How to get the hiring manager’s attention
Happy fall! At my house, we’re officially back in the groove of packing lunches and spending Saturdays schlepping to various soccer games.
The beginning of fall is also bringing good news to those on the job hunt. Since late August, I’ve seen a wave of interest in hiring. Tons of people reached out to me and NRG Consulting asking for help with searches, meaning more opportunities are available.
We’ve covered lots of topics related to the interview process so far in this newsletter, whether it was tips for nailing the interview task, aligning your application materials, or informational interviews. Today, I want to dive a little deeper on how to get the attention of a hiring manager. Typically, you get an interview with the hiring manager after making it past the first interviews with lower level staff or recruiters. The prep is slightly different, so here are some key things to remember:
Do your research; know who the hiring manager is. Step one to getting in front of the hiring manager is knowing who they are. Once you know their name, you can work your network to see who has ties to the organization or individual. To do this, figure out who your first interviewers report to, look them up on LinkedIn, and set up a Google News search with their name (so, for example, you can congratulate them on a news hit). If you can’t figure out who the hiring manager is from the job description, ask your interviewer.
Make a good first impression. Don’t assume that the hiring manager has read your candidate file. It’s totally okay (and encouraged) to repeat yourself from previous interviews and retell your personal story. You don’t want to skimp on this because you want to make sure they know more about who you are.
Cultivate the relationship after the interview. As I keep saying, think about the job search as a process. Don’t focus on getting offers, focus on building relationships and expanding your network. When you do end up interviewing with the hiring manager, make sure you work to cultivate a relationship. Send them a thank-you note right after the interview and a follow-up note four to six weeks after. Mention something that reminded you of them or their organization and let them know you were thinking about them. This sets you up well the next time you are in front of the same hiring manager for a future role.
Here are the top three jobs we’re featuring this week:
Director of Development and Solidarity Philanthropy at Grassroots International, $76,500-$90,000, Northeast.
Digital Campaign Manager at CeaseFirePA, $52,000, anywhere in Penn.
Executive Director - Chicago Region at Bottom Line, $145,000, Chicago.
Now, onto housekeeping!
NRG Consulting is offering coaching programs to folks on the job hunt, whether you’re an entry- or senior-level candidate. Check out the programs we’re offering on our website, and get in touch with us.
If you find this newsletter helpful, forward it to your friends and help us build our network! Also, if you have feedback or an idea for a future newsletter topic, shoot me a note.