Do you know someone that is looking for a job? Of course, you do! How do I know that? I know that because you get the same emails that I do that say, in so many words, the economy sucks, you know who’s hiring? If you do, send them my resume because its attached. Chances are you received these types of emails from family members, friends and people whom you have no idea where they came from. Am I right?
Well, if you know someone who has tried this method of prospecting the hidden job market and did not get anywhere, maybe it was due to their approach. I do not want to bash anyone, but some people do not make it easy for me to help them. I mean, my heart goes out to anybody who is looking for work. But, dude, again, make it easy on me. Three sentences and a resume are not doing it for me. May I offer a suggestion? Check out a request for assistance that was forwarded to me recently.
(1) Jim,
(2) First and foremost, I must THANK YOU for being an instrumental and valuable connection for my personal and professional growth here in Atlanta! Just knowing you is inspiring to the success I’m trying to build for myself and constantly reminds me to work harder and push further toward my next level… and that “next level” is exactly why I’m reaching out to you today. (3) By the way, I remember your being a fan of the TV show “24.” You might find this article interesting: “Kiefer Sutherland is happy to return as Jack in a 24 revival, but he has a bolder idea.” I hope it makes you smile.
(4) As you know, I am currently a producer/programming assistant at [ censored ] in Atlanta, [ censored ]. I’ve enjoyed my experience there; however, it is not currently yielding desired growth or opportunities for career progression, nor does it provide what I need to take care of financial responsibilities. Thus, I have found it very necessary to pursue full-time opportunities that will help me achieve these desires.
(5) I NEED YOUR HELP!
In effort to maximize my chances at obtaining gainful employment, I’m enlisting your help, in hopes that you can reach out to your contacts who you believe will benefit greatly from my skills and experience. (6) I specialize and can perform within the following business, education or media related areas and titles:
- Radio/TV Broadcasting – Show Producer, Associate Producer, Programming Assistant, Web Content Producer, Assignment Editor, Program Coordinator, Assistant Program Director, Production Coordinator/Manager
- Public/Media Relations – Public Relations Coordinator/Specialist, Media Relations Liaison, Community Relations Coordinator/Manager
- Writing – Writer, Editor, Editorial Assistant, Proofreader, Copywriter, Scriptwriter, Script Supervisor
- Business/Marketing/Event Planning – Marketing Communications Coordinator, Event Coordinator, Special Events Coordinator, Manager, Supervisor
- Education – Teacher, Substitute, Administrative Assistant, Trainer, Paraprofessional
- Administrative Positions – Customer Service Manager/Coordinator, Executive Assistant, Office Manager, Administrative Assistant
Once again, I ask that you forward my resume to your contacts that need someone like me, or if you come across opportunities that require online applications, (7) just shoot me an email and/or the requisition #s and I will complete the process J. Also, I can provide excellent references and tailored cover letters whenever necessary.
(8) TARGETED COMPANIES: Turner Broadcasting, Time Warner, BET, TV-One, WXIA-TV, WATL-TV, WGCL-TV, WSB-TV, WAGA-TV, WUPA/CW-69, Tyler Perry Studios, GA Public Broadcasting, School Systems (APS, Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb), Colleges/Universities, Federal Government, Non-Profits, etc…
(9) WITH REGARD TO LOCATION – I desire to stay in the Atlanta area, but I am open to opportunities in the DMV (DC/MD/VA) area. Wherever the right opportunity is, that’s where I want to be.
(10) WITH REGARD TO PAY –My desired pay is $40K or above. I am open to reasonable negotiations within that immediate range. I desire a full-time, salaried position with full benefits and the possibility of 401K/stock options… this is non-negotiable and are the only opportunities I can/will consider at this time.
(11) WHAT I’M NOT LOOKING FOR – As stated above, I am only considering full-time opportunities that can guarantee salary and benefits. I will not consider any multi-level marketing, commission based cold calling, or initial work for start-up companies. Freelancing work for individual or start-up companies is possible, but I will only pursue those opportunities AFTER full-time work has been secured.
(12) I hope my requests don’t come off as asking for too much, or as being too picky because I’m not. I’m a dedicated, hard-working woman and at this particular point in my life, I have to be authentic in my worth. Hands down, what I bring to the table through skill, experience and instinctive talent is worthy of investment… and anyone I’ve worked with, or for, can attest to that.
(13) I know that you have a very busy schedule, and from the depths of me, I THANK YOU for ANY assistance that you can provide. I’ve sown so many seeds since being here in Atlanta and I look forward to reaping the HARVEST of a rewarding opportunity…thanks for helping me take this step in enjoying just that!
.
Warm regards,.
[ censored ] (14) Writer | Producer | Multi Media Professional
(15) Facebook | Linkedin | Twitter | Blog
Why is this a cool prospecting letter? These are my notes:
As great as I think this strategy is, I think it can be taken to an even higher level of use. Consider these steps…
Asking everyone you know for job search assistance can be beneficial. Yet even the willing can’t be of much help if they are in a struggling industry. The remedy for that is to research which industries are booming and then soliciting help from people in those verticals. They will be in a better position to help you. Question is, how do you find the right industries to pursue? Try this search. It will return search results to market research on investment opportunities. If that is where the money is, chances are the jobs will be there too.
Another way to find growth markets is review government data. Your tax dollars paid for it, so why not use it? The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently published, “Industry and occupational employment projections overview and highlights, 2022–32.” Here is some of what they have predicted.
Another resource worth your time is intellizence. Among other things, they track the latest business expansion announcements. Again, follow the money. A few examples…
My heart goes out to all the recruiters and sourcers in the community looking for new opportunities. I especially have sympathy for those who have been looking for work for an extended period of time. While I do not have any leads or jobs to offer, I do hope these tips prove useful.
…
Header image by rawpixel.com on Freepik