Title. I was laid off a few months ago and I'm realizing this job market is extremely competitive at the moment, especially with the slow down on hiring and openings. Is it cringe or a good way to stand out to send some messages after applying? Just an intro kind of thing and maybe ask for a call or something to learn more and show eagerness?
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Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. If you're qualified and need to stand out, do it. As simple as it is, I'd view that as someone who could add value and do what is needed to get the job done. There are more qualifying things that get you hired but it shouldn't hurt. Good luck.
I've done this before, and the outcome wasn't so great. One time I've done it, the hiring manager pushed back saying it wouldn't be fair to the other candidates. But if I were approached like this during hiring, I wouldn't think that way and think it's a plus for initiative. Just trying to say it might be risky. Good luck anyways!
counter point, I've actually done this before and it resulted in a position for me.
If they push back, sometimes it a nice way of them saying you're not qualified or a number of other things (person doesn't believe it proper, they didn't do it that way and feel others shouldn't, etc.)
People forget that just as much as they are interviewing you, you are interviewing them. You want a good fit, but you also want a good boss/coworkers. If this person wasn't willing to go "outside" normal hiring, they are probably missing other opportunities. As I always say, banking, business, sports any career, its not just line up everyone applying from best to worst and they take the top 100; meaning, sometimes its not always a strictly skill based assessment. Basically, I'm agreeing with what others have said, that if you should people you are hungry and interested and willing to work, that might be better than a point higher on your GPA.
I'd also add, its like dating, no one goes 100% sometimes you strike out. Don't let one strike out make you pack it up and never swing again.
+1 - I've gotten to where I am today by emailing the right people at the firm till they gave me an interview. 2 of my last 3 jobs now. not trolling.
As many others have said, be tactical (be very targeted about who you reach out to) and tactful (not a weirdo) about it. No reply on the first and second attempt is fine, but three strikes is my cutoff.
I never approached the hiring manager or whatever person they had on Linkedin. I always reached out to 2 or 3 people at the firm (ie acq analyst role reach out to ppl in acq dept) to learn more about their background and day to day. Hey, I just applied to xyz role please let me know if you are available for a call etc etc.
I looked up email formats and everything, also sent Linkedin messages as well. Worked well and got me in a lot of doors/talking to people I wouldn't have. Got me an internship when I was in a Masters program at a very competitive firm. Just talk to them about their background, what they do and then tell them about yourself likely they will offer to pass your resume along if you have relevant experience. Select leaders, Linkedin, etc are black holes - example I applied there for a role and reached out, got the role then checked back and it said my application was not even viewed.
Think it is fine to message/e-mail once, but don't keep pressing if they don't respond.
If people seriously care that someone trying to join their firm messaged them on LinkedIn to network and get a job, then that’s a wild red flag to me. There are ways to be professional while also being persistent, and persistency is the key to most acq/bd/broker roles, sprinkled with other things that build trust - you’d never trust someone who isn’t willing to reach out and put themselves out there for the company. The job is to grow business, if someone reacts to a LinkedIn message while applying as a turnoff, that’s an emotional/selfish decision to me and negatively affects the business. This is a community at the end of the day, why wouldnt we all contribute to it?
Get after it OP….
Amen
That's a no from me. Maybe it's because I'm in Europe and we do business differently here/have different customs, but if I was on the receiving end of this I'd be thinking this guys trying too hard (in a cringey manner).
What do you hope to achieve in the response back to you? You're not going to suddenly become pen pals prior to the interview.
I know America has the whole "go get it buddy" / "make yourself heard" / "be the most dedicated (and make sure people know it)" / "winner takes all" culture of business but it's much more muted in Europe.
Sums up the trajectory of the US vs European economy
Haha perhaps. But ultimately this is a US focused forum and we have no idea where OP is based.
Jokes aside, our cultures are very different (no right or wrong) From the way we view life, treat work, view vacation, approach others. Doing something like this to me (and others) would just seem far too try hard and might just turn some people away.
There is a legendary email exchange between Dan Loeb and a prospective hire that is a similarly perfect microcosm
Heard this and saw this attitude unfold one of the greatest real estate flops literally of all time: Unibail Radamco buying US Westfield. Europeans came into an American culture with Aussies at the wheel, tried to flip everything upside down and redirect the ship, and failed so incredibly bad… stuffy, cocky cultures lead to stuffy, cocky business people who have blinders to the reality of the business…
Equally one could argue that the winner takes all attitude, and bravado of winning no matter the cost caused the greatest financial crisis known to man - quite a bit bigger than a real estate flop 😂
Again, jokes aside, the European way of business and European attitude is very different to the bravado/outgoing/very forward nature of America. Doing the wrong thing in the wrong culture can rub people up the wrong way.
As a personal anecdote, in my old shop, you could see that there was a stark difference between American expats who had been in Europe for a number of years vs Americans who had just arrived and tried to impose themselves.
I'm not trying to argue that one culture is better than another, that would be both nonsensical and futile. All I'm saying is if OP is in America, by all means do it. If he's in Europe, please don't.
My #1 tip to students who ask me for job advice is precisely this; don’t just apply to the job but also message someone at the firm, even if it’s just HR. I’ve gotten a job offer this way because my resume just slipped through the cracks but once they saw my background they immediately asked for an interview.
In this market, applying WITHOUT talking to anyone is a waste of time.
This can't be overstated. Not saying OP is doing this, but generally, if one is firing off applications without having some level of contact with the hiring org, good luck.
IMO, best practice is to make a connection with a contact at an employer of interest and to keep that connection warm. Whether they circulate your resume or introduce you to someone more senior, when the right role opens up they either think of you or you spot the job, apply, and ping your contact -- either way your resume is near the top of the stack. If you maintain volume and outreach, this will work out eventually.
I generally assume online applications are black holes where resumes go to die, so emphatically you should be reaching out to people at the firm.
I've tried this as well and had some success with it. I typically follow up with a financial model work sample a week or so post-application. It gives a natural excuse for why I'm reaching out (as you can't attach a model with most applications), and helps get your resume out of the black hole.
A few firms might be put off by this, but I've had a few people thank me for sending it. Honestly, if a company decided not to interview me solely because I reached out with a work sample, I probably wouldn't want to work for them anyways.
I think that's too much. I always send a message asking for a call to learn about them and that's it, sometimes include my resume if it's a job opening but most times just a message on email/Linkedin asking for a call to learn more about them and their background. All the other attachments may be seen as way too eager/a hardo.
What I usually did when I saw an opening was check LinkedIn to see if I had any 2nd degree connections. I'd then reach out to our mutual to see if an introduction was feasible. Connect, discuss your background a bit, and learn about the firm. Be light-hearted and breezy. At the end of the call/coffee, ask the new connection something to the extent of "if you're comfortable doing so, would you mind mentioning to Screener that you got the chance to meet me and think my resume is worth a look?"
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