Community Partner: HOLA OHIO
HOLA Ohio is a grassroots Latino organization based in Painesville that empowers the Latino community through outreach, advocacy and community organizing. The organization formed in 1999 as a loosely organized group of women in Ashtabula County.
Today, HOLA works with families across Ohio, and members have used grassroots organizing to stop dozens of deportations. Their work has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and Telemundo, and has earned HOLA multiple honors, including a Torchlight Prize, a prestigious national award recognizing work that empowers the Latino community.
In the face of a recent national crackdown on undocumented immigration, HOLA continues to fight to keep families together and push for reform of outdated immigration laws.
“The situation is dire and unprecedented,” says Veronica Dahlberg, the executive director of HOLA. “I am getting phone calls every day from people who have been picked up at traffic stops, on their way to work, and from their own backyards.”
On August 12, “Out of the Shadows,” a fundraiser to support HOLA Ohio’s work, will be held at The Fritzcshe Center at Ursuline College. The event will include entertainment by a local mariachi band, raffles, a wine pull and a traditional Mexican dinner. Joe Cimperman, president of Global Cleveland, will be the keynote speaker.
All proceeds from the event will support HOLA Ohio and the launch a community center and kitchen incubator in downtown Painesville. When completed, the community center will focus on economic development, workforce training and education. It will include a full commercial kitchen, a modest café and a large meeting room for events and trainings. A kitchen incubator will support micro and small food businesses.
For ticket and sponsorship information for the “Out of the Shadows” event, visit outoftheshadowswithhola.eventbrite.com.
How to NOT Sound Rude in an Email
Author: Wenzhu Sun
At Global Cleveland, I spend a good amount of time talking to international job-seekers every day. Most of my job is done through emailing: providing consultations, explaining visa issues, and connecting them to professionals in their field through our Professional Connection Volunteer Program.
Quite often, I would receive an email that seems really "irritating"--full of requests and no gratitude--it almost made me feel like I'm reading an order from a harsh boss. But later when I call or meet up with these "rude" students, they are actually very nice and polite. Apparently, they never meant to be rude in the emails at all, but somehow failed.
I am familiar with Chinese culture, and have learnt a lot about Indian culture over time. The suggestions and examples below came from my daily interactions with those international job-seekers I work with (80% being Chinese/Indian international students). While I can't speak for other cultures, I did notice that many of the "rude" emails written by people from these two cultures, have something in common that we can all work on.
Email subject matters.
Use a proper subject, make it clear and direct. For example: “Looking to Connect”, “Looking for career opportunities” or “Position 56473 Application Follow-up”.
Bad examples: blank subject line, “A reminder in case there is any opportunity for me”, “job”
Give me a reason to reply.
Once I received an email with the subject "Checking in", and one line in the email body "Hi Wenzhu how are you". While I appreciate the effort the student is making in terms of keeping in touch, this email did not give me a good reason to reply. When people are busy, it's unlikely for them to reply an email just to say "I'm fine, thank you. What about you". So what would be a good way to follow up? Well, an email with some actual content/new information. Tell the reader what you've been up to in a few sentences, send an interesting article with a good question, or other things that will make the reader want to reply and feel like it's worth his/her time to do so.
Make sure you spell all the names right, especially if you're asking them for a favor of any kind.
Bad example: “Hi Wenzhou (my name is Wenzhu) I'm *** from Kent State University, hope you remember me. I'm sending you my updated resume and Cover letter. Also Introduce me to your connections who look for entry level IT profiles. Thank You”
Now, if the name was just mentioned by someone and you really can't confirm it (Google, LinkedIn, their company's staff page etc), then you can say something like "Hi Elisa (I'm sorry if I spelled your name wrong), I met your colleague Jody at the *** event last night and she gave me your contact information." But, it would be great if you have asked Jody the question before emailing this "Elisa" person.
In addition, never assume the recipient is a male or female! If you can't google out any more details about the recipient, just use "Dear Fist Name, Last Name". There were a few times I got an email starting with "Dear Mr. Wenzhu" or "Hello Sir", and I questioned myself for a second there: does my profile picture on GC staff page really look like a dude? Here's more tips on addressing unknown/external recipients.
Use a professional email address.
You can use your university email, or a gmail account that has your name ([email protected] for example). HRs are not likely to open an email from [email protected].
Check your spelling!
Double check, or triple check--make sure that you don't have any misspelling, or grammar mistakes in the email. WORD has spelling-check function, use it. Bad example: I once received an email with 5 misspellings in 2 paragraphs.
Learn about cultural differences.
Pay attention to cultural differences: people from different cultures speak and write differently. For example, a few Indian students told me that “Please do the needful” is a common expression in emails back home, but it is not common here in America.
Be careful with the word “Please”. This is a really polite word in most Asian cultures, but when you say “please do something” here in America, a lot of times it would sound like a command. Bad example: “I sent you my resume, please add it into your database. I also sent you invitation on LinkedIn please accept it so you can be in my network. Also requested to join the group, please accept that too.”
Instead of "please do something", use “I’d appreciate it if you can….” “Thank you so much for….” “Could you…?” It doesn't matter how much this person is able to help you; it's a nice thing to always say thank you and show your appreciation.
Other bits and pieces:
Try not to use abbreviations unless necessary; this is not texting with your friends. Bad example: "Hope u have a good day. Ty."
When you say “attached is my resume”, make sure you have actually attached it. Double check before hitting the “send” button. In fact, it’s a good idea to attach the files first, and then write the email body so you don’t forget about it.
Think about what you want to say and put them into one single email. I’ve had job seeker sending me 3 emails all 1 minute apart, just to add in another one or two sentences to the previous one.
"Too many not-to-dos! What should I do?"
My friends, no need to panic!
For many international people, writing an email in English is still a daunting task. Like many of you, the English I learnt was from textbooks--schools back in China taught me how to write academic essays and how to get high scores in English tests, but there was not much training or practicing opportunities on how to exchange emails like a real American professional.
Here's what you CAN do:
One simple thing to do is to Google. Google "Email Etiquette" and you will be able to see tons of articles on that. Do some reading and you will start to get a good sense of how things work here.
Another help you can get is through Global Cleveland. We have a Professional Connection Volunteer program, where our volunteers can work with you on networking, emailing, and job search practice.
Hope some of these tips can help. Questions? Suggestions? Let me know: [email protected]
Photo credit: Nelson Biagio Jr - WordPress.com
"Help Me Find a Job!" Emails to Send to Your Network
Author: Adrian Granzella Larssen
You’ve updated your resume, perfected your LinkedIn profile, and honed in on your target positions. And now, you’re ready to reach out to your network.
Which, let’s be honest, can be sort of daunting. Who do you reach out to? Where do you start? And, um, isn’t it sort of awkward asking people for help?
Here’s the thing: People are actually always willing to help out. But you can make their job easier—and get better results—if you give specifics about what you’re asking for. And that’s the step that most people miss: asking the right people for the right things, in the right way.
So to make sure you get the most bang for your job search buck, we’ve put together a five-step plan—sample emails included—for enlisting the help of your network as you're looking for a job.
Step #1: Draft Your Talking Points
At this point, you’ve (hopefully) updated your resume, but people will find it much easier and quicker to look at a short, bulleted list of where you’ve been and where you want to go (especially if they’re not totally familiar with your field). This should take no more than 10 minutes to pull together, but it will reap serious rewards.
In it, you should include:
- A list of your last three position titles, companies you’ve worked for, and responsibilities. Think your resume, but condensed into three bullets.
- Your ideal job title and function, as well as other job titles and functions you’d consider.
- A list of 4-5 companies you’d love to work for, plus their locations.
Example
Work Experience
- Account Executive, Smith PR: Served as main point of contact for tech clients including Microsoft
- Account Coordinator, APCO Worldwide: Assisted on high-profile consumer products campaigns
- PR Assistant, Columbia University: Drafted press releases that resulted in media coverage in the New York Times
Positions Seeking
- Senior Account Executive
- Account Supervisor
- Public Relations Manager
Dream Companies
- Edelman, San Francisco or Mountain View
- Ogilvy, San Francisco
- Ketchum, San Francisco or Silicon Valley
- Google, San Francisco or Mountain View
Step #2: Send the Mass Email
Your next step is to contact everyone in your network. (Well, everyone except your mentors, former bosses or colleagues who you’re close to, and anyone who works for your dream companies. We’ll get to that next.)
Draft an email sharing that you’re looking for a new gig, and that you’re enlisting their help. Most importantly: Be specific about what you’re asking for—is it job leads or postings? Informational interviews? New contacts? All of the above?
Also include all the details about you: your current position and company, the length of time you’ve been there, and what you’re looking for and where. Even if your friends know this information, this email may be passed around to people who don’t know you well. Finally, include your bulleted talking points at the end of the email, and attach your resume.
Example
Hi friends and colleagues,
I hope all is well!
As many of you know, I have been at my current position as Account Executive for Smith PR for almost 3 years. I have recently decided to look for a new challenge in the public relations field and am reaching out to you to ask for your help with any leads or contacts.
I am looking for a mid-level public relations position in San Francisco, ideally in the tech or consumer products field. I am particularly interested in joining an agency, but would also consider interesting in-house work.
If you know of any job opportunities or leads that you might be able to share with me, please send them my way. Below, I have included a list of my past experience, my target positions, and my list of dream companies. I have also attached my resume for your reference, and feel free to pass it along.
Thanks in advance for your help! I hope you all are doing well and hope to catch up with you individually soon.
Step #3: Send Targeted Emails
The same day (this is important—you don’t want anyone to feel like an afterthought), craft targeted, specific emails to your former bosses, your mentors, people who work at your dream company, or anyone who you think might be able to help you out in a specific way.
You’ll want to personalize each one (there’s nothing worse than feeling like you’re getting a form letter with your name slapped up top!). And most importantly, you’ll want to make a specific request—more specific than your mass email—about how each person might be able to help you. Don’t be afraid to ask for specific introductions or job leads at a particular company. You can also ask for informational interviews, general advice on companies and positions, or feedback on your resume.
Example
Hi Susan,
I hope all is well! I saw the photos of the conference you held last month on Facebook—it looked like a fantastic event.
I’m reaching out because I’m currently seeking a new position. As you know, I have been Smith PR for almost three years, but I’m ready for a new challenge in the tech PR world.
I know that you used to do work for Ogilvy, which is on my short list of dream companies. Do you still have any contacts there, and if so, is there someone that might be willing to do an informational interview with me? Any introductions you could make would be greatly appreciated.
In addition, if you know of any job opportunities or leads that you might be able to share with me, please send them my way. I’ve attached my resume for your reference, and feel free to pass it along.
Thanks in advance for your help! Please keep me posted on how things are going and if there’s anything I can do to return the favor.
4. Be Patient
In an ideal world, your inbox would be filled with new job leads two hours later—but remember that this stuff takes time. Even if people can’t help out right away, rest assured that they’re keeping their eyes out and that you’ll be on their radar if any opportunities come their way.
That said, if you haven’t received many responses in a month or so, it can be helpful to send a follow-up email. (A friendly, non-desperate follow-up email. One.)
Example
Hi everyone,
Thanks so much for the great leads and feedback you’ve sent so far. I just wanted to update you that I’m still searching for that perfect opportunity, so if you have any leads come your way, please pass them along. I hope all is well!
5. Say Thanks
You must, must, must send a personal reply and thank every single person who responds to your email or offers to help you out, whether or not his or her lead or contact is helpful in your job search. Yes, people are happy to help, but they also like to know that their efforts are appreciated.
Plus, remember: After you land this dream job, you may be enlisting their help again a few years down the line.
Photo of woman with laptop courtesy of Shutterstock.
To read the original article, click here.
How I Got 425% More Page Views on LinkedIn—and You Can, Too
Author: Aja Frost
In one week, I increased the number of people looking at my LinkedIn profile by 425%. And that’s pretty exciting—more views means more potential job opportunities, more connections, and more visibility in my industry.
Also exciting? The only thing I did differently in those seven days was start and participate in a few group discussions.
Now that I’ve discovered how beneficial it is to be an active contributor, I’m making it my goal to join group discussions at least once a week. Here’s how to do the same, so you can make your profile views soar.
1. Find the Right Group
If you’re already a member of several groups relevant to your industry, profession, or interests, great. If not, let’s fix that.
Go to the search bar at the top of the page and enter some keywords. If you’re a content strategist, try “content strategy,” “content marketing,” “creative content solutions,” and the like; if you’re into cloud computing, try “cloud computing,” “cloud storage,” “cloud services,” “cloud computing and virtualizations,” and so on. Then, in the left bar, click “Groups” to filter your results. You can also do a “blank search” (press Enter without typing anything) and let LinkedIn show you the groups it considers most relevant to you.
Groups range from the broad (like “ Content Strategy ”) to the ultra-specific (like “Women in Marketing, Chapel Hill, NC ”), and each has its merits, but don’t limit yourself to one size. If you’re just starting out, join one small group (less than 100 members), one medium group (less than 1,000 members), and one large group (anywhere from 1,000 to 100,000 members). This strategy lets you be a big fish in a small pond, a medium fish in a medium pond, and a small fish in a big pond.
One characteristic all the groups you join should share? They should all be active. If there hasn’t been any discussion in the group within the last week, pick a different one.
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2. Get the Lay of the Land
Don’t do what I did, which was immediately post a discussion without looking at anything else on the group page. After getting zero responses to my question, I scrolled down to see that someone else had asked the same thing just a couple days prior.
Now, when I join a group, I’ll read through everything posted in the last week (or month, if it’s a less-active group). I note the average conversational style (casual? formal? somewhere in between?), the most successful posts (open-ended questions? discussions about industry news? requests for advice?), and the types of responses (long? short and snappy?).
This process might sound time-consuming, but it shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes, tops. Plus, not only do I generate ideas for my own posts and comments, I also learn valuable information about my field.
You don’t want to overwhelm yourself, so go to your smallest group first and spend some time getting comfortable with the vibe. As you read, jot down any thoughts you have. These will become the jumping-off points for your first posts.
3. Join a Discussion
I like to contribute to a couple of threads before I start a new one. That’s because if LinkedIn groups are like dinner parties; you don’t want to be the obnoxious guest who shows up late and then tries to dominate the conversation.
The discussion you comment on doesn’t have to be active. Say you find one from a couple weeks ago that’s come to a halt, but it’s on a topic you know stone-cold and you’d love to point out something the other members missed. Feel free to revive the discussion! However, I’d simultaneously add to an ongoing discussion to make sure you don’t end up talking to yourself.
When commenting, keep a couple things in mind:
- Statements like, “I agree with Joe,” aren’t valuable unless you expand on what Joe said, back up his point with your own experience, or in some way add new information.
- Disagreeing with people is fine, but you should remain super polite at all times. There’s nothing worse than an over-aggressive group member.
- You can promote your company, your product, or yourself, but only if it feels natural. For example, if a group member asks if anyone has read any ebooks on sales techniques, you can link to yours. If people are just talking about good techniques, don’t jump in with, “Read my ebook!”
- Relevance is key. If your comments are random, people will ignore you.
4. Start Your Own Discussion
For my first post in “LinkedIn for Journalists,” I asked the group members whether they’d invested in a personal website. This was a great post for a couple of reasons: It invited people to share their expertise, it was broad enough that anyone could contribute, whether they had a personal site or not, and there were multiple sub-topics, like whether you should pay for a site and how you can use one to promote yourself. Try to think of an open-ended question like this pertaining to your own field. (If you need inspiration, go back to the notes you took!)
You can also share articles or sites that the group would find interesting. For example, in “LinkedIn for Journalists,” I could post an article about how most people now use their phones to read the news. Using questions will increase the responses you get, so I’d add, “Has your writing changed to reflect the size of the mobile audience; and if so, how?”
Bonus: LinkedIn allows you to share your discussions on social media, so if you really want to start a healthy conversation, post the link on Twitter and Facebook.
Once you’ve commented on or started a discussion in a group, your job is technically done. Even though my website post got tons of comments, none of them were mine: I just sat back and watched the conversation unfold. However, my next goal is to take on an unofficial moderator role. I’m confident my page views will really take off!
If you try this technique, let me know on Twitter —or even find me on LinkedIn!
Photo of woman clicking mouse courtesy of Shutterstock .
To read the original article, click here.
Outdated Immigration System No Longer Works
At a Chautauqua-style forum in Chagrin Falls, experts discussed the tensions raised by immigration issues--and why immigration reform is badly needed.
By Aaron Davis
America has changed remarkably since the 1960s, but our immigration system remains much the same--a collection of policies and laws designed for a different era.
That was a key message delivered at a recent forum in Chagrin Falls, where experts emphasized the need for immigration reform.
“In America in the ’60s, if you owned a hardware store here in Chagrin Falls, your biggest competitor was the person across the street,” immigration attorney David Leopold said to the audience gathered in the sanctuary of The Federated Church. “Now, if you’re in hardware, your biggest competitor may be someone in Paris, or in Brussels, or somewhere else.”
Leopold sounded tired of explaining it, or tired of repeating it. But he went on to add, “We are a global economy, but we are living under an immigration law designed for America in the 1960s.”
America’s immigration system is broken, he said. The sooner we fix it, the sooner we will stop hurting business and stop tearing apart families with mean-spirited deportations.
The Chautauqua-in-Chagrin series, sponsored by Chagrin Arts, tackled the controversial topic of immigration July 11. About 50 people attended the forum at the landmark church.
The panel, moderated by Global Cleveland President Joe Cimperman, included two Clevelanders intimately familiar with immigration rules and realities: Leopold and Judge Dan Polster. Polster is a federal judge for the U.S. District Court who often presides over naturalization ceremonies. He also worked as a visiting judge in Las Cruces, New Mexico, a little over 40 miles from the Mexican border, sentencing mostly individuals involved in illegal border crossings.
Judge Polster opened his remarks by noting that, while immigration today presents new complexities, the fears and anxieties that immigrants raise are quite familiar.
“The tension between liberty and security is as old as our country,” he said. “When we are in crisis, when we are afraid, the pendulum swings towards security. When we feel safe, the pendulum swings toward liberty.”
Leopold believes this tension hangs like a cloud over the nation’s leaders. He focused on the Civil Immigration Enforcement Priorities, which the Homeland Security Act requires the president to set. In layman’s terms, these priorities decide who we deport.
According to Leopold, President Obama set the priorities in this order: criminals, national security risks, and recent border crossings. The Obama administration gave exemptions to immigrants raising U.S. citizen children, immigrants who have not committed crimes, and immigrants who are working.
Leopold described the priorities of the new administration as “Deport anybody you can get your hands on.”
He told the story of one of his clients, Jesus Lara Lopez, an undocumented immigrant who came to America 16 years ago and lived and worked in nearby Willard. He and his wife owned a home and were raising four American-born children. Safe under the policies of the Obama administration, Lara was seized and deported back to Mexico under President Trump’s enforcement priorities.
“So when you hear General Kelley, the Secretary of Homeland Security, tell you they’re going after the bad hombres, which is what the president said they would do,” Leopold said in frustration. “I don’t know how gently I can put this: It’s fake news, it’s not true, it’s a lie.”
Even in Cleveland, a city with a rich immigrant history, the debate is contentious.
Polster acknowledged this history in his opening statement. He pointed out to that Ellis Island, the entrance point for many 19th and 20th century immigrants, has a picture of Cleveland from around the time the city was the fifth largest in the country. It teemed with immigrants.
“We had a million people, and two out of three Clevelanders were either an immigrant or a first generation American,” he said.
Now, Cleveland has just fewer than 400,000 residents and stands as the 48th largest city in the United States, although its immigrant heritage remains.
“We are a city of immigrants, that’s what built us,” Polster said, describing a lasting impact. “Immigrants are the most courageous, entrepreneurial people on the planet.”
Joe Cimperman said his family is steeped in that immigrant past.
“Full disclosure: I was raised speaking English as a second language,” he said with the smile. “My mom was born in Slovenia and, because she was a Slovenian woman and my father didn’t talk, I mostly spoke Slovenian.”
The audience laughed.
Cimperman said the complexities of immigration shade the issue in plenty of colors other than black and white. He described cleaning out his grandparents’ home, a house they had owned since 1905. On his father’s side, both grandparents were from Slovenia, and he described them as meticulous record-keepers.
“They kept receipts from the time of the Great Depression, they kept all of my uncle’s military papers, all the postcards,” he said. “Miraculously, the papers that we couldn’t find from when they had emigrated here in the first decade of the 1900s was their immigration papers.”
Why they came, what they fled, he does not know. He only knows that their immigration story is in some ways similar and in some ways different from the story of Lara Lopez—as every journey is different.
That is why, Leopold said, the nation’s immigration policies need to be sensible and flexible.
“We have an immigration law that is rigid,” Leopold said. “It is unforgiving and--the way that it acts now—it is mean spirited.”
5 Email Templates to Respond to Recruiters (No Matter Where You Are in Your Search)
Author: Jaclyn Westlake
Getting approached about a job opening can feel super flattering (and it’s a sure sign that you’re doing something right!), but depending on where you are in your career, figuring out how to respond can be a bit of a headache.
You don’t want to come off as rude or dismissive if you aren’t interested, and you definitely don’t want to seem desperate or needy if you are. So yes, finding the right words can be tricky, but these five templates will make responding to recruiters a breeze—regardless of your current status.
1. If You’re 100% Not Job Searching
You love what you’re doing , and there’s nothing anyone can say or do to convince you to consider a new opportunity—at least not for the foreseeable future. But, you don’t want to close the door on what could be a potentially helpful relationship down the line either.
Hi [Name],
Thanks for reaching out! This certainly sounds like an interesting job, and I appreciate your consideration.
I really love the work I’m doing for [Your Company] and am not in the market for a new opportunity at the moment. That said, if I find myself looking to make a change in the future, I’ll be sure to get in touch.
Thanks again!
[Your Name]
If you happen to know someone who might be interested in this role, you could also add something like, “I may have a colleague who could be a good fit for this role; would you mind if I passed your contact information on to them?” For recruiters, the next best thing to finding the right candidate is finding someone who knows the right candidate .
2. If You’re Open to the Right Opportunity
You’re pretty happy where you are and haven’t given a lot of thought to finding a new job, but this role sounds like it could have some potential. The goal here is to be upfront about your status while also conveying your interest. You’re essentially playing it cool—if this person wants to schedule a quick call , great; if he doesn’t, that’s fine, too.
Hi [Name],
Thanks for getting in touch!
I’m pretty happy in my current role with [Your Company] and am not actively looking to change jobs, but I’d be open to discussing this role, as I never turn down a chance to chat about [compelling trait about the job description, e.g., software development or sales enablement]. Would it be possible for us to connect sometime next week? I should be available for a quick call on [dates and times that’ll work with your schedule].
Moving forward, you can reach me directly here: [your email address and/or phone number].
Looking forward to speaking with you!
Best,
[Your Name]
3. If You’re Actively Searching But Aren't Interested in This Job
When you’re in the market for a new job, hearing from a recruiter’s really exciting—until you realize that the job she’s approached you about isn’t at all what you’re looking for. But don’t worry too much about the role itself; this is a great opportunity for you to establish a relationship with someone who might be able to help you find the right one. Now’s your chance to tell them what you’re looking for and ask whether they know of anything that lines up with your goals.
Hi [Name],
Thanks for thinking of me for this role! I am currently exploring new opportunities, but would ideally like to find a position that would allow me to [traits of your ideal position here, e.g., work from home, expand on my content development experience, step into the nonprofit space, earn at least $X annually, etc.]. It sounds like this particular role isn’t quite what I’m looking for, but do you happen to know of any other opportunities that may be a better fit? If so, I’d love to connect!
I’ve attached my resume for your review, and can be reached directly at [your email address and/or phone number] moving forward.
Best,
[Your Name]
4. If You’re Intrigued By This Opportunity
Now we’re talking! You’re open to new opportunities, and this one sounds like it could have some serious potential. You can keep your response pretty straightforward—the goal here is to confirm your interest and get an initial interview on the calendar.
Hi [Name],
This sounds like a really interesting opportunity—thanks for thinking of me!
As you probably saw on my profile, I have [X years] of experience in the [industry or job function, e.g., digital marketing or project management] space, and am particularly interested in opportunities that allow me to [relevant job duty/deliverable, e.g. leverage my creativity in a design-focused role or build new programs from the ground up]. Based on the information you’ve shared, it sounds like the role certainly could be a great fit!
I’d love to schedule a time for us to discuss how my skills and experience could benefit the team; would it be possible for us to connect sometime this week? I’ve included my availability below:
[dates/times]
You can reach me directly at [your e-mail address and/or phone number]. Looking forward to connecting!
Best,
[Your Name]
5. If This Is Hands Down Your Dream Job
Be cool. Your dream job just literally fell into your lap. You’ve got this.
Demonstrating enthusiasm for a role’s always a great move (recruiters love working with motivated candidates), but don’t forget that you’ll want to highlight the myriad reasons that you’re absolutely perfect for this job. A response that demonstrates your excitement and emphasizes your transferable skills should all but guarantee that you’ll land an initial interview.
Hi [Name],
Thanks for getting in touch! Based on what you’ve shared about this role, I’d be eager to learn more.
It sounds like you’re looking for an [job title] with [relevant skills/experience] expertise and a talent for developing [insert outcomes, e.g., unique and compelling marketing campaigns across a variety of digital channels]—that’s me!
As someone with [X years of experience] in the industry, I know what it takes to deliver [deliverables based on job description, e.g., flawlessly executed e-mail campaigns from start to finish]. In my current role at [Your Current Company], I [description of relevant experience and tangible results based on job description, i.e., guide the production and execution of 25 unique monthly email campaigns and have grown new lead generation by 50% in just six months].
I’d love to schedule a time for us to discuss how my skills and experience could benefit the [Company Name] team; would it be possible for us to connect sometime this week? I’ve included my availability below:
[dates/times]
You can reach me directly at [your e-mail address and/or phone number]. Looking forward to connecting!
Best,
[Your Name]
If you happen to have something in common, like a shared connection or alma mater, it wouldn’t hurt to mention that at the end of your message. Try saying something like, “By the way, I noticed you’re a Chico State alum, too. It’s always great to hear from a fellow Wildcat!” or “it looks like you’re also connected with [Name of Mutual Acquaintance]. I used to work with her at [Company Name]!”
Going beyond the basics serves to establish a more personal connection and might just give you an edge.
Finding the right candidates to approach about an open position can be a tough job, and recruiters spend a lot of time trying to track qualified people like you down, so receiving a response—even if it’s a “Thanks, but no thanks!”—is always appreciated. Taking a few minutes to write back will help you to establish what could be an invaluable career ally. And if the role you’ve been approached about is exactly what you’re looking for, even better!
To read the original document, click here.
How to Have a Great Coffee Meeting—Guaranteed
Author: Lily Herman
You’ve been admiring a particular professional for a really long time, you finally worked up the courage to say hi and ask her to coffee, and she surprisingly said yes! But now the panic sets in: How do you wow your role model without coming off as trying too hard or being a total stalker (especially after looking at her LinkedIn profile at least 10 times)?
Good news: We’ve scoured the web for the best resources to use when you’re asking and meeting an important professional contact for coffee. (It’s actually a pretty easy feat once you know what you’re doing.)
- The hardest part of a coffee meeting is sending an email asking for one. Luckily,here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how to craft the best “Wanna grab coffee sometime?” message. (99U)
- If you’re still having trouble putting together your email, here’s one really great example that only takes five sentences. (Lifehacker)
- Having trouble grabbing a slot with someone who just seems super busy all the time? There are ways to get around even the most jam-packed schedules.(Forbes)
- Ever wondered why meeting someone for coffee is the norm? Comedian Jerry Seinfeld breaks down this 21st century contraption. (Fast Company)
- Entrepreneur and venture capitalist Mark Suster encourages people to take 50 coffee meetings . Find out why. (Both Sides of the Table)
- If you’re worried that asking someone to coffee might be too informal, here’s why coffee metings are totally awesome. (LinkedIn)
- The four secrets to a great coffee meeting? Don’t be awkward, stalk, don’t do it out of obligation, and make later plans. (Technori)
- Lastly, have you ever considered just working in a “coffice ?” (DailyWorth)
Looking for more advice on how to have awesome coffee meetings? Check out our suggestions!
- How to Take Any Meeting Out of the Office
- 4 Strategies for Your One-on-One Networking Meeting
- Making a Professional Introduction: An Email Template
Photo of coffee cups courtesy of Shutterstock .
4 Things Networking Can Help You Do (Besides Get a Job)
Author: Lily Zhang
How many times have you been told how important networking is? Plenty , I’m sure. So, at this point, you know that who you know can be the difference between you getting that new gig or not.
But, if that’s not motivation enough for you to go out and meet new people, here are four more ways networking can help you, beyond just growing your network in preparation for you next big career opportunity.
1. Gather Info on the Industry
Whether you’re changing industries or furthering your knowledge of your current one, networking and conducting informational interviews are a great way to figure out what’s going on in your field of interest.
Ask people you meet or sit down with about their recent challenges and accomplishments or about trends they’re seeing in their work. In particular, if something big has recently happened in your industry, see what your conversation partner thinks of the impact it might have on the field as a whole. You’ll get a much broader perspective if you expand the conversation beyond your own friends and officemates.
2. Learn From the Wins (and Mistakes) of Others
Sometimes it can be difficult to get people talking, even if you’re meeting one-on-one and not at some large awkward networking event. If this is happening to you, try asking the person you’re networking with about his or her successes and failures. Of course, you don’t want to say, “Tell me about a time you failed”—so try asking if, looking back on his career, if there’s anything he would do differently, or if there’s anything she would definitely recommend to people just starting out in the field.
Don’t feel weird asking about personal experiences. There’s plenty to be learned from the achievements and mistakes of others, and people love to talk about themselves.
3. Get Free Career Advice
Another bonus of networking is the chance to get some free career advice. Chatting with more experienced professionals in your industry of interest gives you the chance to ask them what they think of the career moves you’ve been mulling over.
Aside from getting good advice ( here’s how to know if it’s not ), it’s also a great way to show people your admiration. You wouldn’t be asking for advice if you didn’t respect their opinions, right?
4. Bounce Ideas Off People
You can also take the advice seeking a step further and bounce ideas off of people you meet through networking. Maybe you have an ambitious work-related project that you want to pitch to your boss or a presentation you’re thinking about submitting to an upcoming conference. Seeing what other industry professionals have to say can help you refine your argument and think through weak points.
This is also a great way to show off your skills a bit. Sharing some of your ideas gives you an opportunity to talk about your expertise and the issues that you care about. It’s usually easier to talk about your ideas than it is to talk about yourself, so if you feel weird tooting your own horn, this can be a good strategy.
Bottom line: There’s no excuse to not be networking. You stand to benefit from it no matter what stage of your career you’re in. And, if none of these four reasons appeal to you, consider this final perk of networking: helping people. Maybe you won’t directly benefit this time around, but helping someone else out has its own intrinsic value.
Photo courtesy of Nana B Agyei .
The 15-Minute Habit That'll Impress Your Boss (and Boost Your Confidence)
Author: Erica Gellerman
This may sound unbelievable, but it’s true : My client asked for—and received!— two promotions and three raises in the span of 18 months. Clearly, she’s a superstar.
However, it takes more than being awesome at your job to pull this off and she partly attributed her success to a habit she developed: tracking her own performance on a weekly basis. She used this document as tangible evidence when speaking to her boss about promotions and raises.
And the good news is that keeping track is something we can all do! Knowing exactly what you’ve achieved can strengthen your negotiation conversations, bolster your answers to interview questions, and help you better understand where you thrive, so you’re able to continue seeking out those opportunities.
Above all, this running list can boost your confidence, which’ll make you better at your job—seriously! A study conducted by psychology researchers Zachary Estes and Sydney Felker found that if you believe you performed well in the past, you’ll do better in the future, too. And something as simple as reminding yourself of what you’ve achieved previously can help you do better on a difficult task.
Here’s How to Do It
To begin keeping track, you need to get in the habit of spending 10 to 15 minutes every Friday taking stock of your week. You won’t always have a week where you’re logging accomplishments that’ll specifically help you get promoted , but you’ll likely have at least one thing that you can be proud of.
When taking notes, use the sections below to guide you in what to write—using this framework not only helps you to remember the full picture of what you’ve done, but it also gets you prepped to re-tell the stories easily.
To illustrate this, let’s walk through an example. You’re a marketing manager for a chain of stores and you’ve just been alerted that sales for one store are struggling.
Here’s what your log could look like:
Situation: What’s Going On
“The Broadway store’s struggling with low sales.”
Task: What Needed to Be Done in Order to Improve the Situation?
“The team and I needed to come up with a promotion that would both drive foot traffic into the store and be quick to execute.”
Action: What You Actually Did
Make sure you’re taking note of both things that you personally did and activities you helped facilitate.
“I met with them and assigned everyone a job. One person researched past promotions to figure out what performed the best. I visited the store and interviewed sales people to find out what people were asking for. After, I brought everyone together to brainstorm solutions.”
Result: What Is the Outcome of Your Actions?
Try to make these as quantifiable as possible. While you likely won’t have the results that you’re looking for by the end of the week you can update this in future weeks.
“At the end of the 90-minute meeting, we’d developed a concept for a styling event to get customers ready for holiday parties. Boss gave it the green light and it’ll happen next week.”
Feedback: What Was the Response?
It’s so easy to forget feedback from others—especially when it’s positive!
“Store’s head of sales is excited about it and was impressed by how quickly I’d been able to create something that would make an immediate difference.”
Satisfaction: What’s Next?
Use this part to remind yourself what you enjoy and what you’re good at (so you can continue to chase opportunities that bring you the most satisfaction).
“This was one of the most fun things I’ve done recently. Having a challenge with a short deadline that took research, creativity, and team brainstorming was exciting. I’d love to continue working on these just-in-time solutions and create things that make an immediate impact.”
While this definitely will take you time to think through each week, it’s a habit that can lead to a big boost in your confidence and your salary. And both of those are hard to say no to.
Photo of person working courtesy of Hero Images/Getty Images.
To read the original article, click here.
Finally: 5 Email Templates That Make Following Up With Anyone Way Less Awkward
Author: Aja Frost
I think most of us would agree the initial part of networking—meeting people—isn’t the hardest part. (And if that sentence just floored you, check out this and this on making the process much easier.) However, maintaining those connections is much more difficult. After all, if you don’t have an immediate reason to stay in contact with a person—you just think he or she would be “good to keep in touch with,” it’s hard to justify sending an email.
Well, until now. After dealing with this issue one too many times, I created five check-in email templates —one for each type of connection. With these in your back pocket, you’ll have no trouble holding on to relationships that could one day prove very valuable.Read more
