How to get re-hired?

January 13, 2009 7:28 AM

What’s the best way to get re-hired by a company you left (in a different location, branch, area of work) for non-work related reasons and they were the last company you worked for? Job search/cover letter question.

A friend had worked for a large international company when living in a different state. For reasons outside of work, he had to move and left the company, though on good terms. He’s been unable to find work in the new location and is considering moving to another location where his old company has a branch.

There is a job listed on their website that he is qualified for. The posting is a little out of date (September) and a Google search shows that it had been posted on job boards, but those listings are expired. It seems that perhaps they just don’t update their site as often as they should, although I suppose there is a slight chance the job is still open. There is no contact email or phone, probably because they are such a large company and would be inundated with questions (all the job postings on the boards say no phone calls please). Also, I don’t think he is able to call any former co-workers for help on this.

I’m thinking he should go ahead and apply for the job in one of two ways (or if any of you have a better suggestion):
1. Just assume the job exists since it still on their site and treat it as such, or
2. Express hope that the job is still open but acknowledge that the posting date is a few months old and then, as a former employee, express his general interest in rejoining the company and ask if they have something else that would fit his experience.

Also, I feel like both of these scenarios are a little out of the ordinary as far as cover letters are concerned. What would be a good way to write one of these up? They were the last place he worked so obviously they found his prior experience sufficient enough to hire him the first time and he could highlight what he did in his previous job with them to fill space, but of course it’s on his resume and they could look at whatever records they have on him.

I guess this is a (long) two-parter. Should he go with scenario 1 or 2 and in either case what’s the best way to structure the cover letter? (I did see some of the questions asking about cover letters for the same exact job, but this isn’t the same job, just the skills are fairly transferable, if that matters. Though I will be reading through them for inspiration.)

Thanks!

posted by unsigned to work & money (7 comments total)

Is he really not able to call former co-workers or boss? That is the very first thing I would do if I were trying to get a job in a company I had left. Do you have any explanation for why he can't contact them?
posted by kosmonaut at 7:43 AM on January 13

I don't know that much about the company, but I think it's just so large I'm not really sure how much good it would do? I mean I think his former boss will be a great internal reference, but as far as helping him out prior to the application process, I'm not seeing what she could do for him? But am open to suggestions.

Also the departments (and locations) are totally different so I think it might be a small feat to track down the appropriate hiring manager or whatever. And from what he says of his former boss, she's professional but not necessarily friendly.
posted by unsigned at 7:52 AM on January 13

Second kosmonaut's advice, contacting former co-workers and/or bosses is very important if he wants to get treated any differently than some random guy off the street. At the very least he should try looking them up on LinkedIn.
posted by burnmp3s at 7:53 AM on January 13

I mean I think his former boss will be a great internal reference, but as far as helping him out prior to the application process, I'm not seeing what she could do for him?

At the very large international company I work for, there's an external job listing database and an internal one. Anyone can flag the applications in the external one as being recommended by an employee, and anyone can add external people's resumes to the internal database. I'm sure there are similar ways that employees can help outside people get their foot in the door at other large companies.
posted by burnmp3s at 7:57 AM on January 13

Sending a resume to a 4-month old job posting is likely to get his resume thrown in the recycle bin. And they may not read it carefully enough to understand his position.

He needs to work through his old co-workers or bosses. At the VERY LEAST, have one of them take his resume and forward it to someone in HR. You can write the email for them which should say something to the effect of "I am forwarding the resume of XXXX. He is a former employee with whom I have worked closely and would be a great asset to the company. blah blah"

Also, they may have access to an internal job database. In one company I worked for, the actual hiring manager was shown internally whereas external viewers were only given a generic HR address. That means his old boss may be able to forward it directly to the person whom he would be working for.
posted by vacapinta at 8:04 AM on January 13

Another reason your friend needs to make every effort to submit the application through someone at the old division is that when they contact the old division (which they will), you want to be in the loop. Also, it could look strange or even bad if your friend doesn't do it.
posted by originalname37 at 9:04 AM on January 13

Friendly or not, the old boss may get a hiring bonus for helping your friend. What does he have to lose?
posted by nomad at 10:09 AM on January 13