I want to help.
I am currently involved in hiring talent. I say talent because I’m not interested in hiring just anyone. Ideally, the person is a great communicator committed to working with Jewish teens who has program development skills— a person with drive and creativity.
There are more skills needed than those, but this is a blog post not a help wanted ad.
So, how come this is what I usually read at the end of a cover letter?
“Please feel free to contact me by phone or email at your earliest convenience.”
Really? You’re interested in an ‘OUTREACH’ kind of job, and you want me to call you? I should feel free?
For all the recent grads out there, please show your passion and interest for the job by following up.
How?
1. Offer to call to follow up. In many non-profits there isn’t an HR person assigned the task of chasing down candidates. If you want the work, do the work and make the connection yourself.
2. Suggest meeting times
3. Demonstrate that you’ve done some homework on the organization and how you can fit in
4. Keep showing interest. Yes, even if you’re NOT hired! If you’ve made it to the interview, you’ve just spent close to an hour with someone who knows you AND has contacts. What a win-win for you. Seriously, a past client of mine who I encouraged to do this was called within four weeks to let her know that the original hire didn’t work out and could she start immediately?
5. So, you never know.
Feel free to take this advice…or you can always contact me…..See what I mean?