Assistant Director of Public Interest Programs
In the current job market, everyone’s touting a return to networking as the best way to find employment and develop professionally. Ever the trendsetters, we here at LCS have always encouraged our students to build a network and make contacts to drawn on while in school and beyond. One of the best ways to take advantage of a large network is through referrals and introductions. While knowing the right people is key to the job search, using that knowledge correctly is how you land the job.
Here are some helpful guidelines for name dropping:
- Ask permission: If someone refers you to an employer or gives you the name of a contact, be certain to ask if you can use his/her name when reaching out. Don’t assume that everyone mentioning a contact in conversation is comfortable with having their name dropped, especially if their contact is a personal one. This goes for faculty and staff at the law school, and other personal and professional contacts you have established. Always ask before you put the referral out there.
- Mention those contacts upfront for maximum attention: If you know someone (or know someone who knows someone) at an organization that you are applying to or hoping to set up an informational interview with, mention that name in the first paragraph of your cover letter or email inquiry (e.g. “Chuck Bass of Gossip Girl LLC suggested I contact you regarding opportunities in your policy department.”). Be sure to get in touch with your contact before sending the letter to establish permission and allow him/her to follow the proper protocol for employee referrals.
- Make sure the references are recognizable and well-respected: If you reference someone, be sure that the person you are contacting actually knows the person you are referencing. It is of no use to you (and can look unprofessional) to refer to someone that the employer/potential interviewer does not know well enough to recognize by name. Even more harmful is referring to someone who left an employer on bad terms. Make sure you are not associating yourself with someone else’s bad reputation.
- Take advantage of very close connections: If someone you know is closely connected to an employer that you are especially interested in, it can be particularly effective to ask him/her to pass on your materials to the employer. Having your materials already vetted by a close contact might encourage the employer to review your candidacy more carefully. This request should be reserved for special opportunities to have the strongest impact, and also to keep you in the good graces of your contact.
- Pass along your materials to your reference: If you are using someone’s name in a cover letter or email inquiry, you should copy the reference on the correspondence. That way he/she is aware of your materials and can speak about them if questioned.
