Getting to The Interview Part 4
This is the fourth part of a 5-part series.
The accumulated layoffs of the last year have made the job market unusually competitive. As always, networking is the key, but what does "networking" even really mean? And, what do we need to do, to elevate ourselves above the competition?
I'm a career coach for the San Francisco Job Forum. There are seemingly limitless job search resources available online, but the people we help don't want to read volumes of information - quite the opposite - they want the least amount of information necessary to get their next job. That will be the goal in presenting this series of articles - to distill the best and latest wisdom into bite-size chunks.
There's a lot to cover so we'll break it down into 5 parts:
The articles will focus primarily on what you need to do in 2023, up to getting an employer's attention and getting an interview.
Part 4: How to Approach Companies Where You Do Not Have Advocates
This article will focus on how you can network into a company where you do not already have existing connections.
[Note: This approach is based on guidance previously published by Austin Belcak, so look to his content (www.cultivatedculture.com) for more details. Be aware that he has massive volumes of content online - I've tried to distill his approach here. Also, I'm introducing the idea of using ChatGPT to draft cover letters and thank you letters - it can also tailor your resume - but you will need to explicitly constrain the letters to one or two paragraphs, otherwise what ChatGPT gives you can be excessively lengthy.]
When applying for jobs where you lack internal advocates, you need to be proactive to get the company's attention. First, look for job postings on LinkedIn that look like the work you want to be doing, to identify and validate your target role and your preferred companies. Review the postings closely to understand the exact skills and experience required so you can tailor your outreach accordingly. You will be developing a persona to match your target company's needs.
Now, you'll need to identify possible hiring managers for your target roles. First, think about the titles these people might have. For example, if you're interested in an engineering role, you'll probably be looking for engineering managers. This example is oversimplified and you'll probably need to do a little research to figure out what title the hiring manager might have.
Next, you'll search your target company on LinkedIn, looking specifically for people with that title. Then once you've found the possible hiring managers, you'll need to find their contact information - email addresses and/or phone numbers - using LinkedIn, ZoomInfo, or other resources - google for ideas on this - it's not always easy but persistent people find ways, and googling should get you some ideas.
Before reaching out, thoroughly research the person and your target company by reviewing their website, recent news, Glassdoor, and social media. Understand the company's products, mission, culture, and current initiatives. Learn about the person's role, background, interests and challenges. This will help personalize your outreach.
Draft a compelling email to the hiring manager, keeping it no longer 3-4 paragraphs. Start with a strong opening line explaining why you are reaching out - e.g. "As a dedicated QA Engineer with 5 years of experience testing healthcare software, I was excited to see your opening for a Senior QA Engineer role." Provide 2-3 highlights from your background that are most relevant to the role. Express interest in learning more about their current challenges and initiatives. Close by proposing a short phone call to discuss further. Send the email on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday morning. Follow up if you get no response after a week. Austin Belcak provides several interesting samples of this kind of correspondence on his website (www.cultivateculture.com).
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If you get no response within 3-5 days, follow up persistently but politely. Try contacting other people at the company as well. Leverage your network to get introductions whenever possible - don't just look at your 1st-degree connections, but also your 2nd-degree connections. You'll need to ask for introductions, but this expanded network can significantly increase your chances of getting a response.
Should you get a phone call, be prepared by researching the role and company extensively. Have thoughtful questions ready about required skills, challenges, culture, etc. Practice articulating why you would be a great fit for the role.
As much as possible, frame everything in terms of how you might solve their biggest challenges. Try to anticipate what those challenges might be and how you might be uniquely equipped to address those challenges.
After connecting, always send a thank you note reiterating your interest and qualifications. Stress why you are an excellent fit for the company and how you could address their needs. This is a place where ChatGPT can help you draft your message, but be aware that ChatGPT will suggest a rather long thank you message unless you explicitly constrain it to one or two paragraphs. Also, apply to an appropriate role online even if you've received no response, as your application may still be reviewed.
Continue looking for ways to get on the hiring manager's radar. Ask your network if they have any contacts at your target companies who could facilitate an introduction. Attend relevant industry events and proactively introduce yourself to attendees from those companies. Collect business cards and connect on LinkedIn afterward.
Consider contract or consulting roles as well, since these allow you to demonstrate your abilities on a trial basis. Remain persistent and creative in getting yourself on the company’s radar through whatever means possible. With a strategic, multifaceted networking approach, you will eventually break through!
ChatGPT for Cover Letters
To efficiently generate quality cover letters, provide your resume and the job description to ChatGPT. Submit your query a few times - ChatGPT will give you different responses each time. Also, ask for a very concise version. Compare the versions it gives you, then consolidate down to a few succinct paragraphs that convey your fit.
The Value of an Accountability Partner
Having an accountability partner can greatly help your job search by holding you accountable for executing your plan consistently. Connect with them daily or weekly to discuss progress and obstacles. An accountability partner can offer solutions when you get stuck, provide motivation and encouragement, and celebrate successes with you.
Question: Have you ever tried this approach of getting into a company without existing internal connections? What were your results? Please post in the comments!
That's it for now. The next installment will focus on how to put all of this together into a coherent job search strategy.
The individual articles: