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Topic: How do I write an unsleazy "networking" email?
| Author | Message |
| JulianCaesarSalad | Posted – 12/15/2007 1:19:35 AM | show profile | email poster I'm a recent(-ish) college grad who moved to the big city to pursue a career in journalism. After figuring out that my first gig (a "promising" position at a failing magazine) was going nowhere, I've been bouncing from entry-level position to entry-level position without really having any luck. My stepfather's cousin is a noted editor-in-chief of one of the Big Magazines. My parents passed along this cousin's personal email and suggested I write him to see if he can find something for me. The problem is, I have absolutely no idea how to do this without sounding like a total and utter sleazebag/coattail surfer ("Dear ____, I'm _____, ______ is my stepdad." Ugh!). I know many young writers who have gotten their feet in the door through more distant relatives and greater degrees of separation, and I know there's a polite, smooth way to do it. I just can't for the life of me figure out what that is. Any advice is much appreciated! |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 12/15/2007 4:26:35 AM | show profile Be direct. Dear ----. My stepdad, XXXX, suggested I write to you. Blah, blah, blah. It's not sleazy. It's the way life works. |
| foodlit | Posted – 12/15/2007 11:05:28 AM | show profile I would try for an informational interview. That way you're not sending an email directly asking for a job, but rather for a 'quick meeting to pick your brain about what it's really like to work at xx or in the industry." Something like that, and you can have fun with it, say "I'd love to meet you for a cup of coffee in your office, how do you take your coffee?" and you bring him/her a nice cup of coffee...try to meet very early in the day, before their day gets underway so you're not interrupting anything. And show up looking sharp with a crisp resume and just have a conversation, ask lots of questions like how they got started what they look for in hiring junior people, any advice they might have. And you thank them for their time, and on a closing note, say something like, "Thank you so much for your time, I really appreciate the chance to talk with you. Please keep me in mind for anything that opens up that might fit with my background." You might not even have to add that last sentence as he/she might just tell you to follow up with someone...but they are more likely to do that if they meet you in person and like you...rather than an unknown person behind an email. Meeting someone and making that personal connection is so important. Good luck! Pam |
| Village Gal | Posted – 12/15/2007 11:35:50 AM | show profile I agree with Pam about trying to set up an in person informational interview. I'd also study the magazine and tell him in the letter how much you admire the publication because of blah, blah, and how much you love reading it and how it would be an honor to work there. Use flattery; it usually works. |
| writesonwater | Posted – 12/16/2007 2:02:59 AM | show profile I opened this thread up thinking that unsleazy networking email was an oxymoron, but I think these are great approaches. There's no harm in dropping names as long as there's a legit connect and you don't pull rank or wave it in their face. A simple "Jim Smetres from The Times suggested I contact you" should suffice. |
