Let me paint a picture for you. Imagine that you’re standing in a line — a very long line. Out of nowhere, a few people arrive, walk right past you, and skip the line altogether.
I bet you can picture it. (Hint, there are red velvet ropes and the slick-haired bouncers.)
How does it make you feel? Like they know something or someone you don’t. Wouldn’t it be nice to be on the inside?
Now, switch out the bouncers and replace them with hiring managers.
They aren’t much different. Both have jobs that require them to select and reject people trying to get in the door.
So, how do you go from being the job candidate who waits in line to being the superstar who skips the line and lands the interview? Same rules apply.
It’s all about who you know. Ready to take your career to the next level? This article will tell you how to make your resume VIP in three short steps.
How to Locate Influential People via Social Media
Most hiring managers won’t be pleased to receive unsolicited resumes. That’s why Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) got started in the first place.
So, to get in touch with the correct person, you have to make yourself known.
Are you targeting a particular company or industry? Start by checking your network to see if you know anyone on the inside. Targeting an industry is easiest. Your connections can direct you to open positions or companies that are recruiting.
Let’s say you want to work for a particular company. Reach out to friends, old colleagues, or alumni to see if anyone works there.
Next, check to see if the company offers referral bonuses. Get in touch with your company contact and let them know that referring you could score them a bonus.
Receiving a referral is the fastest way to get hired — 55% faster according to HR recruitment statistics. And referrals make up almost 40% of all hires.
But let’s say you’re not well connected. That’s okay. You can still connect with hiring managers. In this situation, it’s best to target a specific company or position.
Go to LinkedIn and run a search on the company you’re targeting. Look for HR staff or hiring managers. Some hiring managers will even feature the positions they are in charge of filling on their profiles.
Pro tip: No success with the apps? You could try guessing the hiring manager’s email address. Most professional email handles follow a predictable rule: it’s either jsmith@yourdreamcompany.com or johnsmith@yourdreamcompany.com (there might be a dot after j or john!).
If you find an email address of any employee, the chances are that you’ll be able to guess any other address!
Once you find a promising HR staff member that works for your company, you’re ready for the next step.
How to Make Yourself Known to the Hiring Manager
To send a LinkedIn message, having an individual’s email address is best. Otherwise, you risk losing the ability to contact them if they ignore your initial message.
Let’s say you’re starting cold. The hiring manager has not included an email on their LinkedIn profile, and you can’t find it on the company’s website. Well, not to worry. There’s an app for that.
The first app, Hunter, is best if you’re certain that you’ve found a very promising LinkedIn profile. Click on the app while inside the profile, and it will generate the person’s email address for you.
If you’re applying for a job at a corporation, Viola Norbert might be a better choice. The app allows you to find up to 50 corporate emails for free.
The third app, Find That Email, allows you to find most company emails for free.
Once you’ve got the hiring manager’s email address, send a personal invitation to connect on LinkedIn. You’ll want to delete the automated message and replace it with a personal message that explains your reason for connecting.
Don’t lead with a message that says you want them to give you a job. You aren’t sending them your stellar, professional resume yet. Start by offering the hiring manager something of value. Remember that this is your dream company. You want to work for them. You admire everything they do.
Write a message that conveys your admiration for the company or the person you’re addressing. Reference an article, insight, or a project that you interests you.
Before you send the message, you’ll have to tell LinkedIn how you know the person. You now have an email address so select “other” and enter the address.
Skip the Line and Send Your Resume Directly to the Hiring Manager
Once you’ve established contact on LinkedIn, you’ve achieved VIP status, and you can skip the line. That means emailing your resume directly to the hiring manager.
See, here’s the thing. When you’re applying to a corporation or larger company, your resume will have to wait in line with 250+ resumes on average!
When you send your resume to the hiring manager, you’re skipping that line.
And for certain types of job seekers who struggle to land interviews that can be the difference between getting a job and remaining unemployed.
Now all you have to do is write an email that states why you’d bring value to the company and attach your resume. No more waiting in line. No more getting overlooked for interviews.
Key Takeaway
Why wait in line when you can send your resume directly to the hiring manager?
Even if you must adhere to a strict recruitment procedure, familiarizing yourself with both the company and the hiring manager is good advice.
Take the time to personalize your approach to your job search, be entrepreneurial but human, and making that career change will be a breeze.
