How do you find people to send letters of introduction?
Hello everyone, this is my first post so thanks in advance for your advice.
Last year I tried to use the 48 Days technique to upgrade my job. I found a new one, but I was just laid off this week. There was miscommunication and unclear expectations, so it wasn't a good fit. Now, I'm basically in the same boat as last year.
Last time, I used my network and tried to use linkedin to find people at my target companies. My experience was that most people were either annoyed I contacted them, or told me to just apply on the company website.
Can anyone help? What can I do better this time? I've identified my target companies, so how do I find people receptive to letters of introduction?
Thanks,
Nick
Tags: 48, Days, Job, Nick, Schaub, hunting, introduction, letters, of
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Dan Miller on -
Whoa Nick - if Ford wants to sell you a new truck do they wait until you're "receptive" to their pushy ads? NO - they just blast them your way hoping you'll soften in your resistance.
When you're looking for a new position you have a product to sell, and that product is YOU. Don't ever wait until your prospects are receptive. Just start telling how much value you bring to the table and how you can help them reach their goals.
You want your correspondence to go to a person who's in a position to make a decision. Figure out who that is in your target companies. Then start the process of Intro Letter, Cover Letter & Resume, Phone Followup. Don't worry about those that are "annoyed" because it's in doing that process well that you'll find opportunities no one else will find.
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Permalink Reply by Lee Smith, ND on -
We've been talking internally at work about how procurement teams are trained to function, and how they "act."
Essentially if you're a buyer of goods or services, you are often playing a role similar to "bad cop."
Something similar occurs with hiring managers...many of them will send you down a path that leads into the wilderness simply to "prove" or "test" you.
If you have your list of target employers, then GO GO GO after them...
For motivation, I'll share a personal story of a prospect who came to my office about 20 years ago to complain to my sales manager because I was so diligent in my follow-up that I was becoming a nuisance. When my manager asked the prospect if I was rude, he said "no." My manager smiled and said, "Good, because that's why we hire people like this...they keep going until you tell them to stop." They laughed off the entire process and he offered to have me "cool my jets" until they were ready to buy.
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Permalink Reply by Justin Lukasavige on -
I'm using www.linkedin.com and www.jigsaw.com. Don't make contact through LinkedIn though until you've talked to them. That is creepy otherwise.
I'm using this exact technique to find business contacts. Works exactly the same way.
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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Milligan on -
Justin beat me to it. I spent 8 years as an Executive Recruiter before moving to career coaching/blogging. Jigsaw is where I would start, especially if you know the companies you want to target. Also, use Pipl.com to discover more about the people you want to reach. Ask people, "If you were in my shoes, who would you reach out to?"
As far as Linkedin, here are 3 things you must do. http://www.cpacareercoach.com/linkedin-job-search-3-things-you-must...
Jonathan
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Permalink Reply by Nick Schaub on -
Okay, I'm sold. So I have a list of companies, and I'm finding it's really easy to find, for instance, CEO's. Should the letter of introduction go to someone fairly high up, or should I dig more until I find an Engineering department head, or dig even further until I find an actual hiring manager? Or am I overthinking it?
The second part of my question is what to do when they already have an opening that might fit. Last time around the people I contacted just said to look at the website. It seems like that defeats the point of all the work to do introductions. What do I do in this scenario?
Thanks for all your help already!
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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Milligan on
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Go for the decision maker whoever that is. For example, if I wanted an accounting position in a company but didn't know who to talk to. I would ask to be transferred to the accounting department. More than likely I would end up talking with a Staff Accountant. Ask them who does the hiring in your department? or Who is the Controller/Accounting Manager? Once they give you a name ask them if you can be transferred.
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Permalink Reply by Nick Schaub on
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Sorry, one more item. What do I do when the company has an internal HR recruiter who's job it is to look for talent and place them? I've had bad experiences with one who truly didn't understand their company's technology.
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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Milligan on
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Always go for the decision maker. Never start with HR. I would rather be referred to HR than to try and start there. Try to call and have a conversation. Get the person talking about their background, longevity, experience as quickly as you can. Many people love to talk about themselves. It opens conversation up.
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Permalink Reply by George R Jenkins on
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I went to the library and looked up the companies in the business directory that make good propects for intro letters. I mailed them yesterday as I am looking for employment.
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Permalink Reply by Chris Callen on -
Anyone on here a factory employee? I've been in factory work over 12 years and I'm sick of it! I want to use Dan's methods . I want a job that has variety and freedom during the workday. I've been in factory work for so long it's hard to figure out what kind of companies to apply for. On the DISC profile I'm an S and a C.
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I was a factory worker, went back to college to get two degrees, one was Engineering. It became the job I love for 15 years. What type of factory work did you do? I was preses operator, lathe, and assembly line worker.
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Permalink Reply by Chris Callen on
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Well....for the first 4 years I operated CNC machines and also inspected machined parts when they came off the line. For the next 7 or so I was a material handler. I loved that job but I was stuck on 2nd shift. I have a wife and kids so I wanted to be home at night. I transferred to a casting plant within the same company operating a press. I've been doing that since July 2011 and I hate it. The only reason I transferred to that job was to get on 1st shift.. I'm bored out of my mind and I don't get along with my "team leader"
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