, Curtis. And thanks to the wonders of modern technology, I have my friend’s caller ID so I could call him. I’m not sure his insider would be willing to go to bat for me, though, because I’m pretty sure I don’t know him/her and as I said these things can be very political. But it can’t hurt to ask.
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