| Topic Name: |
Need tips for avoiding HR |
| Message Name: |
Totally agree |
| Date Posted: |
05/29/2002 |
| Message: |
The marketing letter is a great way to get yourself an "informational interview", which will introduce you to the key folks. Having met them in person is essential to being considered for any job - they'll recommend you for an interview, even if they don't think you are the best candidate for that specific position.
Here is an example that happened to me. I wrote a letter to the head of a particular group I was interested in joining, at the recommendation of someone else I had met through networking. I sent a letter to the VP asking for a meeting to learn more about the IT direction they were going in. I also introduced myself, my background, and hinted at the fact that I was looking for a job (though that was NOT the focus of the letter).
I met with the VP and had a great conversation about their curent and future initiatives (I had done my homework and was also able to tell her about what other folks were doing in this field). Since I gave her valuable info and was on top of the field, she seemed impressed and in fact said that I had great experience that would be a wonderful addition to their group.
She was sorry that there were no positions open at that time, but she recommended that I speak with some of her staff. Through one of those conversations, I got a very lucrative consulting gig from them, which got me off of unemployment and gave me a better answer to the constant question of "what have you done since being laid off?"
And the next time a position came open, I got an interview, even though I wasn't a perfect fit for the role - I even skipped the HR filter interview and went straight to meeting with the core team.
I have another good "marketing letter" example which didn't necessarily result in a meeting, but in a job.
On the recommendation of other folks I'd been networking with, I sent a marketing letter to the head of an IT group I would have killed to have worked for. Despite several attempts, I never got to speak to him since he didn't respond to my letter and he was never contactable due to his hectic travel schedule. After awhile, I figured I'd try to find someone else in his group to contact.
However, about a month after sending my letter, I saw an advertisement for a position with his group. I immediately sent in a highly tuned application, referencing my letter, and got an interview immediately - because the head had remembered my letter and had already associated my name as an "expert" in the field.
He was especially impressed since in the letter I had referenced several other key players in the field (includng a major client) who had recommended I speak to him. BTW, I met all of these people through networking - figuring out who the key people are in the field and slowly getting contacts with each one of them. I then interviewed them to find out their opinions and their goals for the field. Not everyone would talk to me, but enough did to give me lots of great information about the field.
Since this position requires networking and new business development, already being on a first name basis with many of the key players and showing that I can contact people out of the blue and get them to talk to me, demonstrated that I had the skills he wanted on his team.
BTW, I just accepted their job offer!
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