When it comes to finding your next position, finding people outside of HR to speak with is critically important. Here are some great ways getting in touch with the person who may be able to help you get that job:
- Try to find the Director, or other management person, who will play a role in your hiring. Often this will be a Director or Vice President. This often entails a little bit of guess work, but can be very fruitful. If you aren’t sure, but you know what department you’re applying to, look at the facility website. Oftentimes there is some form a company directory on these sites. While finding these individuals can be a challenging task, it is very rewarding when you do.
- Treat gatekeepers with kindness. Oftentimes we forget that gatekeepers can be our key either into or out of a company. If you are rude to a gatekeeper, or less than cordial, it could mean you’ll never get a chance to talk with the person you really are seeking. Try to get this person on “your side”, and it could mean you’ll succeed while others are still frustrated.
- Engage the person who may have control over your hire. This doesn’t just mean contact them and ask for a job. Rather, it means finding a way to engage them in some way that will benefit them and show them your value and why they would benefit having you as part of the team. LinkedIn is actually a great place to engage these conversations. Find groups this person may be part of, and start engaging conversations. Once you do this, if the opportunity presents itself, send a direct message to the person as a response to something they posted in the group.
We discussed this topic today in a weekly email we send to members of Premier Career Advice. This is a free Career Portal designed to help you keep moving forward in your career. If you’d like to receive these helpful emails, just register for your free account.
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Melissa Truax
