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Topic: Job Hunting HELP! *proper etiquette *
| Author | Message |
| PRGirl724 | Posted – 6/19/2008 12:10:50 PM | show profile | email poster Okay, here goes... I just graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Public Relations and want to work in NYC in PR. My resume is pretty damn good, however I currently live in Ohio and that address is not giving me much luck w/ NY companies. I am planning on going out to the city for about 2 weeks (staying with a friend) to interview around and try and land a job before I make the big move in August. Here's the question... If I can't land enough interviews before I head out, would it be unprofessional to just show up at some PR firms with my resume and see if anyone has anytime to sit down for a few minutes for an "informational interview." My mentality is that if I can't get reception through email or over the phone, I might as well drop my resume off in person and hope for someone to at least take it and maybe talk with me for a few minutes. What do you all think? Is this too forward? Intrusive? Any help would be great. At this point, I'm ready to hit the streets of Manhattan running! Thanks! |
| joyeuxnoelle | Posted – 6/19/2008 12:31:31 PM | show profile | email poster I'm very curious what people will say about this. I read in 'What Color is My Parachute' that showing up with evidence of your qualifications is hugely more successful than mailing a resume. But that's always seemed counter intuitive to me, and so disrespectful. |
| Cyrus | Posted – 6/19/2008 12:31:38 PM | show profile Unfortunately, August will be a tough time to start interviewing because the May grads will have likely beaten you to the punch for the few account coordinator jobs that will be available. I always advise younger workers to put some time in at a mid-size or small market before moving to NYC. If you come with experience, you'll make enough money for NYC to be liveable; believe me when I say the thrill of living in NYC just to do it gets old after a while until you make decent money. If you still want to make the trek, I'd focus on smaller agencies, as they're more forgiving when it comes to experience formula. They'll be willing to look at candidates that the biggies won't. ------ Cyrus Afzali Astoria Communications www.astoriacomm.com |
| Cyrus | Posted – 6/19/2008 12:34:52 PM | show profile Oh, and as to your original question... I personally wouldn't advise it because I don't think there's a high likelihood that you'll actually be able to *SEE* anybody that's a decision maker. Without that, in person's no better than mailing in a resume. You might also want to consider non-profit organizations; they often need folks to do PR initiatives and because they can't afford to pay agency wages, they'll consider those with less experience. ------ Cyrus Afzali Astoria Communications www.astoriacomm.com |
| Poetry | Posted – 6/19/2008 12:46:24 PM | show profile When I was interning in PR, I always sat in the front and had to deal with the random people who showed up to drop off their resume. It was always an inconvenience, especially when we were working on several different things at once. We always filed the resumes that were dropped off with the ones that were faxed and mailed. I doubt anyone is going to take time out of their busy schedule to sit down with you for an information interview if you show up unexpectedly. Why not use the NY address of the friend you will be staying with on your resume? |
| valentine | Posted – 6/19/2008 12:51:26 PM | show profile If your resume is pretty damn good, then I'm sure you have a few professional organizations (PRSSA? IABC? School Alumni Assn.?) on there. Now would be the time to reach out to members of the organizations and tell them you'll be in NY for the two weeks and ask for informational interviews with them, as well as for referrals to firms to contact. People will generally open their Rolodexes for new grads and people relocating, and give you 15-20 minutes for a brief chat. |
| jobhunter08 | Posted – 6/19/2008 2:25:00 PM | show profile Cyrus- Using your logic, myself and anyone who graduated in '07 is SOL for getting a job because the '08 grads have beaten us...correct? |
| bookmap | Posted – 6/19/2008 3:20:01 PM | show profile Woohoo Ohio transplants! Being one myself, no, I did not get interview offers until I used my NYC address. If you know someone here and can use their address, do it. That will be the only way you can land interviews before coming here. And 2 weeks is not sufficient time to find a job either. I've been here 3 months, granted we're in different industries, but you should have a back up plan, unless you plan on heading back to Ohio if nothing pans out. I would advise going to individual PR firms, because I honestly think it will be a waste of time. Instead, email anyone you can get contacts for at the firms, tell them the specific dates you'll be in New York, and see if they'll sit down with you for an informational. This way you can set some things up before coming here. Good luck! |
| bookmap | Posted – 6/19/2008 3:21:26 PM | show profile I meant to say I would advise AGAINST going to PR firms. Don't waste the energy! |
| prdiva | Posted – 6/19/2008 10:25:51 PM | show profile I think it's way too forward and intrusive. >>> It would really rub me the wrong way if a candidate did this. |
| Cyrus | Posted – 6/19/2008 11:14:49 PM | show profile 07 vs 08 grads Basically, what I'm saying is that competition for entry-level jobs is even tougher than normal right after graduation periods. Once you're not entry-level, the date when you hunt matters less because you have a wider range of experience by which they can go by and use to make their decisions. In fact, at higher levels, hunting during summer is better because so many fewer people generally hunt then. |
| PRGirl724 | Posted – 6/20/2008 11:24:08 AM | show profile | email poster Thank you everyone for your replies... they really have helped. I have put the NY address where I will be staying on my resume so hopefully that will lead to some more responses from firms. I'm hoping that I will have enough interviews set up before hand that I don't have to "just show up" places. On a side note, Cyrus what you have said about the May grads is definitely true. So far I have heard, "the entry level positions have been filled." My friends who graduated last month are the ones with the jobs! It's just unfortunate that because I graduated later than other schools I'm at a disadvantage. Oh well, I guess this is just the start to the real world! I really do appreciate everyone's feedback! Thanks again :) |
| foodlit | Posted – 6/20/2008 2:24:16 PM | show profile maybe OK, my first thought was don't do it...but on second thought I think it's all about HOW you do it. I think the key is NOT to ask to meet with someone, as that could be seen as intrusive...but if you go very early, get there when they open, you might get lucky, before the day gets going. I'd just say, "I wanted to drop my resume off personally, and would love to set up an information interview with anyone willing to talk with me...not right now of course, but whenever it works for them." That way, you might get to schedule the interview, or you might get lucky and they might say, 'well I have a few minutes now, why don't you come in?' good luck! Pam |
| Cyrus | Posted – 6/20/2008 2:34:57 PM | show profile Examine Your Network I'd also see if there's anyway you can utilize the network of folks you already know and unearth a contact in that manner that might lead to an introduction opportunity. It's said over and over, but networking really can work if done property. I realize a new entrant to the work force is just starting on building that network in many ways, but you might very well have someone in your field of contacts that could help you. If they can make an introduction for you, you might better your chances of actually getting a meeting that could lead to good things -- either with their company or one of their own acquaintances. ------ Cyrus Afzali Astoria Communications www.astoriacomm.com |
| jseconds77 | Posted – 7/8/2008 5:39:01 PM | show profile Well, editorial jobs are posted online. So I apply online. Nearly all the ads clearly state "no phone calls or e-mails please", so I respect that. Therefor, I cannot imagine the reaction if I randomly showed up to the office! I forsee being escorted by security. And, it shows if you cannot follow the simple direction of no calls/emails...you'd be incompetent on the job for not following directions. My .02. though I HATE it cuz nobody really seems to reply.... |
| jseconds77 | Posted – 7/8/2008 5:40:24 PM | show profile Oh, and the part in Kramer Versus Kramer with Dustin Hoffman storming into offices and scoring a great job within 24 something hours is bogus! If he did that today, he'd be slapped with harassment or stuck on the no-fly list. ha? |
| mytype | Posted – 7/8/2008 6:31:05 PM | show profile I say go for it. Try to arrange info intvws and drop by offices--just make sure to do some research before you go in. Say you had an intvw nearby and wanted to drop off a resume at least. You never know. Someone might like your chutzpah. |
| foodlit | Posted – 7/8/2008 6:40:39 PM | show profile Yes, it's all in the execution! |
| linjohn | Posted – 7/8/2008 7:04:23 PM | show profile When I was moving to LA, I planned a trip out a month before, and included the dates on my cover letter, a la, "I'll be in Los Angeles from x to y, and would welcome the opportunity to meet with you in person." I scored a few interviews that way. The idea of just showing up is a risky one, not because I think you'll alienate anyone necessarily, but because many buildings in the city have such strict security, you'll never make it past the lobby. If you can't get enough interviews, I would try emailing the firms' generic address and stating what you write above - that you'll be in the city from x to y and would love to sit down for an informational interview - would anyone possibly have the time? As someone in a hiring position, I would respond to that more favorably than a drop-in. Even if I had the time, I certainly wouldn't be prepared with questions, thoughtful answers, etc. Good luck! |
| beachbum | Posted – 7/9/2008 11:22:38 AM | show profile you could dress up nice and drop our resume in person, but i doubt people will have time or the inclination to meet with you on the spot. most nyc firms are very busy and they probably won't appreciate the interruption. you could always try to line up an interview with a temp agency if you don't have luck with firms per se. i think you will have more luck once you actually live there full time and companies see that you're serious. good luck! |
| beachbum | Posted – 7/9/2008 11:23:34 AM | show profile i meant "drop Your resume".... that's what happens when you type too fast, lol. |
| Mirage | Posted – 7/9/2008 11:37:25 AM | show profile It probably couldn't hurt to try, but have you ever been inside NYC publishing offices? For the larger ones, you can't get past the lobby without an appointment, and for smaller pubs you would have to be buzzed up. I can't see you having much success with this approach -- you're probably better off sending e-mails saying that you'll be here on [whatever date range] and you'd like to set up an interview. |
| Mirage | Posted – 7/9/2008 11:37:30 AM | show profile It probably couldn't hurt to try, but have you ever been inside NYC publishing offices? For the larger ones, you can't get past the lobby without an appointment, and for smaller pubs you would have to be buzzed up. I can't see you having much success with this approach -- you're probably better off sending e-mails saying that you'll be here on [whatever date range] and you'd like to set up an interview. |
| writesonwater | Posted – 7/9/2008 1:29:52 PM | show profile | email poster Valentine's approach to networking -- going through organizational connections -- looks promising to me. Also, Linjohn's approach worked for friends of mine: " "I'll be in Los Angeles from x to y, and would welcome the opportunity to meet with you in person." " Modify to: BRIEFLY meet with you ... people are more receptive to such opportunities if they are going to be brief, respectful of their busy schedules. Here's my thot on the New York address on your resume - the problem is, if your address is New York, why isn't your experience, current work, etc? How about this, in connection with your plan to visit, plan to move there, etc: Use the pal's NY address as a second address, like this: Alba Varden 777 Podunk Lane, Hicksville, OH 234567 After August 1: 888 Perfectrelo Drive, NY, NY 123456 This indicates your plan to move in the near future. ------ http://writingporch.blogspot.com/ http://jlouiselarson.blogspot.com/ http://familyrootsandwings.blogspot.com/ |
| chucho | Posted – 7/9/2008 3:36:43 PM | show profile I think it's good to target employers in this manner, albeit I've never "cold called" myself. I actually plan to do this in October at considerable personal expense (one week car rental, one-week apartment rental, driving 1,600 miles and spending a great deal of time and money making several portfolios AND working on a story that may never be published). I have a main target and then four or five peripheral targets, of which I think only two are definitive fall backs (the others I'm not sure I would work for, but they're in the region). My approach is to try to make cursory contact. I already have this contact with one of the companies and one other (the one I really want to work for) knows who I am because they flew me in and interviewed me about eight years ago (I made it to the last round). But I do intend to show up in person whether I get confirmation from these people or not about any specific meeting. I think it's important to know with whom you need to try to meet. I wouldn't expect much from meekly handing over a portfolio to some HR flack who meets you in the lobby. I would try to meet somebody outside their office, or at least establish some kind of communication with someone (and editor, not an HR person) at the place. I have done this, and I find that I am far more successful by cold-calling rather than emailing or trying to contact somebody through LinkedIn or something like that. The best way to do that is to have story. Pitch a story. Even if they don't accept it, or aren't willing to pay you, the effort you put in to pitch or submit a story will be enough to establish that "quorum" that might increase your chances of success when you drop by to leave your portfolio with a key decision maker. I've been doing a lot of homework for this trip in October. I fully intend to go into it with two things on my mind: #1.) A specific list of suggestions on how to improve the publication (I'm only doing this for the one I really want to work for), offered as a "free consultation", including in one instance something I am positive they will appreciate knowing and correcting about their website; and #2.) Go into it completely indifferent to whether this works or not. I have no plans to be disappointed. I make enough money now to survive and I have no obligations that woudl make me desperate. If they don't appreciate the effort, that's their problem. It will be a fun trip anyway because it will be to a fun city during Halloween. As far as I'm concerned it's a win-win. This second aspect may seem superfluous, but if you genuinely believe you would be an asset to the company, AND you go into it with a genuine attitude that it would be their loss if they don't hire you -- I think it really makes a difference in how you end up presenting yourself. But it has to be genuine, so you can't do that with just any employer you desperately want to work for simply because you need to pay rent. This "cold calling" technique I think works best when you have done enough homework to know the target employer and you are a good match, that it's a organization you really want to work for and you can list precisely why. PS: Right now I am self employed, in case any of you wonder why I post a lot here -- I'm not doing it on somebody else's dime ;) If I get this job, you probably won' hear from me very often. Some of you might be happy about that :) |
