When you’re on the hunt for a new job, there are tons of exciting opportunities on the horizon. But what if you have a particular company in mind? Contacting companies you want to work for will get you that much closer to your dream job at their organization.
Even if the employer doesn’t have a job listing posted, you can land an interview by making smart, strategic moves to create a relationship with them. You have to start somewhere in your relationship, and often times, this means cold contacting.
Reaching out to people who don’t know who you are can be nerve-wracking but it can make a huge difference in your chances of landing a job at an organization where you want to work.
Here are 10 tips on how to contact desired prospects and land the interview:
1. Research online. Before you reach out to a company you want to work for, make sure that you know everything you can about them. Search for their profiles on LinkedIn and other social media channels. Read their website. Check out Glass Door. This is a really simple step, but so many people skip it! Researching your dream employer will help you start conversations and impress at the interview.
2. Stay up to date on trends. Make it your business to know what’s going on in your dream company’s industry. By checking out industry publications and online articles, you’ll get an idea of the challenges facing the company or the achievements they recently made. This is the ‘get to know you’ step in creating relationships with your dream employer.
3. Find connections in your network. You might not know anyone at the company you want to work for, but your friends might. Ask around to see if they have connections at the organizations you’re targeting. These personal introductions can be priceless opportunities to land an interview and get hired.
4. Go to events. Getting to know current employees at your dream employer by attending networking sessions and business conferences. Not only will you learn new things to help you do better at your job, you’ll also get to chat with people who might have an ‘in’ with the company you want to work for.
5. Offer free work. If the company you want to work for isn’t currently hiring, you can show them how valuable your work is by giving it away for free for a limited time. Look into intern opportunities or projects you could consult on. This can show companies just what you’re capable of and make them want you back.
6. Contact decision makers. These people will have the most power to get you an interview for the job you want. Do some research to find out who is connected to the position you’re interested in. This could be someone in leadership if you’re going for a senior position or a hiring manager.
7. Send an email. This is how people communicate more and more in the workplace these days. Find the right person to send your email to and craft something succinct and attention-grabbing to introduce yourself and start a relationship.
8. Request a meeting. In-person connections will generally be stronger than those made online. If someone seems open to talking to you, ask them to meet you for coffee or lunch. You could also sit down with them in their office. Show genuine interest in the person and what they do and your cold contact will begin to warm.
9. Ask questions. When you get in touch with someone at a company you want to work for, ask them questions that will help you land the interview. What are they looking for in a candidate? What do they need? What would make you stand out? This will help you position yourself in the best light possible.
10. Stay in touch. Strong relationships are built over time. If one of the companies isn’t ready to hire you, keep in contact with the connections you’ve made. You never know when the right position will become available.
Landing your dream job can take time, but you’ll never get there unless you try. If one door closes, try another. Strong relationships in your industry and other relevant sectors will help you find the right position even if it’s not where you initially thought it would be. This is your time to find a job you love. Go for it!