Email Introduction
March 21, 2012 12:00 PM Subscribe
Not sure how to respond to this very important email introduction.
I would absolutely love a job at the laboratory I am doing research at, and have been working very hard to make that happen.
In an effort to help me, a co-worker has agreed to introduce me to someone who may or may not be able to offer me a position. He introduced us threw email, and honestly, I am not sure how to respond.
The email:
"I've copied this email to Shouraku , the young woman I told you about yesterday. She is currently working at Laboratory while completing a Master's degree at University, and is very interested in imaging detectors. I think you might want to meet her.
Shouraku, Possible Boss is who I mentioned the other day."
My questions are:
1) I have never been introduced threw email before, so I am not sure how to respond. How do you request a meeting with someone who you have never been introduced to in person?
2) What could I say that will increase the chances of him responding and agreeing to meet with me? I mean, is there an attention getter that I can use to turn this from an email introduction to a "This person sounds great, I should meet her!" that has worked for others in the past?
I realize that everyone is different and there is no way for anyone here to know the magic combination of words that will result in a meeting, but any suggestions would be appreciated. Honestly, I am not even sure where to start.
I would absolutely love a job at the laboratory I am doing research at, and have been working very hard to make that happen.
In an effort to help me, a co-worker has agreed to introduce me to someone who may or may not be able to offer me a position. He introduced us threw email, and honestly, I am not sure how to respond.
The email:
"I've copied this email to Shouraku , the young woman I told you about yesterday. She is currently working at Laboratory while completing a Master's degree at University, and is very interested in imaging detectors. I think you might want to meet her.
Shouraku, Possible Boss is who I mentioned the other day."
My questions are:
1) I have never been introduced threw email before, so I am not sure how to respond. How do you request a meeting with someone who you have never been introduced to in person?
2) What could I say that will increase the chances of him responding and agreeing to meet with me? I mean, is there an attention getter that I can use to turn this from an email introduction to a "This person sounds great, I should meet her!" that has worked for others in the past?
I realize that everyone is different and there is no way for anyone here to know the magic combination of words that will result in a meeting, but any suggestions would be appreciated. Honestly, I am not even sure where to start.
If I were in your position, I'd be inclined to respond something like:
"Hi, I'm Shouraku. I've been doing [x research] and your lab and I particularly appreciate [detail about lab that makes me want to work there]. It's so nice that [other detail about lab that makes me want to work there]. I look forward to meeting you in person/hope we have a chat to meet in person, soon. I'm usually at the lab [my schedule]."
I would figure you want a few goals accomplished:
1) to be memorable, so that this person wants to seek you out and has easy "hooks" to do that through details of your research.
2) to make clear you think the lab is awesome.
3) to seem friendly and interested without being creepy or over-eager.
posted by Deoridhe at 12:06 PM on March 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
"Hi, I'm Shouraku. I've been doing [x research] and your lab and I particularly appreciate [detail about lab that makes me want to work there]. It's so nice that [other detail about lab that makes me want to work there]. I look forward to meeting you in person/hope we have a chat to meet in person, soon. I'm usually at the lab [my schedule]."
I would figure you want a few goals accomplished:
1) to be memorable, so that this person wants to seek you out and has easy "hooks" to do that through details of your research.
2) to make clear you think the lab is awesome.
3) to seem friendly and interested without being creepy or over-eager.
posted by Deoridhe at 12:06 PM on March 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
oh, and give a path for followup. "Let me know when you are free for coffee" or "I know you probably have a busy calendar, but would be flexible around your availability..".. "look forward to speak with you.."
posted by rich at 12:07 PM on March 21, 2012
posted by rich at 12:07 PM on March 21, 2012
If you do research at this lab, can you follow up with an in-person visit or phone call to the person copied on the e-mail? If not, I'd follow it up with an e-mail direct to the person whom your friend copied. I'm a believer in directness, so I don't see anything wrong with simply saying "I'm interested in finding out more about career opportunities at the laboratory; I'm currently doing research here and am looking for a job in the field. Can you help me or let me know who I should contact?"
I know any first contact with someone you don't know socially can be awkward, but if someone approaches me about a job, there are no magic words - I either have opportunities or not, and if I do my first step with someone who gets an introduction to me is to chat with them a bit, find out about their credentials and availability, and assuming I don't hear any deal-breakers, I'll ask them to send a CV, resume or the like.
posted by randomkeystrike at 12:08 PM on March 21, 2012
I know any first contact with someone you don't know socially can be awkward, but if someone approaches me about a job, there are no magic words - I either have opportunities or not, and if I do my first step with someone who gets an introduction to me is to chat with them a bit, find out about their credentials and availability, and assuming I don't hear any deal-breakers, I'll ask them to send a CV, resume or the like.
posted by randomkeystrike at 12:08 PM on March 21, 2012
Best answer: Dear Friend,
Thank you for your prompt introduction to Possible Boss over email after you mentioned the possibility yesterday, I appreciate your support and encouragement.
Dear Possible Boss,
As Friend mentions, I'm extremely interested in gadget B and its applications in Area C with a particular interest in exploring the implications of Outcome D which is my personal research area. Since I know your team is doing Outcome D related hypothesis Z I was wondering if it might be possible for us to set a time and day convenient to you for us to meet for a coffee and explore the potential for further research in this space (or areas of mutual interest) or whatever.
My time is flexible from Wednesday onwards and next week I can be available on Mon, Wed and Thurs. Please let me know when it would suit you,
In the meantime (this is optional) this link takes you to my prior work in Outcome D using Gadget B as a quick introduction to my background etc
looking forward to the opportunity
Shouraku
posted by infini at 12:08 PM on March 21, 2012
Thank you for your prompt introduction to Possible Boss over email after you mentioned the possibility yesterday, I appreciate your support and encouragement.
Dear Possible Boss,
As Friend mentions, I'm extremely interested in gadget B and its applications in Area C with a particular interest in exploring the implications of Outcome D which is my personal research area. Since I know your team is doing Outcome D related hypothesis Z I was wondering if it might be possible for us to set a time and day convenient to you for us to meet for a coffee and explore the potential for further research in this space (or areas of mutual interest) or whatever.
My time is flexible from Wednesday onwards and next week I can be available on Mon, Wed and Thurs. Please let me know when it would suit you,
In the meantime (this is optional) this link takes you to my prior work in Outcome D using Gadget B as a quick introduction to my background etc
looking forward to the opportunity
Shouraku
posted by infini at 12:08 PM on March 21, 2012
Best answer: I've been introduced this way several times. Here's how I typically respond:
Thanks, OriginalSender, for the introduction!
PossibleBoss, I've heard so many great things about you from OriginalSender. As he/she mentioned, I'm very interested in the kind of work your company is doing. Do you happen to have any time in the next couple of weeks to speak with me about it? I'd be grateful for the opportunity to learn more.
Best regards,
cranberry_nut
I add additional detail, of course, if I'm able.
(By the way, if you're going to reference the intro make sure you write "through" instead of "threw". I don't mean to spell-check your post, but writing quality counts for these kinds of things.)
posted by cranberry_nut at 12:08 PM on March 21, 2012 [2 favorites]
Thanks, OriginalSender, for the introduction!
PossibleBoss, I've heard so many great things about you from OriginalSender. As he/she mentioned, I'm very interested in the kind of work your company is doing. Do you happen to have any time in the next couple of weeks to speak with me about it? I'd be grateful for the opportunity to learn more.
Best regards,
cranberry_nut
I add additional detail, of course, if I'm able.
(By the way, if you're going to reference the intro make sure you write "through" instead of "threw". I don't mean to spell-check your post, but writing quality counts for these kinds of things.)
posted by cranberry_nut at 12:08 PM on March 21, 2012 [2 favorites]
Listen here is the thing to remember - the [important person] on the email isn't dumb - they either know or strongly suspect that the reason for the warm intro is because you want to work there and the person who gave you the intro thinks it might be a good idea. So you don't really have to hide anything or be anything other than direct.
Just send them an email. People are people.
posted by JPD at 12:12 PM on March 21, 2012
Just send them an email. People are people.
posted by JPD at 12:12 PM on March 21, 2012
And by direct I don't mean "I want a job" but rather "Hey lets talk about what you do"
posted by JPD at 12:15 PM on March 21, 2012
posted by JPD at 12:15 PM on March 21, 2012
Best answer: I've been possibleboss a few times. A brief response is better than no response. Tell them who you are, let them know you are keen and give some indication of your schedule to talk, by phone or in person, as appropriate. The scripts offered above would be all be fine, from my perspective. Brevity is usually appreciated though.
posted by bonehead at 12:16 PM on March 21, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by bonehead at 12:16 PM on March 21, 2012 [3 favorites]
Best answer: "Informational interview" is the phrase you want. Don't ask them to leave their office and meet you somewhere.
You want to talk to them about the industry, what they do in it, what they see coming in the next 2-5-10 years, and then whatever advice they may have, if they have it, about your career path in it. You should not demand a job interview, simply leave yourself in mind should a suitable position come up.
Send a thank you card afterwards. Touch base by email every 3-6 months to say hello if you don't see that person in any other capacity.
posted by Lyn Never at 12:25 PM on March 21, 2012 [2 favorites]
You want to talk to them about the industry, what they do in it, what they see coming in the next 2-5-10 years, and then whatever advice they may have, if they have it, about your career path in it. You should not demand a job interview, simply leave yourself in mind should a suitable position come up.
Send a thank you card afterwards. Touch base by email every 3-6 months to say hello if you don't see that person in any other capacity.
posted by Lyn Never at 12:25 PM on March 21, 2012 [2 favorites]
Totally agree with bonehead -- I'd email sooner not later, and shorter is (much) better.
If I were the boss in this situation I would be a little bit cranky if I had to actually seek out the person myself. I'd expect that the introducee ie you would respond very quickly in any one of the ways outlined above.
Final note: 'I'd love the opportunity to sit down with you' is much less intrusive than 'When are you available to meet for coffee', which makes the assumption that boss wants to meet with you. Boss will choose to make time for you, or not, and initiate from there.
posted by lulu68 at 12:31 PM on March 21, 2012
If I were the boss in this situation I would be a little bit cranky if I had to actually seek out the person myself. I'd expect that the introducee ie you would respond very quickly in any one of the ways outlined above.
Final note: 'I'd love the opportunity to sit down with you' is much less intrusive than 'When are you available to meet for coffee', which makes the assumption that boss wants to meet with you. Boss will choose to make time for you, or not, and initiate from there.
posted by lulu68 at 12:31 PM on March 21, 2012
Response by poster: I would like to thank everyone who took the time to answer. I sent a prompt response that mirrored infini and cranberry_nut's templates.
Special thanks to cranberry_nut for the grammar check. Threw/through is a grammar point that I have had an issue with since childhood. You can always tell when I am under stress as that is when I mess it up. I always appreciate a reminder!
Also, thank you bonehead for getting my butt in gear sooner rather then later. I was not sure if it would be a good idea to wait a day or not.
I will follow your advice Lyn Never. That was actually going to be my next question.
posted by Shouraku at 1:02 PM on March 21, 2012
Special thanks to cranberry_nut for the grammar check. Threw/through is a grammar point that I have had an issue with since childhood. You can always tell when I am under stress as that is when I mess it up. I always appreciate a reminder!
Also, thank you bonehead for getting my butt in gear sooner rather then later. I was not sure if it would be a good idea to wait a day or not.
I will follow your advice Lyn Never. That was actually going to be my next question.
posted by Shouraku at 1:02 PM on March 21, 2012
I don't mean to be harsh, but the only advice I would add is for you to proofread or have someone else proofread your email - you used "threw" instead of "through" in your question, and while spelling/grammar mistakes are generally not a big deal on MeFi, they will weigh against you in an email before you even meet the person.
posted by radioamy at 9:06 AM on March 22, 2012
posted by radioamy at 9:06 AM on March 22, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
"thanks, friend who provided introduction. Potential boss, it would be great to have an opportunity to speak with you about the fun cool and interesting stuff you do. Appreciate your time, thank you."
I've had this done for me, and done it for others. It typically leads to a coffee meeting/chat that can lead elsewhere, and just the meeting connection is valuable in itself.
posted by rich at 12:05 PM on March 21, 2012 [2 favorites]