Career Coach

Finding the best hiring contact at a prospective employer

By Ken Pelczarski, Contributing Editor | TLT Career Coach September 2024

Having a proactive approach in your job search will get you the best results.

The job search process involves numerous steps. One of the most challenging steps is finding the best person to contact who will help you get your foot in the door. You may learn of a position that is a great fit for your background, but it will not mean anything if you do not obtain an interview. Listed below are four common scenarios in which you discover a potential job lead but need to find the best hiring contact to help you get an interview. This contact should also be able to provide you with more information about the open position.

1. Finding the hiring manager when you see a position advertised:
• In this scenario, you might see the name of the human resources manager in the ad, but you will seldom see the name of the hiring manager.
• Even if you do have the name of the human resources manager, it can be advantageous to learn the name of the hiring manager or somebody else in the hiring chain.
• You may be one of dozens or even hundreds of ad responses, and you do not want to rely on being selected for an interview by the human resources manager or by artificial intelligence (AI) or other screening technology.
• If you can connect with the hiring manager, this individual will gather in advance how qualified you are, and then pay special attention upon receiving your resume.
• Below are some ways to find a good hiring contact aside from the human resources manager:
- Talk with somebody you know at the hiring company.
- See if anybody in your network knows somebody at the hiring company.
- Review the company website to find the name of the hiring manager or somebody at a higher level.
- Since you have already seen the title of the specific open position in the ad, you can search on LinkedIn for the likely hiring manager who has the target job title.
- Google the hiring company name combined with the likely job title of the hiring manager.
- Read the job advertisement closely to see if the title is mentioned of the person to whom the position reports.
- Reach out to independent recruiters with whom you have an established relationship. One of these recruiters may even be able to obtain an interview for you if the company is a close client.
- Make a cold call to the hiring company.
• I do not advise that you try to completely avoid the human resources manager, but you certainly can improve your chances of getting your foot in the door for an interview by having direct communication with the hiring manager.
• Even if you are successful in connecting with the hiring manager, it is usually a good idea to go through normal channels and apply formally to the ad. Ask how the hiring manager recommends that you proceed.

2. Finding the hiring manager when you learn through your network about an open position that is a great fit for your background:
• First, learn how much your networking contact knows about the open position.
• Find out who your networking contact knows at the hiring company, especially if he/she may know the hiring manager or somebody in the hiring chain.
• Ask your networking contact if you can use their name when you connect with somebody at the hiring company.
• Reach out to the recommended hiring contact by phone, email or LinkedIn message and request an in-person interview or initial informal meeting. Forward your resume first upon request.
• If you do not have the name of a specific hiring manager through your networking contact, proceed as in the first scenario previously mentioned to find the best contact through the company website, LinkedIn, Google, an independent recruiter or somebody else in your network.
• Visit websites such as Indeed, Monster, Glassdoor or the STLE Career Center to see if the specific position is being advertised.
• If your networking contact approves, it helps if you can mention his/her name when you reach out to a hiring contact.

3. Finding the best hiring contacts when somebody in your network recommends a specific employer but without knowledge of an open position:
• First, learn the reason that your networking contact recommends the employer and gain further insight from your contact.
• Ask your networking contact if you can use their name when you connect with somebody at the hiring company.
• Research the company if you do not already know this employer well.
• Check websites such as Indeed, Monster, Glassdoor or the STLE Career Center to see if specific positions are being advertised at the recommended employer.
• If you discover a potentially suitable open position at this company, proceed as in the first scenario above to find the best hiring contact through the company website, LinkedIn, Google, an independent recruiter or somebody else in your network.
• If you do not discover a specific open position, find a hiring contact at the right level and in the department/function for which you are the best fit.
• If your networking contact approves, it helps if you can bring up his/her name when you reach out to a hiring contact.
• Be prepared to explain why this employer was recommended as an excellent fit for your background and interests.

4. Finding the best hiring contacts when you learn from somebody in your network that a company is hiring and/or expanding:
• Ask your networking contact how this information was obtained and if he/she knows about any specific open positions.
• Talk with other individuals in your network about their knowledge of this company.
• Check websites such as Indeed, Monster, Glassdoor or the STLE Career Center to see if specific positions are being advertised at this company.
• If you discover multiple open positions that are potentially suitable to your experience and interests, you may want to speak with a hiring contact at the executive level who would have a broad overview of the various open positions.
• If you do not have the name of a specific hiring manager through your networking contact, proceed as in the first scenario above to find the best contact through the company website, LinkedIn, Google, an independent recruiter or somebody else in your network.
• Once again, if your networking contact approves, it helps if you can bring up his/her name when you reach out to a hiring contact.
• Be prepared to promote why this employer has a growth profile that greatly interests you, and why their open positions are potentially an excellent fit for your experience.

Once you find a good hiring contact at a company that has an open position, you should be able to learn additional information about the job so you can present yourself in the best possible light with a suitable resume and cover letter. You also can improve your chances of getting an interview by providing a short summary of your qualifications and interest level in your initial conversation or correspondence with the hiring manager.

Maintain a proactive approach in your job search for the best results. Sitting back after responding to a job advertisement and waiting for the company to contact you greatly reduces your chances of obtaining an interview. For the best results, when you learn of a position and/or company that is a great fit for your background and interests, use all reasonable means necessary to find a good hiring contact.

Ken Pelczarski is owner and founder of Pelichem Associates, a Chicago-based search firm established in 1985 and specializing in the lubricants industry. You can reach Ken at (630) 960-1940 or at pelichem@aol.com.