Find Work by Directly Contacting CEO's/Employers?
A question that I have been lingering on is who do I need to approach in order to not only potentially get a job but gain the information that will help me figure out myself more. Last month I had the honour to attend a ‘Professional Development Day’ at our Laurier office in Toronto with Queens University. One of our guest speakers talked about networking and how it is not per-say ‘using’ people as it is more about having real conversations and getting to know them so that you can reflect on whether their job interests you. With this said, he also emphasized how we should not be afraid to reach out to CEO’s. This really stuck with me as I would never think to approach the CEO of a company but the more he explained how it shows perseverance and determination, I thought that this may not be the worst idea. Of course, by doing this, you would need to do thorough research about the company, express why you are reaching out to them and outline the experiences you have that could be an asset to them.
On the other hand, another guest speaker believed that reaching out to people who are 1-2 steps ahead of you is the best way to reach employment because they will be able to share recent experiences with you such as the transition to adulthood. Personally, this is the way I would think of approaching an employer as they probably would have more time on their hands to chat or go out for coffee.
What are your thoughts on approaching employers for work or even just for advice?

Hello! I have approached a few VPs from companies I am interested in and asked them to go for coffee with me just to pick their brains about the industry and what they did in their careers to be successful. To my surprise, these people were very open to sharing their insight and were very helpful. By the end of the conversation, two of them so far said that they would introduce me to anyone within their network in addition to keeping me informed if their agencies are hiring upon graduation.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great post, I really enjoyed your thoughts and picture!
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts about this are I believe a little old fashioned, because I think this is a great idea.
Going directly for the company and introducing yourself to someone high-up and putting yourself out there is something that our parents generation did a lot, with a very high success rate no doubt. Before LinkedIn and company websites, this is how they networked and with that being said I think its a great idea. Even to ask for advice like you said, I think that if the company allows it, its a very effective way to stand out amongst your peers who are all hiding behind their laptop screens.
What has worked in the past, can work again, and can always work.
Sara
Thanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteMy job last summer I actually got by reaching out to the CEO of the company. It was something as simple as introducing myself and telling her a little bit about myself that intrigued her and invited me back me for an interview. Prior to that positive experience, I too, would of never dared to reach out to a CEO regarding employment. However, like your presenter stated it can have a lot of surprising benefits as it indicates dedication and determination, something employer often look for. When it comes to approaching employers for work, my advice would be to make sure you are genuine and concise in your conversation. Just by simply reaching out to them you are already conveying your eagerness and willingness to succeed. The next step is to allow your personality shine through and effectively communicate not just what makes you qualified but what also makes you a valuable employee.