Letter of Introduction Etiquette
September 7, 2010 11:45 AM Subscribe
Letter of introduction/job seeking advice: Okay, I have my opportunity, now how do I not mess it up?
A friend of mine has graciously written an introduction email to one of his friend's at an amazing company that I REALLY want to work for having just finished graduate school.
My friend, lets call him A, wrote a letter saying, "hey great to see you, I remembered when I saw my friend that he had some questions and interest in your company so I am emailing both of you. I will see you sometime soon, possibly next week at my bbq where if you haven't met him you can meet H (me)."
Okay, so what do I do from here? The onus is on me to ask some questions but the reality is, my question is "how do I work here?" I can ask some questions but in many ways it would just be an exercise in trying to wiggle into an interview. I usually shy away from these ulterior motives and really love to be straightforward but I am not sure of the etiquette surrounding this situation.
I am looking specifically for advice on how to approach the email, any specific things I should mention and how to be genuine (after all, I DO want to be genuine and make it on my own). But of course I am terrified I could say something wrong or be rude somehow and ruin my chances. So, how do I not mess this up?
The company has 400+ employees, has a strong reputation in the area, tends to be viewed as a good work environment and is notoriously difficult to get an interview with due to its status.
I have a master's degree that fits perfectly with the company's mission, 5 years of unrelated experience (prior to the degree) and I am usually quick on my feet when I need to be and I am definitely enthusiastic.
A friend of mine has graciously written an introduction email to one of his friend's at an amazing company that I REALLY want to work for having just finished graduate school.
My friend, lets call him A, wrote a letter saying, "hey great to see you, I remembered when I saw my friend that he had some questions and interest in your company so I am emailing both of you. I will see you sometime soon, possibly next week at my bbq where if you haven't met him you can meet H (me)."
Okay, so what do I do from here? The onus is on me to ask some questions but the reality is, my question is "how do I work here?" I can ask some questions but in many ways it would just be an exercise in trying to wiggle into an interview. I usually shy away from these ulterior motives and really love to be straightforward but I am not sure of the etiquette surrounding this situation.
I am looking specifically for advice on how to approach the email, any specific things I should mention and how to be genuine (after all, I DO want to be genuine and make it on my own). But of course I am terrified I could say something wrong or be rude somehow and ruin my chances. So, how do I not mess this up?
The company has 400+ employees, has a strong reputation in the area, tends to be viewed as a good work environment and is notoriously difficult to get an interview with due to its status.
I have a master's degree that fits perfectly with the company's mission, 5 years of unrelated experience (prior to the degree) and I am usually quick on my feet when I need to be and I am definitely enthusiastic.
There are some good threads in Ask.me on "how to network" (this is one), but I think the advice all boils down to what devinemissk said: give people a chance to talk about their job, the company, what's good, what isn't and make sure those people know where their answers match your vision for your own career.
In this particular case, I would follow-up by email saying you're looking forward to meeting at the BBQ and then make it a point to engage this person at the BBQ.
I would follow that person's lead about whether they would like to meet with you later to talk about the company or if they're happy to do it at the party. Be enthusiastic and interested in what the other person has to say. Ask if there is anyone else who you can talk to for additional perspective or advice. It's okay to be obviously interested in working for the company and obviously interested in any suggestions they have for making that happen. What's not okay is asking for a favor to get you hired or preferential treatment to get you hired or a personal recommendation from someone who doesn't know you as a professional. This is only a small step toward your goal, so approach it as a pleasant way to meet someone interesting, with the knowledge that it can help put you in the right place at the right time.
posted by crush-onastick at 12:47 PM on September 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
In this particular case, I would follow-up by email saying you're looking forward to meeting at the BBQ and then make it a point to engage this person at the BBQ.
I would follow that person's lead about whether they would like to meet with you later to talk about the company or if they're happy to do it at the party. Be enthusiastic and interested in what the other person has to say. Ask if there is anyone else who you can talk to for additional perspective or advice. It's okay to be obviously interested in working for the company and obviously interested in any suggestions they have for making that happen. What's not okay is asking for a favor to get you hired or preferential treatment to get you hired or a personal recommendation from someone who doesn't know you as a professional. This is only a small step toward your goal, so approach it as a pleasant way to meet someone interesting, with the knowledge that it can help put you in the right place at the right time.
posted by crush-onastick at 12:47 PM on September 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
Firstly, I'd drop an email back to A & H thanking A, saying you're looking forward to the BBQ and catching up with A, and saying that it will be good to meet H, and asking H if he wouldn't mind talking to you a bit about the company he works for, as you're interested in working there.
At the BBQ, unless he's specifically replied saying "yes, I'd be happy to chat to anonymous about my company", keep it low key. Don't just rush in all guns blazing asking for HR contact details. A bit of social chit chat (about how you both know A, for instance) to start. Ask if he'd mind talking to you now about his experience at the company, and offer an alternative - meeting up for coffee the following week (your shout). Most people enjoy talking about their work and helping other people who are interested in their work. But some people may want to relax at a BBQ and not think too much about work. So play it by ear. Focus more on his experiences initially, and respond ("that's what I've heard" / "that's one of the reasons I'm interested in working there"). But certainly ask whether he could put you in touch with other people to talk to as well (particularly if the sort of job you're looking for isn't what he does - if he's in sales and you're looking for an engineering position, for instance), and also about how vacancies are advertised / if he knows whether there are vacancies in the area you want to get into / whether they take CVs on spec, and possibly who you'd need to talk to in order to find out more. Make sure he knows why you want to work there (why you're a good fit), but keep it short. A lot of this depends on his role in the company, his level of seniority, and his ability to hire.
Enjoy the BBQ and enjoy your conversation with H. If he likes you as a person then he's more likely to recommend you / go out of his way to help you find a post. (And don't drink too much ;-) )
If H doesn't come to the BBQ, if he's replied to your email saying "happy to chat", get his number from A and call him and ask him out for coffee at a time convenient to him. If he hasn't replied to your email, maybe check with A whether you think a call or an email would be the appropriate way to ask him out for coffee.
posted by finding.perdita at 1:59 PM on September 7, 2010
At the BBQ, unless he's specifically replied saying "yes, I'd be happy to chat to anonymous about my company", keep it low key. Don't just rush in all guns blazing asking for HR contact details. A bit of social chit chat (about how you both know A, for instance) to start. Ask if he'd mind talking to you now about his experience at the company, and offer an alternative - meeting up for coffee the following week (your shout). Most people enjoy talking about their work and helping other people who are interested in their work. But some people may want to relax at a BBQ and not think too much about work. So play it by ear. Focus more on his experiences initially, and respond ("that's what I've heard" / "that's one of the reasons I'm interested in working there"). But certainly ask whether he could put you in touch with other people to talk to as well (particularly if the sort of job you're looking for isn't what he does - if he's in sales and you're looking for an engineering position, for instance), and also about how vacancies are advertised / if he knows whether there are vacancies in the area you want to get into / whether they take CVs on spec, and possibly who you'd need to talk to in order to find out more. Make sure he knows why you want to work there (why you're a good fit), but keep it short. A lot of this depends on his role in the company, his level of seniority, and his ability to hire.
Enjoy the BBQ and enjoy your conversation with H. If he likes you as a person then he's more likely to recommend you / go out of his way to help you find a post. (And don't drink too much ;-) )
If H doesn't come to the BBQ, if he's replied to your email saying "happy to chat", get his number from A and call him and ask him out for coffee at a time convenient to him. If he hasn't replied to your email, maybe check with A whether you think a call or an email would be the appropriate way to ask him out for coffee.
posted by finding.perdita at 1:59 PM on September 7, 2010
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I'd ask this person to coffee and conduct an informational interview. Give him a chance to tell you about his job, about the company from the employee perspective, about what he likes and what he doesn't like. Tell him about yourself and why you are interested -- after all, he already knows you're interested in the company. At the end of your meeting, ask him if he'd mind taking a look at your resume and perhaps passing it along to any managers he might know are looking for someone with your skills.
(I also think asking, "How do I work here?" is not an inappropriate question to ask, but don't lead off with it! Ask how he ended up at the company, how his career has progressed, that sort of thing.)
The one thing you should not do is approach him as a mere conduit -- he's not just a vehicle for you to get your resume in the door. He is a valuable networking contact and a potential friend, so approach this introduction from that perspective.
posted by devinemissk at 12:09 PM on September 7, 2010 [1 favorite]