The Google Resume by Gayle Laakmann McDowell Read Free Book Online

might do the trick. Otherwise, you can be a bit more aggressive: ask your friends who might work at closely connected companies. You can bet, for example, that your Googler friends know a few Microsofties. It can never hurt to ask!
    Make Yourself Known
    Got your sights set on a dream company, but can’t find a path in? Find an employee at the company and make yourself known. Does she have a blog? Comment on it—or better yet, follow up her blog posts with posts of your own. Does she tweet? Tweet back. If she is asking for assistance, help her in any way you can. Immerse yourself in her community.
    Even after leaving Google, I’ve continued to refer candidates to the company who have done just this. After all, if a person has shown himself to be intelligent, generous, and interested, why wouldn’t I return the favor?
    Don’t go overboard, of course. No one likes a stalker!
    The Informational Interview
    The informational interview is an informal discussion with a company that is conducted before the recruiting process has even begun. Usually, you approach an employee of a prospective company and seek their advice about the role or company. Though it’s called an “informational interview,” don’t mention the word interview when you talk to the employee.
    Part of the value of the informational interview is that it’s low pressure. An employee can meet with you and offer advice, regardless of whether the company is hiring. They get to “vet” you a bit, and you get to evaluate them and their company.
    These informational interviews are very common across tech companies, both for external applicants and for internal candidates wishing to transfer teams.
    Make sure to come with good, well-researched questions. The person will not be evaluating your skills extensively, but they will evaluate your personality, communication, and interest. Make sure to write a note thanking them for their time.
    After this conversation, they may invite you to apply to their company and even offer to refer you. If not, you can follow up after the interview and ask them what the best way is to apply or to get in touch with a recruiter. If they don’t respond with an offer to help, then they are probably not comfortable doing so for whatever reason. You will simply need to use alternative avenues to apply for the position.
    Reach Out to Recruiters
    In college, I decided that if recruiters didn’t want to approach me, then I would just have to approach them. Luckily, recruiters don’t exactly hide their e-mail addresses. A quick Internet search with a query like will turn up recruiters from virtually every major company. Which recruiter would you like to talk to? Microsoft? Google? Amazon? You name it, you got it.
    Don’t e-mail your résumé yet, though—that’s just the first step. “Recruiters can tell if they’re being spammed,” Kwok reminds us. “It’s quality, not quantity. A sincere, well-researched letter that’s tailored to our company will go much further than a generic one.”
    You should always try to contact the most relevant recruiter you can. If you can’t find someone who recruits for your desired position, state what position you’re interested in, and ask them to put you in touch with the appropriate person. If you know the name of the person you need to speak with or the exact position, even better. The less of a burden you are to the recruiter, the more likely he is to help you.
    Alumni Network and Beyond
    Personal referrals may also be found in alumni networks, or other “official groups.” If you’re a student or recent graduate, your school’s career services office may be able to help you with searching the alumni directory for a connection.
    Other groups might include relevant industry groups, many of which can be found on meetup.com . Get out there—you never know whom you might meet!
    Career Fairs
    Before talking to Microsoft at the career fairs, students in the know would