Q: First – I recently contacted a place I REALLY want to work for and HR emailed me back and said they would like to talk. I replied to the email almost a week ago and have heard nothing back. Two days ago, I called, left a message expressing interest…. still nothing. I heard no vacation email/voice message but it is a holiday week. I am planning in calling again next Wednesday but not sure how many times I can contact them before I become a pain in the butt.
I am also being disrespected at my current job and am beginning to look for another job in my industry. I do not have noncompete clause in my contract but do not know how to contact people to let them know I am looking (clients for example) without being unethical for lack of a better word?
I am on LinkedIn but never get any bites.
Any guidance is greatly appreciated, I am lost now.
A: Thanks for your question and thanks for tracking me down!
Let’s discuss your first question. If HR reached out to you, your background must have been of interest to them. Always, always, always check your email and voicemail regularly (daily!) if you are job hunter. Even on weekends! I would call once per week but only for about three weeks. You are right about holiday weeks. Holiday weeks are peak vacation times and often the recruitment process becomes bumpier when the hiring team members are on vacation. Also, if you know the recruiter’s name, you can try to connect with them on LinkedIn. It is a gentle balance, of being persistent vs. being a pest.
Second, let’s talk about LinkedIn. Critically review your profile. Do you have a professional photo? Is your profile complete? Do you have key words embedded in your profile? Do you belong to groups on LinkedIn? I would not wait for someone to reach out to you on LinkedIn. You should also monitor activity and jobs posted on LinkedIn. Who is hiring and who is not? To this day, my weekly goal is to add 3 to 5 new connections on LinkedIn. Post a few updates on LinkedIn. Don’t sit back and wait. Become active on LinkedIn. I am on LinkedIn probably 5 to 6 days per week. You and also follow companies on LinkedIn. This is one way to be more visible to your clients and others within your industry.
Finally, let’s address the issues raised in your second paragraph. Be careful about approaching clients directly. Although you may not have signed a non-compete, your company and your company’s clients may have an agreement in place where they both agree not to steal talent from each other. This is fairly common. Or your company may allow it, but there may be some time of financial agreement if your employer’s clients hire you or one of your colleagues. Tread carefully!
Pattie Hunt Sinacole is a human resources expert and works for First Beacon Group in Hopkinton, an HR consulting firm. She contributes weekly to Boston.com Jobs and the Boston Sunday Globe Money & Careers section.