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Topic: How wrong is it...
| Author | Message |
| getmeoutofhere | Posted – 7/24/2007 3:32:45 PM | show profile To call up someone in HR at a company you want to work for to introduce yourself or discuss the position or ask about your suitability for positions at that company? I guess it would be almost like setting up an interview for yourself...But just over the phone, very polite, for maybe a few minutes. I know they're probably very busy and it's obviously not their job to answer my unsolicited questions... But desperate times call for desperate measures. |
| f-dog | Posted – 7/24/2007 5:05:11 PM | show profile Put yourself in their shoes It takes a certain chutzba to call up an HR dept and basically set up your own interview. While some HR people might admire that I think it's probably best to put yourself in their shoes. I'm sure that their hands are full with the work on their plate and all of a sudden some dude calls them up and asks for a job... ...It's not so much desperate as it is annoying. |
| WinonaWriter | Posted – 7/24/2007 5:10:06 PM | show profile I think it's perfectly acceptable to ask for an "informational interview" -- and at least, 10 years ago or so, was a common recommendation given by job-hunting books. The purpose of an "informational interview" is to find out more about the company, the department, the types of positions they have, what they're looking for in employees, etc. -- not to land a job or even to discuss a specific open position. It's a starting point, and from there, with that information in hand, you will be able to make yourself a stronger candidate for that company's future job openings. I say call them up and ask for an "informational interview." Let us know what happens! Good luck! |
| getmeoutofhere | Posted – 7/24/2007 5:21:41 PM | show profile thanks for your replies. i agree that it could be seen as annoying, but they can always refuse an informational interview. then, i will have wasted about 10 seconds of their time. no harm done, right? |
| JerzyGirl | Posted – 7/24/2007 8:25:14 PM | show profile Most people are so shocked to get a TELEPHONE call these days, instead of an e-mail, you might get a surprisingly welcome response. And you're right, the worst that could happen is they say no, but even if they do, I bet they will close with, "send me your resume to keep on file," and when it arrives, they will recall that you took the time to phone first, that you were well-spoken, polite, etc. Anything that you can do different from the herd is helpful. Good luck. |
| GA>ME | Posted – 7/25/2007 2:16:35 AM | show profile heck, walk in if you can and ask for an informational interview. always hardest to reject someone in person. the sort of questions suggested above are great. not pushy at all, but aggressive and something most other pseudo-applicants wouldn't do. |
| foodlit | Posted – 7/25/2007 9:31:23 AM | show profile I think informational interviews are great, but before you try HR, I'd try a hiring manager. HR people tend to focus on their immediate openings, and there are usually way too many of them and not enough time in the day, so they're probably not going to be overly receptive to an informational interview unless you fit a current opening. However, a hiring manager is completely different....make a good impression there, and they could create an opening or think of you when something comes up, or restructure a current opening to fit your level. I've seen it happen all the time....but HR wont'/can't do that, but a hiring manager can. And just take a guess on what the title of a potential hiring manager might be, and call that person. Good luck, Pam |
| foodlit | Posted – 7/25/2007 9:37:25 AM | show profile Never walk in! Please don't ever just walk in and ask for an interview! This is about as rude as it gets. It shows a total lack of respect for the HR/recruiter's time. And it just reflects badly on you and frankly anyone that has ever done this to us in the past has seemed a little weird. Trust me, it's not the way to make a good first impression! |
| getmeoutofhere | Posted – 7/25/2007 10:18:36 AM | show profile foodlit - i'd never just walk on in and ask for some info...it makes me look unprofessional and inconsiderate. in terms of who to target - do i go for the hiring manager or a mid-level editor? and how do i find out names of these people? can i call the company up and ask to speak to a hiring manager? |
| Chamsah | Posted – 7/25/2007 10:57:23 AM | show profile HR is a waste Bound to get flamed here but forget about HR. Total waste of time. Now, I don't know what company you are considering but most HR managers are completely disconnected from editorial, they can barely talk to you about the jobs at the magazine. And if you think that they'll turn around and hand your rez to the ME or whomever does hiring, forget about it. They are just too far removed from the daily needs of the publication to know better. Most HR people are in place to deal with internal issues and they aren't very good at that either. (Yes, I went there.) When a job opens, they do get flooded with resumes. But typically they hand them over to the supervisor in charge of hiring. Most don't even screen resumes because they don't know how. They just don't get the training they need -- and I am not sure it's even their fault. Choose someone in a position of knowledge and authority, an exec ed, a managaing ed, an assistant managing ed, (NOT THE EIC!) and try your chutzpah there. Ask for ten minutes of their time to talk about their job and how they got as far as they did. Make it all about them, flattery gets you EVERYWHERE. Only take a few minutes. At the end, ask if it would be appropriate to leave a rez so they can "get to know you better." Do NOT mention any job openings. They know why you are there. Then send a WRITTEN thank you. Be pleasant and polite. They won't forget you, trust me. Good luck. |
| bjoconnorfla | Posted – 7/25/2007 11:06:55 AM | show profile Good idea, wrong approach. Redirect your request from HR to people who can give you information about where you shoudl apply and who to see. These informational interviews are NOT job interviews, just a way to survey the landscape and find out what kidn of job is out there for someone like me with my skills. Get a copy of What Color Is Your Parachute (10 Speed Press) and follow the information interview procedures outlined there. Good luck. |
| getmeoutofhere | Posted – 7/25/2007 11:09:41 AM | show profile so helpful thanks to everyone! |
| foodlit | Posted – 7/25/2007 11:36:36 AM | show profile Chamsah, You won't get flamed! I pretty much agreed with you already, in that HR isn't the best route for an informational interview. Getmeoutofhere, Think about the title of the person you'd be likely to report to, and that's who you want to target for the informational interview. They're incredibly effective, and it's how I got my last few positions. The approach that worked for me was to say, I'm very interested in X type of a position, and I'd love the chance to pick your brain a bit about what it's like to do that job and to work here. I understand that you may not have any active openings now, but I'd love the chance to meet with you briefly at your convenience. People really do like to help and to talk about what they do. As long as you make it clear that you are not hounding for a job but are rather looking to make a connection and value their input and that the meeting will be brief, you will likely find a few people willing to sit down and talk to you. Good luck! Pam |
| BosColl2004 | Posted – 7/25/2007 4:29:08 PM | show profile Not wrong if done correctly Hi, I'm just starting my first job in newspapers, not magazines, so things run a bit differently, but I am not a pushy person at all and got this job through sucking it up and being a bit pushy. I had an "in" to call an editor at the paper I wanted to work at. She invited me in despite a hiring freeze, I offered to write a few pieces for free if it meant I would be considered for a position when it opened up (she told me it would be very soon), within a week I was called for a tryout at one of their papers and three days later was offered a job. If you can come up with some sort of mutual contact and actually speak with the person that you'd be working under, that's the best way of doing it. I never spoke with HR, although that is traditionally where I would have sent my resume. This was much more efficient and I ended up meeting with and working for four different people at the family of papers, which I think will certainly help me along in my career with them. Just my thoughts, and the newspaper industry is a bit more informal, but sometimes a *little* pushiness, esp. if you can come up with a good reason or mutual contact, is just what you need to do. If you're a good candidate for the job and can impress them, they'll be happy to hear from you. |
