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Topic: Networking complications
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| Author | Message |
| nicolson11103 | Posted – 9/26/2005 10:51:07 AM | show profile To whom is it appropriate to send a networking letter? I've been researching advertising companies but don't want to send a letter to the Account Supervisor or Creative Director if it's counter-productive. |
| fourfold | Posted – 9/26/2005 12:48:22 PM | show profile Not sure what you mean by ''networking letter.'' Do you mean a ''hey, let's get together and talk advertising'' letter? If so, I'm not sure someone in a relatively senior position would want to do that with someone they don't know. What value are you offering to them? Or do you want an informational interview? Or are you looking for a job? Also, account supervisor and creative director are two vastly different functions. What kind of job are you looking for (assuming that's your goal)? Account supervisors are responsible for the day-to-day running of an account, including coordinating the work of in-office personnel such as copywriters, researchers, layout people, etc, and interfacing with the client. Creative directors are in charge of coming up with concepts for individual campaigns and then executing those concepts. |
| nicolson11103 | Posted – 9/28/2005 9:51:34 AM | show profile What I'm looking for Ulitimately, I would like to find a job, but since I've recently moved to the area and I don't know anyone I thought I should work on that first. After working on my resume it was suggested, (in a book) to attempt to contact people already in the industry using a letter. The purpose of the letter is to ask for advice and to make yourself known to others already in the field you want - not to beg for a job. As for my ideal job, I would like to work on a creative team, but currently don't have the background that would allow me to do that, so I thought I would start by getting a job in account management and go from there. I figured I would get an excellent feel for the business, could anticipate what kinds of continued education I might need, and would make contacts in the industry. As for what I offer, a background in psychology and English, experience with fragile people (mental health), and leading project development for our programs. That and a really positive attitude. Thanks for any advice you offer. |
| jan654 | Posted – 9/28/2005 12:09:13 PM | show profile I write on employment issues and it's perfectly acceptable to send anyone a networking letter. I would target someone who either is in the position in which you are interested or who supervises the position in which you are interested. Email or snail mail is fine (don't call). Simply explain your situation and that you would be interested in meeting and/or speaking with them briefly AT THEIR CONVENIENCE to learn more about their career path, how they got started, how they like their job, etc. Have questions prepared for them. You can explain your situation but NEVER ask for a job. I've interviewed many people on this topic, and believe it or not, many are more than happy to share their experiences, even if there's not ''something in it for them.'' Many people like the spirit of community building in their field and enjoy acting as a bit of mentor. If you don't get a response or get a negative response, 9 times out of 10, they're just too busy. Networking is essential; send away! |
| worm | Posted – 9/28/2005 3:21:47 PM | show profile I have been the recipient of such letters. If the letter tells me why the person wants to meet, how much time he/she expects, what his/her experiences have been so far, and why he/she chose me out of everyone else on the planet (and if I find these thoughts compelling), I'll meet. I ended up trying to help one young woman land a job. For whatever reason, it didn't work. When she wrote me again a year later, still out of work, still looking for a network, I declined the meeting. My rules: Be genuine, be compelling, and don't stalk me afterwards. |
| clairezulkey | Posted – 9/28/2005 4:50:45 PM | show profile | email poster I don't know where you went to school, but a little less awkward than cold writing is if you write to an alumni of you college in your field. My school had a directory where you could look up alums in advertising, journalism, whatever, pretty much for that purpose... ------ Editor of MBToolBox |
| nicolson11103 | Posted – 9/29/2005 9:41:31 AM | show profile Thanks for your responses - I promise not to become a stalker. I'll check on my alma matter, but I've moved about 5 states away and went to a really small school. I suppose that means if there's a connection the person will be more likely to respond. |
| brianvan0711 | Posted – 9/29/2005 10:01:38 AM | show profile | email poster An alumni directory (with career info) is indeed a nice resource if you have it available. I tried to access mine, but it's offline indefinitely. I can't look up anyone unless I know their exact name, and even then, I have to travel to campus to look anything up. (Then again, I make it no secret that I think my university is a joke and that I completely wasted my tuition.) You probably will have better luck with your own alumni office, assuming they have their act together. If not, inquire if they have local alumni meetups for your university where you currently live. If so, those parties are excellent opportunities to meet people you'd otherwise have no business knowing. Work your granfalloons, people. |
| dec423 | Posted – 9/29/2005 10:15:11 AM | show profile This is just a caveat, but I've heard that if you're intereted in creative, you shouldn't try to be an account manager -- that it's NOT easy to crossover. I don't work in advertising, so I really couldn't vouch for this being true or not, but I would try and talk to some people in the creative side to see if they agree and what their advice for getting started is! |
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