One must be creative in today’s job market….about as creative as you would have to be to get that bone from Duke!

 The following is the third part in a series that started as two parts and now seems like it will be 5 or maybe even 6! I advise to really follow the instructions Tom is giving. He has learned, through his own experiences, great ways to work yourself through the hiring process in a creative ambitious way. Again….as he mentions below, you must be careful to walk that fine line. You must remember that you only get one chance to make a first impression and you have to really do your best to understand if the person you are presenting yourself to wants to hear what you have to say…..If they don’t you may be wasting your time. You always want to try your hardest to have a sense if the person is appreciating your interest in their company. It is a good rule of thumb, that if someone will take a minute out of their day to listen to what you have to offer they are probably someone you want to work with….if they don’t they are probably not. If you have not yet read parts I and II ….. it’s worth your time!! Groups on LinkedIn are also a great way to get names of hiring managers!! 

Viva la Difference Part III

 So why is the hiring manager worth all of this work?  Your efforts to date have been to secure a position in the “yes” resume pile.  In the past, that has not been such a difficult task, but in today’s conditions the resumes are piling up like a snow drift.  You have probably moved your resume to the affirmative stack with your efforts to date, but there is only one way to guarantee that you end up on the short list: bring your name to the attention of the hiring manager. Remember, the hiring manager has the keys to the treasure.

If you were not blocked and have already successfully reached the hiring manager with a phone call, then your conversation with this person should be to once again confirm receipt of your resume and ask about the process of the interviews. This is also a great opportunity to make a point about why the position caught your attention. A statement about how the position and the company align with your personal interests or values can be a very positive point to make.  The assumption here is that you are a qualified candidate, so such a statement adds to the objective data already listed on your resume. A little small talk is good, but don’t push it.  The key here is that the conversation is short, and make sure you are the one to end it.  A comment along the lines of respecting their time and thanking them for the opportunity to learn more about position leaves a positive impression and should place you in the preferred stack.

But let’s go back a step and assume you still have not been able to get the name of the most important person. Now you must take a slightly different approach, but it follows the same path as the path you took in Part II.

From your work experience you probably can figure out a couple of different ways in which the company is structured.  In the field of sales, the steps are sales, regional sales manager, national sales manager, director of sales, vice president of sales, and senior vice president of sales.  In the field of design, the steps are designer, lead designer, design manager, design director, and vice president of design; there can also be other tracts where a merchandise manager, director of merchandising, and vice president of merchandising enter into the picture.  There may be some steps missing depending upon the size and layers of the company, or there may be different titles, but the basic understanding of the organization structure leads you to your next plan of attack. 

Knowing how the company is set up then allows you to pick up the trusty phone and once again call the receptionist. The difference this time is that you are not asking directly for the name of the hiring manager, but instead indirectly asking the name of a person who has the position in the company that you have identified on your own to be the hiring manager. I contact the receptionist first because they are the conduit into the company. They are sometimes underappreciated, often stressed with multitasking, and can be very helpful. Plus, it has to be a nice change for them sometimes to have a polite voice on the other end ask them for knowledge when most of the voices are simply calling to complain or be directed to another phone extension. If the title is wrong and the receptionist is not sure who it is you seek, then give a once sentence description of the person’s responsibilities to help fill in the blanks. If the receptionist asks why you want to know, then tell them you would like to speak with them about an opportunity.  If they ask you what it is in regards to (this is often the case if you are asking for a senior manager in the company), then tell them you have been in contact with the company about the position that is available and want to follow up with them.  

Your chances of getting the information you seek decrease with each question.  Much like in Part II, if the receptionist happens to be the Great Wall of China and you get nowhere with this attempt, then once again try the options outlined previously: call at different times, and if that does not work, call customer service. Do not go back to HR again. Too much contact runs the risk of you now becoming a pest at best and desperate candidate at worst, either one of which could knock you out of the yes stack and back into oblivion. 

If the receptionist puts you through to the hiring manager without giving the name, then stay on the phone. While it is very unlikely the person you seek will answer the phone, what you will get will either be voice mail or an administrative assistant. That is ok.  The voice mail will identify the name of the person and you have what you need. Do not leave a message. You want to reach the person on the phone, and the chances are slim and none that they will return your call if you leave a message. If you leave a message, you have used a valuable lifeline (you only have one). You now take on the face of a stalker if you leave more than one message. If the administrative assistant answers, then ask if the person is available to speak, and if not, when it would be a good time to reach them.  Be sincere above all else, as you will have a better chance to receiving cooperation from the administrative assistant. Tell her you would like to speak with the person for a moment to confirm the hiring process. If she does not give you the approval to do so, then thank her and end the call. At least you now have a name.

The efforts you have made are not in vane even if you do not have the name of the hiring manager.  You are learning about the company with each contact. You are getting a feel of the personality of the individuals which will be invaluable information for you as you go through the interview process and approach your decision about whether or not the company is a good fit for you.

Part IV teaser:  knowledge is power