Not a day goes by when I don’t get several emails or LinkedIn messages asking for help getting introduced to an insider at a hiring company.
Of course, the standard request goes something like this:
Sudy,
Do you know Paul L? he just started at ABC company. Can you introduce me to him?
Thanks!
Now because of my mission, I usually try to accommodate these requests, unless your email looks fishy or spammy. However job seekers need to realize that most people you need help from are not on a mission to help job seekers or even you. Anyone important, or somewhat important usually will ignore a very standard request.
Assuming that the end goal of a networking email is either accepting a LinkedIn request, or helping you get better access to a company, your request needs to accomplish a few things:
- Find a common ground or make it personal or relevant your relationship
- Same school
- Same former employer
- A common friend or family member
- Same or similar military experience/unit
- Articulate the common ground and relate to it
- Make your call-to-action (CTA) quick and actionable. Accepting a LinkedIn request is quick, but submitting you for a job may not be.
Your specific CTA can take many paths and we will discuss more of these paths in a later post. Here a few quick guidelines:
- Include the post for the job. If you do not have an actual link, use the job description.
- If you have a specific name you would like to be introduced to, include that name and explain why your connection may know them.
- Make your CTA very quick and simple
- Can we meet for coffee and have a quick discussion about job openings in your company?
- Can we have a quick call about job openings in your company?
- Please forward this email to John
- Please provide an introduction to Jenny
- Please submit or recommend me for this role
Again, there are so many possibilities, but its up to you to make sure the recipient of your email can relate to you and can execute your call to action.
Here is a sample. In this note, the job seeker does not know the insider, but they do have something in common.
Subject: Fellow U of A Alum
Hey Jonathan
Hope all is going well. It’s always great to connect with fellow Wildcats. I was hoping you can help me out. I just recently left one of your competitors in the AAA space, COMPANY-X, and am looking for a new position. My specialty is business development. My whole career has been focused on generating qualified opportunities for the sales reps I support and I have very unique strategies to get to the C-level and map a strategic solution to the executive’s business pain. I would like to talk with you about how I can be an asset to COMPANY-Y. When would be a good time to contact you
Warm Regards, Steven W
This is actually a longer email than I would prefer, but points to a very specific skill set this job seeker has and is directed to the head of sales of the employer, where this position will report in to.
Result? The job seeker received a very quick reply from Jonathan, obtained an interview and landed the job
If he can do it, so can you!
