Too ballsy?
December 7, 2011 2:03 PM Subscribe
I interviewed for a job at a company I really want to work with earlier this year. I was their second choice. Now an even dreamier position in a different but related department has opened up. Do I email the original interviewer, though this position does not report to her, before I apply? A few more details and questions inside.
I have not corresponded with the first interviewer since she let me know they'd picked some else in May. When she called to tell me, she told me that it was a tough decision, etc., and she strongly urged me to keep applying for positions with the company. It was a friendly parting, but there hasn't been an appropriate reason to keep in touch.
In the time between that interview and this new position's posting, I have amassed a whackload of incredibly relevant (though mostly unpaid) experience, and this new position seems like it would be a much better fit with my goals. Should I email the woman who initially interviewed me to say that I'm interested/excited? If so, what else should I say? Is it appropriate for me to ask her questions about whether or not this is a brand new position, and how close the two departments are? Dare I be presumptuous enough to ask for an internal endorsement?
I have not corresponded with the first interviewer since she let me know they'd picked some else in May. When she called to tell me, she told me that it was a tough decision, etc., and she strongly urged me to keep applying for positions with the company. It was a friendly parting, but there hasn't been an appropriate reason to keep in touch.
In the time between that interview and this new position's posting, I have amassed a whackload of incredibly relevant (though mostly unpaid) experience, and this new position seems like it would be a much better fit with my goals. Should I email the woman who initially interviewed me to say that I'm interested/excited? If so, what else should I say? Is it appropriate for me to ask her questions about whether or not this is a brand new position, and how close the two departments are? Dare I be presumptuous enough to ask for an internal endorsement?
Best answer: I think a short email that says "Hi, remember me? You said I should keep applying. Well, this is just to let you know that I've applied for X, and by the way, I've been doing all this stuff" ought to be fine. The first interviewer may then think "Hey, I'll mention this to Y, to let them know that this person is someone who impressed me before, and might fit in here".
I strongly doubt you'll offend anyone, and although (depending on the size of the company) they'll probably be aware that they've interviewed you before. A gentle reminder shouldn't be a problem. Don't ask explicitly for endorsement - that's implicit in the fact that you've got in touch with the original interviewer. You don't want to put the original interviewer in a position where they're being asked to do a favour for someone who isn't really a 'friend'.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 2:13 PM on December 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
I strongly doubt you'll offend anyone, and although (depending on the size of the company) they'll probably be aware that they've interviewed you before. A gentle reminder shouldn't be a problem. Don't ask explicitly for endorsement - that's implicit in the fact that you've got in touch with the original interviewer. You don't want to put the original interviewer in a position where they're being asked to do a favour for someone who isn't really a 'friend'.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 2:13 PM on December 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: She asked you to keep in touch and indicated that she would like it if you worked at this company. Not only do I think it's okay to contact her about this, I almost wonder whether it would be a faux pas not to.
You have a perfect opportunity to get a leg up. It's not cheating: it's how most people get a job. This person may be able to a) give you useful information on the department you'll be applying for; b) put in a good word for you with the hiring decision-maker; c) introduce you to the people you'll be working with.
She may not do any of those things, of course, but if you had a really positive interview process with her and she left it on the terms you describe, I really can't imagine it hurting your chances at all.
posted by gauche at 2:15 PM on December 7, 2011 [4 favorites]
You have a perfect opportunity to get a leg up. It's not cheating: it's how most people get a job. This person may be able to a) give you useful information on the department you'll be applying for; b) put in a good word for you with the hiring decision-maker; c) introduce you to the people you'll be working with.
She may not do any of those things, of course, but if you had a really positive interview process with her and she left it on the terms you describe, I really can't imagine it hurting your chances at all.
posted by gauche at 2:15 PM on December 7, 2011 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Definitely email her. I gave a similar piece of advise to a friend this morning -- if you're a good fit, you're doing her and the company a favor by applying. Similarly, if you're a good fit, you're giving her an opportunity to do a favor for the other department by recommending you. That she's also doing you a favor is a bonus.
Plus, the shakiest of introductions trumps even the best application/cover letter hands down.
posted by mad bomber what bombs at midnight at 2:26 PM on December 7, 2011
Plus, the shakiest of introductions trumps even the best application/cover letter hands down.
posted by mad bomber what bombs at midnight at 2:26 PM on December 7, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks everyone!
I'll send the e-mail, and hopefully have some real good news to report back with.
posted by emilycardigan at 2:32 PM on December 7, 2011
I'll send the e-mail, and hopefully have some real good news to report back with.
posted by emilycardigan at 2:32 PM on December 7, 2011
Just to add my piece of anecdata -- this is exactly how my wife got her current job. She was told that she was an excellent candidate but she barely missed out on the first job she interviewed there. When she found another job at the same company that she wanted to apply for, I encouraged her to contact the original interviewer. That recommendation, I think, broke her out of the pack of resumes and cover letters and landed her an interview, and she ended up getting an even better position than the first one she interviewed for.
In general, if you have a contact at a company who would vouch for you being a good candidate, I have trouble thinking of a situation where it would be a bad idea to drop them a line and ask if they would introduce you.
Good luck!
posted by jdwhite at 4:05 PM on December 7, 2011
In general, if you have a contact at a company who would vouch for you being a good candidate, I have trouble thinking of a situation where it would be a bad idea to drop them a line and ask if they would introduce you.
Good luck!
posted by jdwhite at 4:05 PM on December 7, 2011
What lmdba said.
As an interviewer, we short-listed the applicants ourselves, and a good word from a trusted colleague was gold.
Just to make clear though, you need to be totally confident that you did perform well previously, as the good word (for us interviewers) from the colleague is not always gold for the applicant ...
Good luck!!
posted by GeeEmm at 4:15 PM on December 7, 2011
As an interviewer, we short-listed the applicants ourselves, and a good word from a trusted colleague was gold.
Just to make clear though, you need to be totally confident that you did perform well previously, as the good word (for us interviewers) from the colleague is not always gold for the applicant ...
Good luck!!
posted by GeeEmm at 4:15 PM on December 7, 2011
Best answer: Hell yes. It sounds like you were in that horrible position of being eminently appointable, but someone else was just a slightly better fit. Get in touch with her, tell her that you're interested / excited about the new position, and that you liked the organisation and are keen to apply, and ask her if it's okay to call her to get feedback on your previous application and about what's been going on in the company in the last 6 months. Chances are that she'll say yes (most people are willing to give feedback about applications, and talk about their company - the feedback you got from her from the previous interview seemed positive, and applying for another role in the same company does show that you want to work for them rather than just wanting a job per se).
When you're speaking to her, ask for advice (what could I have done better at my last interview? Was there anything in my application that was missing?), ask for information about the current role / what they're looking for, and don't be shy about talking about what you've done since. Definitely ask about the relationship between the departments (if you're a good fit for both, chances are that they work together fairly closely).
Personally, I wouldn't ask for an internal endorsement. But in your application letter, I'd mention that you'd interviewed previously with X for another role, and that you'd talked to her about the new role and she'd encouraged you to apply (assuming that's what she says after you talk to her, obviously...) which is why you are applying again for a role at the same company. You're not relying on her to promote you, but you're giving the people the shortlisting the opportunity to speak to her (and I don't know anyone who does recruitment who wouldn't take that opportunity to avoid wasting time / not missing someone good)
Good luck!
posted by finding.perdita at 4:32 PM on December 7, 2011
When you're speaking to her, ask for advice (what could I have done better at my last interview? Was there anything in my application that was missing?), ask for information about the current role / what they're looking for, and don't be shy about talking about what you've done since. Definitely ask about the relationship between the departments (if you're a good fit for both, chances are that they work together fairly closely).
Personally, I wouldn't ask for an internal endorsement. But in your application letter, I'd mention that you'd interviewed previously with X for another role, and that you'd talked to her about the new role and she'd encouraged you to apply (assuming that's what she says after you talk to her, obviously...) which is why you are applying again for a role at the same company. You're not relying on her to promote you, but you're giving the people the shortlisting the opportunity to speak to her (and I don't know anyone who does recruitment who wouldn't take that opportunity to avoid wasting time / not missing someone good)
Good luck!
posted by finding.perdita at 4:32 PM on December 7, 2011
Best answer: Yes, reach out to her. She's a great resource of information and a possible endorsement -- but don't ask her for the latter. Instead, express interest in the position, let her know that you've acquired releveant experience in the meantime, and ask if you can speak with her further. If she says yes, then you can go into asking for feedback and what she knows of the position. (I wouldn't do this in the initial "hey, 'member me?" email, though.)
posted by sm1tten at 6:25 PM on December 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by sm1tten at 6:25 PM on December 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Okay, just an update for posterity.
I did email her, and she never responded. Though I did get an interview (two, actually) and we talked about my having already come in, already knowing about the company's benefits, etc.
I didn't get the job, again someone just a little better qualified beat me out, but I can happily report that the company is offering me some freelance work and it looks like there are good feelings all around.
Thanks, everyone for all of the advice and encouragement.
posted by emilycardigan at 11:26 AM on March 22, 2012
I did email her, and she never responded. Though I did get an interview (two, actually) and we talked about my having already come in, already knowing about the company's benefits, etc.
I didn't get the job, again someone just a little better qualified beat me out, but I can happily report that the company is offering me some freelance work and it looks like there are good feelings all around.
Thanks, everyone for all of the advice and encouragement.
posted by emilycardigan at 11:26 AM on March 22, 2012
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