The 2-step trick to getting sweet-ass job referrals

http://www.humbledmba.com/the-trick-to-getting-a-sweet-ass-job-referral

by jaf12duke • 15 years ago

117 23 15 years ago

humbledmba.com

electrichead• 15 years ago

Oh man, the first thing I thought was of the KXCD comic http://xkcd.com/37/

mattdeboard2• 15 years ago

Referrals for sweet ass-jobs would be another type of blog post I think.

wccrawford• 15 years ago

I think the real answer here is to stand out. She's spectacular, but doesn't market herself well because she's good at everything and doesn't give him an easy hook.

There's something weird about this situation, though. Why is she asking him for job referrals when he obvious doesn't know anything personal about her? He doesn't know anything that she likes or dislikes... This might as well be their first meeting. (And might have been!) Sounds more like a recruiter than a friend.

But it's not a recruiter, because a recruiter would just submit her to anything that even slightly matches... Which for her is everything.

So while I think the advice is good and on-target, I think there's a pretty small window of usability.

mattdeboard2• 15 years ago

>I think the real answer here is to stand out...

That's the opinion the author is rebutting here, and I agree with him. It's not enough to just stand out. You have to tell people how you stand out, and what you want. Narrow your scope, have high standards. Of all the things you've done in the past, pick the one or two things you liked the absolute best and pursue whatever it was that made those things awesome.

naner• 15 years ago

I'm thinking in the back of my head: go figure out what you want, and then come back when I can actually be helpful. But what I tell her is this:

Sounds good. I'll let you know if I hear of anything.

And I won't. She won't pop into my head again.

I know you need to let people figure out their lives on their own, but if nobody is blunt with this person what chance does she have of moving past this? Shouldn't he just have said what he was thinking in the back of his head?

Entaroadun• 15 years ago

Totally agree. What she needs is guidance and he could have provided it to her with an honest opinion. Why not speak your mind?

reledi• 15 years ago

I agree. He gave up way too easily with her and then places the blame on her.

If someone is seeking guidance from you, then guide them. If you can't, tell them why. If you can but aren't willing, then don't offer guidance.

jaf12duke• 15 years ago

Yep. You're totally right. Contacting her now...

adeaver3• 15 years ago

I call BS. If she's asking for help, help. Figure out a way to help. I'm the same way. I'm industry agnostic and have worked in both large and small companies. When I talk to recruiters or friends looking for intros the ones that sit and talk to me for more than 2 minutes get a good idea what the types of projects I'm looking for.

By limiting myself to a certain industry (finance for example) I might miss out on a completely perfect project in BioTech or something. If I say 'small' companies, something in a big company might be skipped over because of it.

OP should have asked more question to find out what 'type' of work she likes and gone from there instead of dismissing her as unfocused or hasn't figured out what she wants.

tptacek2• 15 years ago

The point of this post isn't to judge how he handled the situation. His handling of the situation is a framing device for advice about how to ask for job referrals. Comments like this muddy the waters; his advice is obviously correct.

TheloniusPhunk• 15 years ago

I agree. The point of this article is to refute the belief that a broad and open field of employment interests will increase your chances of finding a job. The reality is that a refined interest is better. Same goes for job postings; it's better to pick a company and hone in than it is to blanket resumes across a number of potential employers.

adeaver3• 15 years ago

I understand that however the point of my post was that I disagree with his process, and by extension the handling of the situation.

And no, his advice is not "obviously correct". It might work for some, but not all.

pbreit2• 15 years ago

You totally missed the point of the article. By putting in a limitation, you are actually making it easier for other person (a good thing, no doubt). And to address your multi-talents, you use different limitations with different people.

My experience is exactly the same as the OP's: if you have little idea of what interests you, I am not eager to make introductions. It cannot be overstated: help people help you.

joe_the_user• 15 years ago

He is BS but his post is a fine reminder that when you're looking for a job, all those people smiling and nodding could be just like him. So in a sense his post is useful.

- And yes, it's quite precious to dismiss for being industry agnostic. Doesn't mean people don't do, so it's useful to at least know that.

mikecane• 15 years ago

I watched the Steve Jobs 1997 Keynote chat this week and he again defined focus, which the subject in that post is lacking. Jobs (paraphrasing): "People think focusing means saying 'Yes.' No. Focus means saying 'No.'"

cpeterso• 15 years ago

I love Jobs' advice to Nike's CEO: "Nike makes some of the best products in the world. Products that you lust after. But you also make a lot of crap. Just get rid of the crappy stuff and focus on the good stuff."

joshklein• 15 years ago

> Maybe if someone in the next 2 days randomly asks me if I know anyone in online marketing looking to make a jump.

My agency is looking for a talented strategist who has the flexibility to work on a number of different accounts across industries. Feel free to pass along my info (in profile).

impendia• 15 years ago

This reminds me of the classic "What Color is Your Parachute?" which I cheerfully recommend to all. One-sentence summary: You have to have a particular goal in order to achieve it, and boldness and politeness are of the utmost importance along the way.

JacobAldridge• 15 years ago

If you run a business, the same point (clarity of focus) is specifically applicable for receiving client referrals as well. I'm in a fairly broad industry (business coaching) and I have colleagues who, variously, work with businesses from solopreneurs to listed multi-nationals, across countless industries, 27 countries (and counting), and on projects that range from cashflow management to cultural purpose and intent. I can, and have, helped businesses with all of that myself.

But if I asked you for a referral and told you I was looking for a business of any size in any industry in any country that needed any guidance, how many would come to mind? Zero, or at least none that you felt were specific enough to refer to me. In fact, you probably wouldn't refer to me because it sounds like I'm saying I can do everything and that's probably (and actually) not true.

Alternatively: "I am looking for young, energetic business owners in London, turning over £2M-£20M per annum and looking to grow by learning from someone else's experience".

How many come to mind now? Probably still none, especially if you're not in London. But for the people who can make the right referral for me, the specific definition of my ideal client makes it easier to understand who I want an introduction to, and for them to make that introduction.

So whether for a job or your next client, I whole-heartedly agree that knowing what you ideally want and being able to articulate that will lead to results.

mrzerga• 15 years ago

IMHO: don't see no problem or valuable advice in the post above. If you are really interested in helping person, you will explain the need for specifics. If not, you'll give an answer you gave.

Move on, nothing to see here.

The 2-step trick to getting sweet-ass job referrals

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