One of my relatives decided to get involved in my job search and her referral ended up being pointless. (employee, applying)
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My cousin sends me a text message two day ago to email my resume to one if her friends because she works for a company in my field. So i send her the resume and then the person sends back this response that made me want to throw my computer out the window
"ok thanks, I will give your resume to HR in the morning"
HUH? Isn't that something I could have done myself? Is this the most pointless referral ever? My understanding was that my cousin's friend was going to give it to one someone in management not HR. Am i the only who sees something odd about this whole thing?
I've had friends and acquaintances "help me" out with jobs and to be honest, I appreciate their offer but man...they suck at it.
"They are hiring, go apply". I do. "Ok, I'll tell them to watch for it."
Wow. Big help.
"I used to work there, I know a guy." Ok, let's get in contact. Person calls the guy, "Yah, she wants to work there....have her submit an application? Ok."
Wow. Big help.
"This place is hiring, I know the owner." Cool! I go apply, use my friend as a reference, even talk to the owner about it all. Come to find out, the only way the owner knows about my friend is that she's a customer.
Wow. Big help.
As I said in another thread, networking can work, I'm sure it's worked well for some, but for me? I do a whole lot better getting the jobs on my own.
My cousin sends me a text message two day ago to email my resume to one if her friends because she works for a company in my field. So i send her the resume and then the person sends back this response that made me want to throw my computer out the window
"ok thanks, I will give your resume to HR in the morning"
HUH? Isn't that something I could have done myself? Is this the most pointless referral ever? My understanding was that my cousin's friend was going to give it to one someone in management not HR. Am i the only who sees something odd about this whole thing?
No, it isn't pointless or odd. You resume send via an employee, will more likely reach the eyes of an actual human being in a position to get you further in the process. Otherwise your resume might never even get that far if you apply online without an internal referral.
Your cousin was nice enough to do you a favor, and the friend did you and your cousin a favor, and you are angry with them?
You are lucky the friend even agreed to refer you, considering she doesn't know you. What does she have to gain by helping you out? She didn't have to do ANY THING for you, much less getting your resume to the people and in a manner you want her to.
Pointless, yes. It was pointless of your cousin to help you at all as you can not see or appreciate the advantage.
I've had friends and acquaintances "help me" out with jobs and to be honest, I appreciate their offer but man...they suck at it.
"They are hiring, go apply". I do. "Ok, I'll tell them to watch for it."
Wow. Big help.
"I used to work there, I know a guy." Ok, let's get in contact. Person calls the guy, "Yah, she wants to work there....have her submit an application? Ok."
Wow. Big help.
"This place is hiring, I know the owner." Cool! I go apply, use my friend as a reference, even talk to the owner about it all. Come to find out, the only way the owner knows about my friend is that she's a customer.
Wow. Big help.
As I said in another thread, networking can work, I'm sure it's worked well for some, but for me? I do a whole lot better getting the jobs on my own.
This is the kind of help I;m seeking, like I received in 1999
My Aunt: "hey my friend is friends with the VP of company ABC and may have an opportunity for you since you have a bachelor's degree
Me: "Ok cool I will be interested in hearing more"
My Aunt: Ok here is my friend's number so you can call him and set up the interview with the VP
Me: Ok I will contact him.
Me Calling my Aunt's Friend: Hello I'm Cheryl's nephew and she wanted me to get in touch with you in regards to JC position
My Aunt's Friend: hey nice to meet you, can you be at Company ABC tomorrow at 10am to meet the VP
Me: Sure I can be there
Me meeting the VP: Hello nice to meet you I was referred to you by Michael in regards to the JB position
VP: Hello nice to meet you, well the position is ......, does that sound like something you would be inteested in?
Me: yes it sounds like an exciting opportunity
I was at that company for 6 years and that's the only kind of help I;m interested in.
No, it isn't pointless or odd. You resume send via an employee, will more likely reach the eyes of an actual human being in a position to get you further in the process. Otherwise your resume might never even get that far if you apply online without an internal referral.
Your cousin was nice enough to do you a favor, and the friend did you and your cousin a favor, and you are angry with them?
You are lucky the friend even agreed to refer you, considering she doesn't know you. What does she have to gain by helping you out? She didn't have to do ANY THING for you, much less getting your resume to the people and in a manner you want her to.
Pointless, yes. It was pointless of your cousin to help you at all as you can not see or appreciate the advantage.
I appreciate my cousin helping but when I heard HR that was something I was not expecting. Read my example of the kind of help I received in 1999. I never went anywhere near HR, my aunt's friend was cool with the VP of this company and a interview was set up with the VP. Not some HR person. I can send a resume to HR myself. That's why I stated if someone does not have a STRONG lead then don't get involved
I appreciate my cousin helping but when I heard HR that was something I was not expecting. Read my example of the kind of help I received in 1999. I never went anywhere near HR, my aunt's friend was cool with the VP of this company and a interview was set up with the VP. Not some HR person. I can send a resume to HR myself. That's why I stated if someone does not have a STRONG lead then don't get involved
All this time and you still don't understand how it works at some companies.
If you had just mailed the resume it may have just been filed, the person taking it in may provide extra input moving it up the chain.
My current job I got after a short phone then in-person interview with the HR manager.
With my current employer I could probably get someone hired from my word alone as long as they are reasonably qualified for the job(and are not a violent felon), I am a "no-body" within the company but they would trust my input.
I appreciate my cousin helping but when I heard HR that was something I was not expecting. Read my example of the kind of help I received in 1999. I never went anywhere near HR, my aunt's friend was cool with the VP of this company and a interview was set up with the VP. Not some HR person. I can send a resume to HR myself. That's why I stated if someone does not have a STRONG lead then don't get involved
That's like saying you're hungry and then snubbing a proffered sandwich because all you want is filet mignon. Times change and the level at which people can assist you can vary, too. As gnomatic indicated, blindly mailing your resume is not the same as having a current employee hand deliver your resume to HR. Your cousin did do you a favor. If you think networking is just about getting direct access to upper management then you have a few more surprises coming your way during your job search.
Nobody gets hired without going through HR. Period.
Totally false.
In the last four jobs I've held, I didn't meet HR until after an offer had been extended. At that point they stepped in to do the drug screen, etc.
At my current company it's the same way, you are hired by the hiring manager for that job, and even your references are checked by that person. You are sent for your drug screen by our payroll person (I know, weird, but it works well for us) and don't usually meet HR until the day you start working.
My cousin sends me a text message two day ago to email my resume to one if her friends because she works for a company in my field. So i send her the resume and then the person sends back this response that made me want to throw my computer out the window
"ok thanks, I will give your resume to HR in the morning"
HUH? Isn't that something I could have done myself? Is this the most pointless referral ever? My understanding was that my cousin's friend was going to give it to one someone in management not HR. Am i the only who sees something odd about this whole thing?
Here's the difference.
If you apply through normal channels, faxing or emailing a resume or applying online, your resume goes into a stack with all the others for review. If they are using computer screening, it might not even make it into the review pile.
When a resume is hand delivered, even to HR, someone is actually going to review that resume. Often because it came from an internal referral, you'll get put into the "schedule interview" pile even if you don't quite look like what they were looking for on paper. If that's the case, that interview is where you can sell yourself and overcome obstacles.
And by the way, it's not 1999 anymore. The times are changing and you can change with them or be left in the dust.
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Isn't that something I could have done myself? Is this the most pointless referral ever? My understanding was that my cousin's friend was going to give it to one someone in management not HR. Am i the only who sees something odd about this whole thing?
