Recently I had the opportunity to interview Kelly Giles, Social Media Strategist for Optimal Resume. Kelly introduced herself to me by email and I was so dazzled by how professional – and yet personal – her approach was that I asked for her permission to share the email with you. (She said yes.)
Subject: New press contact at OptimalResume.com
Hi Stephanie,
I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of OptimalResume.com, and I know you haven’t heard of me. I just started at Optimal, officially as a social media strategist, but unofficially as the in-house PR contact.
You’ve been on my radar screen for a while, though. I was bound and determined to land a job through social networking, so I got on Twitter and started a blog about Web 2.0 job-search strategies for seniors at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (graduated in May ‘09). I also started following you on Twitter, first your JobSnob account, then your personal one — JobSnob is one of my favorite accounts on Twitter. Maybe I’m too in to career jokes/faux pas, but I think it’s hilarious.
Now I’m one of those Web 2.0 success stories that seem to be plastering the news. I found this job through Twitter — never filled out an application or wrote a cover letter. A career counselor friend in Maine connected me to this company that had been in my backyard (Durham, NC) the whole time, and from tweet to job, my “search” took about a week.
Anyway — talk about a buried lead — if you ever need a source for career/technology/HR posts, OptimalResume.com would love to help. Both our COO and CEO are easily accessible, and of course, you can always get in touch with me.
Thanks for your time,
Kelly Giles
OptimalResume.com is a cutting-edge technology firm specializing in web-based career-management software for job seekers, employers and recruiters. The new release of our software, Optimal 2.0, is set to debut in July 2009.
Social Media Strategist
OptimalResume.com
Twitter | Facebook | Blog
There are several things about her approach that I love. Whether you are writing a cover letter or introducing yourself to a new contact on LinkedIn all of these strategies are applicable.
- She told me who she is. Right up front. I did not have to read through the entire email to find out who she was.
- She told me how she knows me. Twitter. Of course.
- She complimented me. A couple of times, in fact. She told me how much she likes my @JobSnob Twitter account and that she thinks it’s funny. People like to be complimented. FYI.
- She was really interesting and she told me that she found her fabulous new job through Twitter. Since she said she has been following me for a while on Twitter she would know that I would be interested to know that.
- She included links to her company’s website, her Twitter and Facebook pages, and her blog.
Cartoon by Hugh at gapingvoid.com
What can you learn from Kelly?
- Don’t make the person you want something from have to go and research to find out who you are. Introduce yourself right up front. This is especially true for LinkedIn invitations. One of my biggest pet peeves is the default LinkedIn invitation. It’s just rude.
- Know something about the person you’re reaching out to and prove that by mentioning it in your note.
- [Genuine] compliments are even better.
- Include links to things you want people to see.
- Be sure these links will present you in a professional light. For example I do not recommend providing a link to your MySpace page that has pictures of the keg party where you passed out in the bathroom all over it. Also if you provide a few links people will read what you want them to read about you rather than Googling you and finding your attrocious MySpace page.
- Be interesting. Provide some insight or a brief and interesting story like Kelly did when she told me how she landed her job.
- Be personable and friendly. Nobody wants to read a stodgy, stuffy anything.
- Thank the recipient for their time and/or consideration. It’s polite.
Next I will share Part 1 of my interview with Kelly which includes some insight into the new release of OptimaResume.com, set to launch tomorrow.
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Stephanie
Oh my goodness! You are so right!
Before I get carried away, I want to follow your oh so sound advice and give you the courtesy of introducing myself as a new devotee of Twitter, your blog and a follower, compliments of Kevin Kermes’ career bootcamp.
An international marketer & brand builder, with a real passion for all forms of communication – especially writing [in multiple languages], I wonder why I’ve been so hesitant (privacy issues? timidity not usually my thing) to put myself out there …as you can already tell, I have a lot to say… Now I’m breathlessly embracing the myriad opportunities of social media interaction. And to think that this was spurred by my search for the work I love…
I admit I hadn’t heard of you before yesterday, but I just read your Job Snob and it changed my mood. To sit back, laugh wholeheartedly -even at yourself – and get away from the seriousness of the full time job called a job search…wonderful.
I started to write this comment before I even got to your tips, to let you know how much I like the look and feel of your blog. I hadn’t realized that a blog could look so clean and professional. Design, appearance, image are part of my DNA…so it’s the first thing I notice. A long-time proponent of ‘less is more’ , I have a weakness for these colors, the easy on the eyes serif font and the user-friendly layout (see http://www.firstfundsonline.com, created with a great designer).
Now that I’ve spent half the letter talking about myself, let me get to the heart of the matter (I should learn to be succinct). Thank you so much for the learnings! I use many of the tips myself (including genuine compliments) and learned a lot that would appear to be common sense. Politeness is sorely lacking in our high speed, hyperlinked, sound bite world. Yes, I always add a note to Linked In invitations, but was beginning to think I’m an anomaly, old fashioned?
You’ve done us the favor of organizing this as a set of guidelines that you can print out and hang over your computer…I am hoping a lot of people will.
Appreciate your sharing your insights and that email – providing us with new info and helping Kelly’s business!
And thank you for your time and patience in reading this.
Elli Strauss
International Marketing Solutions
@ElliStrauss http://www.linkedin.com/in/ellicom
Hey Stephanie – thank you so much for the kind words! I love how you tied the story into cover letter writing. I couldn’t agree more that a personal, interesting approach beats, “I’d like to schedule a mutually convenient time to discuss how my qualifications could improve your organization” most any day of the week
You’re welcome, and you’re right! “I’d like to schedule a mutually convenient time to discuss how my qualifications could improve your organization” is definitely overdone!
Thanks so much Kelly for allowing me to share your email and to interview you, Kelly.
Stephanie
The analysis of Kelly’s inquiry and tips at the end were very informative. This is great information for anyone working to master the art of the “follow-up.”
Thank you Kenneth!
Kelly is clearly positioned to be a leader in communications and I look forward to learning more from her (and sharing on my blog, of course!)
Have a Happy 4th.
Stephanie
Aww, thanks, Stephanie! I look forward to learning more from you, too.
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