I have so much _____ to give, I just don't know where to put it!

June 25, 2008 4:55 PM

Jobsearch question: Should I send a brief, professional email in this scenario, or would that seem desperate?

I applied for a job last week. Yesterday, I called to follow up, and was given the name of the individual who is collecting all the applicants' information. This person informed me that a "committee of faculty" will be vetting the applications and deciding who to interview.

From the website, I can see that there are about 10 faculty members associated with this program. Presumably, the vetting committee is a subset of the whole group.

I'm considering sending an email to all of the faculty members, introducing myself and subtlely encouraging them to invite me in for an interview.

Tell me, hivemind: Does this seem desperate? Or, does it seem like the kind of thing a real go-getter would do (and therefore would reflect positively on me?)

Do you think it's worth the possibility of making a good impression, to risk pissing some of these people off? ("One more irrelevant email to sort through, blah blah blah...") I've had a terrible time with the job market since I've been trying to find gainful employment, and this insecurity/lack of confidence is clouding my judgment. I really can't decide if sending out this simple email would be a boon or a burden.

The other factor to consider is that part of the reason I'm inclined to send a quick note out is to deflect, in advance, the perception that I'm not qualified enough for an interview. I am lacking in one area which the job position listed as "required" -- but I believe, if I get an interview, that I can make a strong case for the fact that my other experience and education should outweigh what they might perceive as a shortcoming. However, I'm concerned that I might be putting too much attention on a potentially negative aspect of my experience.

So, I guess it's really two subquestions:
a)do I send an email?
b)If yes, do I mention/explain/argue my case?

Thanks in advance!!!

posted by CitizenD to Work & Money (11 answers total)

This is not a good idea.
posted by grouse at 5:05 PM on June 25, 2008

Should you send a follow-up thank you note after your interview? Yes, of course.

Should you email ten potential interviewers out of the blue for dubious reasons before they have even contacted you for an interview? No, you should not.
posted by kate blank at 5:09 PM on June 25, 2008

If I could edit my comment I would edit it to add that I imagine you're nervous, and you're looking for things to do to burn off some of that nervous energy -- like emailing your interviewers, for example. Use that energy to prepare and practice for the interview, instead.
posted by kate blank at 5:11 PM on June 25, 2008

Response by poster: kate blank -- you're right, i am nervous.

i thank you -- and grouse -- for your comments.

i guess my problem/issue/question is this: online, i'm constantly reading stories about how such-and-such a manager won't even look at a resume unless and until the applicant has figured out a way to get around/through the HR department. it seems that, at least in corporate america, showing this kind of initiative is considered a good thing.

is the difference that the job i'm applying for is in academia?

would the answer(s) to these questions be different if i took the extra step to discover which of the faculty members, out of the possible 10 or so, are actually the ones to be vetting application materials (and therefore only send my introductory email to them)?

thanks again!
posted by CitizenD at 5:18 PM on June 25, 2008

if you were applying for a sales job, I would say go for it. Shows great initative, willingness to find the decision makers, willingness to cold call, etc....

In the academic world, my guess is this would be frowned upon. they like their processes and procedures, and i think this would come accross not really as desperate, but certainly as inapproriate at the very least

good luck
posted by Mr_Chips at 5:25 PM on June 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

Also use the energy to form a (yet another) backup plan in case you don't get this interview or this job. Having another plan will take some of the pressure off of this interview, so you'll be just that little bit more relaxed when/if you do get the interview.

You can also canvas all your friends to see if any of them know people in this department. If they do, you can ask them whether the department / interviewers favor "real go-getters" or not. The environment might be more geared toward a more deliberate approach. Whatever advice your friend, or friend-of-a-friend, can give you will help in this interview and, if this interview doesn't work out, potentially in another similar situation.
posted by amtho at 5:29 PM on June 25, 2008

On reading your response, CitizenD, and the comment that follows, I'd add/summarize: instead of putting your energy into "talking" (i.e., sending the e-mail, especially since you don't even know to whom you should send it), put the time and energy into "listening", i.e., research -- learn more about the interviewers, the institution, what you'd be doing, what they'll probably need from you. You've already started by asking this question -- just keep learning more about this job and jobs like this.
posted by amtho at 5:32 PM on June 25, 2008

Ordinarily not... definitely not so for academics. It would be a great way to annoy some overworked faculty. (OR faculty who just perceive themselves as overworked, i.e., all of them.)
posted by paultopia at 5:39 PM on June 25, 2008

Response by poster: thanks amtho and mr_chips!

a couple of other points to add:

-it's not an academic job, per se. it's an administrative job in a broadly academic setting.

-i am, and have been, doing research on the job, the project, the program and department which house the project, and any/all people who are listed by name as being involved with it. quite frankly, it's all that research that has me so gung-ho about wanting to land this interview. (well, *and* get the job.) :)

thanks again for all your thoughts. i might seem like i'm being a butt-head in my responses; really, i'm just excited and nervous and completely flummoxed.
posted by CitizenD at 5:43 PM on June 25, 2008

Ugh - I feel your pain.

Looking for a job myself, and the whole idea of trying to get past an HR department is maddening, much less a "committee of faculty."

I suppose I think of it this way: If you were on the committee, what would you find annoying/attractive about a candidate? Really put yourself in their situation, and try to set aside your passion for this possible job.

In any sort of academic setting, I would suspect procedure and protocol are valued, therefore, an email out of the blue would be frowned upon, and possible fodder for gossip. ("Isn't this the person who emailed everyone?")

Another view: If you did email them, and they held it against you, would you want to work there?
posted by producerpod at 8:37 PM on June 25, 2008

I think the email would be a bad idea. Part of pretty much any job is the ability to follow directions, and not doing what you're told during the application process reflects badly.
posted by Mavri at 8:45 AM on June 26, 2008