Thanks to modern social media tools, finding and connecting with hiring managers is now easier than ever.

1. Track Down the Hiring Manager
Presented by Donna Shannon
720-341-8229
www.PersonalTouchCareerServices.com
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

2. The Personal Touch Career Services
• Our Mission: To help job seekers of all levels
achieve their employment goals through
solid, practical advice and services
• Resume services, interview coaching, job search strategy and
group classes
• Over 8 years in corporate recruitment & placement
• Donna’s book, “Get a Job Without Going Crazy” is available on
Amazon.com and the Tattered Cover in Denver
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

3. Important note:
• This presentation is modeled on a posted
job.
• Unposted jobs follow the same procedure
– Except your leads are self-generated
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

4. NOBODY WANTS TO BE A MEMBER
OF THE MASSES
Solution: The Personal Touch
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

5. THE HIRING MANAGER WANTS TO
HIRE YOU
They just don’t know who you are yet
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

6. The Personal Factor
• Managers want to hire:
– Someone who is enthusiastic
– Knowledgeable about the industry
– AND…
Who really understands their NEEDS
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

7. Key information you better find
• Managers want to hire someone who knows
the company:
– Corporate mission
– Their products and services
– Their competition
– Their challenges
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

8. FIND THE PERSON TO GET
PERSONAL
Your first challenge: find that name…
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

9. Resources for finding that name:
• Company’s website
• News Sources
• Networking Groups
• Social Media
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

10. Resource #1:
the Website
Start with the
job description
Look for:
Report – to’s
Divisions
Locations
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon
Senior Human Resources
Information Systems Advisor
RTM , is currently hiring for a Senior Human
Resources Information Systems Advisor person
to support the Human Resources department
from their Denver, Colorado global head office.
The holder of this role must have an overall
understanding of the strategic objectives of Rio
Tinto and the business unit, its values and its
operational activities in order to understand labor
and skills requirements and business / individual
standards; Human Resources Systems are an
effective tool for managing sensitive employee
data; are cost effective and value adding; drive a
high performance culture and enable the
organization to attract and retain high caliber
employees. The Sr HRIS Advisor reports directly to
the Vice President of Human Resources.
The successful candidate will be able to:

11. More on the website:
• Other pages to mine:
– Management team
– About us
– Blog posts
– News or Media Room
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

12. Resource #2: News and Media
• Focus on local sources:
– The Denver Business Journal
• Data base of many local and national companies
• www.denver.bizjournals.com
– Colorado Business Magazine
• http://www.cobizmag.com/
– The Denver Post
• Mainstream News
• www.denverpost.com
– Westword
• In-depth cultural impact
• www.westword.com
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

13. (c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon
Sample of Denver Business Journal

14. Resource #3: Networking Groups
• Obvious target:
– a direct connection to the hiring manager (aka the
Holy Grail)
• More likely:
• Current or past employee of the target company
• Someone who knows someone at the target
company
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

15. What to ask former and current
employees:
• Names of managers
• Hiring procedures
• Company culture
• Company challenges
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

16. Other Cool Websites
• Glassdoor.com
• User reviews of companies and their interviews
• Zoominfo.com
• Recruiters’ tool for company research
• Manta.com
• Free data-rich company information
• Professional Associations
• Look for the volunteer Board
• Chambers of Commerce
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

17. Resource #4: Social Media
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

18. Missed the target manager?
• ALL senior managers are your target
• Send resumes to ALL possible decision-
makers
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

19. SO YOU GOT THE NAME…
Now what?
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

20. DON’T Contact yet…
• Don’t ask for an introduction
• Don’t send an Inmail through LinkedIn.com
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

21. Get to know your target as a person…
• Interpret their LinkedIn profile
• Look for LinkedIn involvement
• Check out their Twitter feed
• Google for the dirt
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

22. LinkedIn Profiles
• Look beyond the basics and read the summary..
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

23. Profiles: Groups
and Applications
What do they care
about?
What message are
they sending?
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

24. LinkedIn.com tip:
Having trouble seeing details on profiles?
• Join large groups for your location and
industry
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

25. Profiles: Past Experience
• Can you relate?
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

26. Profile:
Additional
Information
If you get lucky,
they may tell you
about personal
interests…
And contact
information
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

27. Speaking of Twitter…
• Get more insight into interests, personality and
professionalism.
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

28. Twitter and the company profile
• Compare the hiring manager to the company
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

29. Google: what’s the buzz?
• The Company
• The Names
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

30. NAILING THE CONTACT INFO
How you reach them is just as important as what you say
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

31. Reach out and touch someone…
• Direct Email
• Snail Mail and Variations
• LinkedIn connections
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

32. Determining the email address
• Scrutinize website for patterns
• Call the front desk
– Magic phrase:
“I’m sending an email to So-N-So’s but I’m not sure
if I wrote it right.
Is it joe.schmoe@company.com? “
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

33. Proven Personal Touch Method
• Send a hard copy directly to the manager
– Targeted cover letters can win the assistant
– Variations for impact:
• Priority Mail ($4.90 for flat rate envelope)
• Express Mail or Fed Ex (average $14.95 for USPS)
• Courier Service (varies - $20 to $30)
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

34. Important note:
• Paper Rules:
– Use high quality resume paper
– Light color
– High quality printing
Your worth WILL be judged by the presentation
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

35. Showing up in person
• Can be a risk:
– Receptionists are guard dogs
– Be sure to dress appropriately
– Give resume in sealed package marked
“Confidential”
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

36. WHAT TO PUT IN YOUR COVER
LETTER
Grab ‘em and hold ‘em
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

37. Personal Cover Letters
• Must always include:
– Understanding of the company
– Passion for the job
– How you can help by:
• Solving problems
• Making money
• Saving money
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

38. Understanding of the
industry sample
• Start with current news
• Write about your
understanding of the
industry
• Tie in your personal
experience
• Ask for the job your want
• Conclude with your
contact information
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

39. NO RESPONSE?
The game’s not over yet
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

40. What the hiring manager does…
• He will call HR, not you
– Resume resurrection
– Ensures you will get a diligent interview
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon

41. Essence of the Personal Touch
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon
1. Find the name
2. Figure out who they are
3. Get your resume in their hands

42. www.PersonalTouchCareerServices.com
 donna@personaltouchcareerservices.com
 Social Media:
www.LinkedIn.com/in/donnashannon
www.facebook.com/Donnashannon.careercoach
Twitter: @DLShannon
 Networking Group on Meetup.com:
Brown Bag Job Search Group
The Personal Touch Career Services
(c)2010, 2012 Donna Shannon