networking letter

[donnap99]

I need help writing an e-mail.  I want to attach my resume to an e-mail to some folks I know - in indiviudal e-mails, mind you, not a mass mailing - to basically say to them "I can't stand it here any more; please help me find another job!"  I've known these people for years, and have worked with them on various projects.  I don't know any of them like we'd go and hang out, but certainly we have worked together well over the past few years.  These are not peers on a professional level, they are all senior staff.

I'm too tired, too stressed, and too emotionally involved to really think straight about writing any more than what I said above, and need your help in developing a bit more of a professional note.  

Thanks guys!


DonnaP99

[jadegrniiz]

Are these people you know from working where you work now? Because with all due respect, I'm not sure I'd send out my resume to Senior Management contacts I met thru my CURRENT job.

If it's people you knew once upon a time, I'd just send out a quick note letting them know you were exploring employment options, and to keep you in mind should a position ever become available, and that you are sending a resume to their HR department for consideration.

If you want your job search to be confidential, I'd recommend not sending out a letter at all, just resumes and letters to HR departments. There'd be nothing funnier than a bunch of the managers at a meeting one day and saying, " Yeah, well at least MY admin doesn't send out her resume with every contact she makes!"

Just a thought. Good Luck, and I'm sorry you are frustrated with your job situation.



Jadegrniiz
Peer Moderator

[donnap99]

No, it's really an OK thing to contact them.  This is a HUGE place, with thousands of employees, hundreds of departments, and dozens of locations - it's as if they might as well be in different companies.  

And FYI, our HR department's handling of resumes is terribly inefficient.  Everyone across the university except them seems to know this.  They don't even look at resumes.  They have everything scanned in, or you cut & paste your non-formatted resume into the internet form, and for every position all they do is search for key words.  No one I know has gotten a job in the past 12 months through HR - always through contacts, then interviews, then the department tells HR they found this person.  

If my manager found that I was looking, trust me, she'd be happy.  On the other hand I don't want to necessarily give her the satisfaction of knowing that she has forced me out - at least not until I give my notice.

DonnaP99

[mnaeempk]

Still the points raised by Jadegrniiz remain valid (emailing company contacts for a job search esp out of frustration). If you have good relations with the contacts, just bring it verbally (in person or by phone) into their notice that you are nowadays job searching and if they have any opportunity you are available. You can simply send your CV (without any cover letter) to them as a follow up / reminder to your conversation / phone call to show that you are serious. But the way you intend to  adopt seems unethical.

mnaeempk
Naeem in Pakistan

[bethalize]

I don't think you can fairly say "unethical" here. But I would advise a face-to-face meeting rather than email.

Bethalize
Peer Moderator