Tag Archives: linkedin

Why You Should “Backdoor” Your Résumé After Applying For A Job

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Why and How You Should Backdoor Your Resume After a Job Application
Photo by Irwin Reynolds

Applying online for positions, be it at the employer’s Web site or via a site like Careerbuilder, should be a part of any job seeker’s strategy. True, most folks get their job by networking, but like my first job for a record label in Nashville, you never know when that online application you did last week will land you the job you want.

With just a little time and detective work, you can give yourself an advantage over nearly everyone else who applied. Here’s how.

Avoid calling. Use LinkedIn to find someone at the company who is probably the hiring manager for this position, and e-mail a brief note with your résumé and cover letter attached.

Sometimes this a great bypass of the HR screening process. Sometimes it’s a good double-hit, showing initiative, interest, and thoroughness if, for instance, it’s a small company or division with no in-house HR department.

As you peruse LinkedIn, if you see you have a close colleague who works at the company, you could backdoor through that person. If you don’t know anyone, look to see if the person you choose has worked anywhere you have before. That makes a great introduction in the beginning of your e-mail. If you can’t find anyone who might be at a hiring manager level, send it to someone in the same department as the job opening.

Naturally, most people want to help. But make it easy for them to do so…think about when you are working and someone who’s in transition asks for your help. Be polite but specific with your request. For example, I asked a former coworker, Matt, to 1) put in a good word for me at his current company (with the hiring manager if he knew who that was) and 2) forward my résumé and cover letter after I applied online. This is the standard backdoor message I work from:

Dear ____,
After having seen the posting for the ____ position you are seeking to fill, I just applied via ____ ((method.)) In addition, I wanted to make sure my résumé and cover letter are seen by someone in the ____ department. If you are not the hiring manager for this position, I would appreciate it if you would forward this e-mail to him or her. Thank you very much for your time and help.

Sincerely,
((your name here))

Then, make the e-mail subject line something like, “Hi (recipient’s name); could you help?” Most people like to help – especially when it doesn’t take too much time or is not that difficult. Including the recipient’s first name will help avoid any suspicions your e-mail is simple spam.

When you completely can’t find anyone to e-mail, there’s no general e-mail address listed at the web site, and you don’t want to call, here’s another idea. If the company has a Contact Us page with fields to fill in to e-mail them, do this: With most browsers, right-click, and choose “View Page Source” to reveal the html code. Then, press Ctrl-F to search for “@”. This may show you the general e-mail address. https://www.thegeneral.com/about/contact is a good example where this technique works. Then you can e-mail your backdoor message with attachments.

Sometimes, like with Craigslist job postings, you won’t know the company at all. In this case, don’t fret about not being able to backdoor. Just use your spreadsheet to keep up with the TO e-mail address you used when you applied, and e-mail your follow up to the same address.

If you’re concerned about the legality of backdooring, know this: After checking with several HR professionals, I found that most companies do have a reporting stipulation that requires them to have accurate demographics of those who apply for positions, and HR usually expects applicants to come through them.

Although some companies have more stringent policies regarding what should happen when a manager or employee receives your résumé (as far as turning it over to HR), you should absolutely backdoor it after you apply the traditional way. Applying through the “front door” should assuage any concern about fairness or regulations.

If you are fortunate enough to get your résumé in front of the hiring manager for a position you want—and if you’re qualified, the job is actually open and you made a good impression—it could only be to your benefit to backdoor. If the hiring manager is impressed and wants to hire you, HR is unlikely to hinder the process. If you’re on the receiving end of a résumé regarding a position at your company, check to see what your HR department’s policy is in this situation.

 

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3 Ways You Should be Growing Your Network at LinkedIn

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grow network linkedin
Photo by Christophe Kiciak

The more connections you have at LinkedIn.com, the more likely people may be to accept your request to connect. Also, the larger your network, the more 1st- and 2nd-level connections you’ll have available when you’re networking.

Here are 3 main ways you can grow your network at LinkedIn:
1. Those You Know Already – After setting up your profile, invite those you know to connect. From the Connections link in the options bar at the top of most pages, choose Add Connections, and follow the process to import your email address book. LinkedIn can then suggest connections. Here’s another route: A list of “People You May Know” will also show up on different screens as you use LinkedIn. Don’t use the Connect quick-link, however. Make your request more personal. Go into each person’s profile to send connection requests, so you can customize the message they’ll see. You can also go back and add friends from high school or college.

2. Those You Meet – Add each person you meet as you network to your LinkedIn connections. Do so within two days so they won’t forget who you are, and always mention the event where you met when customizing the wording of your connection request. (As part of the targeted networking process, you’ll be requesting LinkedIn connections to people with whom you’re attempting to schedule networking meetings. This will also grow your network.)

3. Group Members – This is how I grew my network from about 50 people to 200. Join LinkedIn Groups (probably no more than 8-10) that have to do with your field. (To browse Groups, use the search blank at the top of the screen, change the setting to Groups, and enter keywords.) After you’ve joined the group, from the top of the Groups page, click the Members link; you can only see all members if you’re a member of the group. From their profiles, you can start to invite select people to connect. On the “How do you know ___” screen, select Groups; then choose the Group you both have in common.

Your personalized message can be something like, “Hi, James. We’re both members of the Music and Marketplace group here on LinkedIn. I’d like to connect with you.” Participate in discussions as often as you can. This way, you may meet potential employers or people who can help you learn more about topics in your field. You can also establish yourself as a subject matter expert by contributing original material to your groups. I once got a contract position after having met a hiring manager in one of my groups.

 

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MUCHO MONDAYS – Fiesta!: After You Have Your New Job, A Checklist

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benefits, insurance, evaluation, celebration, considerations, alerts, professional association, LinkedIn, filter, budget, vacation time, volunteering, networking, network, colleagues, friends, family, headhunters, doctor
Photo by Maria Elisa Duque

Congratulations! All your hard work, networking, resume’ writing, and everything else you’ve worked so hard for in your position as a marketer of yourself has paid off! But before you simply show up for the first day with your briefcase and Scooby Doo lunchbox in hand, here are some reminders that should ease the transition into your new job.

BEFORE THE FIRST DAY
• If you have certain things you always bring from home (photos, office supplies, notes) box those up and have them ready to bring with you day one.
• If you have kids, plan with your spouse who will do what based on the hours/days of your new position.
• Follow any instructions your new company has given you, and return any forms they’ve asked you to complete.

DURING
• Turn off job postings alerts from sites like indeed, careerbuilder, and beyond.com (and de-activate your resume’) as well as those you have set up with job boards at any professional association sites. Change pref’s to stop or reduce any communiqué coming from LinkedIn.
• Set email filters at job posting groups of which you’re a member to direct those to the Trash.
• Delete all your recurrent events on your calendar.
• Give your new work phone number to your spouse, etc. Get your supervisor’s office and (if it is appropriate) cell phone numbers into your phone.
• Figure out your new budget after receiving your first check.
• Treat yourself! You’ve worked hard for months. Buy something from your Wantlist.
• Find out about how to set up direct deposit. Make sure you understand your vacation time and benefits. Set up things like insurance and employee retirement funds when the time comes. Cancel any independent insurance policies you’re on.
• Meet as many people as you can early on. Not only is this beneficial in case you have questions about something, but it helps build goodwill and fit you into the family and culture of the company. Try to understand the hierarchy as you go.
• Volunteer for some things as you see opportunities arise. I was asked to judge a dessert contest—boy, was someone dead on with that one!
• Alert your headhunters that you have a job and to change your status to Inactive (but not delete you from their system.) Thank them for their help.

AFTER THE 90-DAY MARK
• Email (at least bulk) your networking colleagues to thank them for their help and let them know where you landed and what your title is.
• Facebook or email your friends and family to do the same.
• Clean up your Job folder in your email. You could delete any messages 9 months or older.
• Add the new job to your LinkedIn profile & update your Headline and if relevant, your City and Industry.
• Schedule any doctor or dentist appointments you may have been putting off.
• Update your profile at any professional organizations of which you’re a member.
• Don’t throw all your network out the window. Try to attend at least one networking event a month.
• (From day 1 forward) keep track of your accomplishments