sorghum, do you ever have anything constructive to say? This is how things have been done in many industries for a long time now. Evolve.
Whatever you call it…getting a job is getting a job. Who knows, you maybe doing the company a great favor by getting this young woman hired. It works both ways. I have tapped into my connections when I want to hire people, and people have reached out to me when they want me to look at a candidate. I wouldn’t hire someone if the person is not qualified, and I would tell my friend such if that’s the case.
I got my current job through my connection (my old boss). He made a call to one of his old friends.
Hiring the right person is not just about hiring the right set of skills, it is also about personality and soft skills. Many projects are done in teams, and the new hires have to fit into the company’s culture and be effective team players. Since the “three references” on one’s resume often cannot comment on the prospective hire’s “personal skills,” employers need alternative ways of verifying that the person is the right candidate. There is nothing like a positive word of a person you know and trust.
This is not much different from former customer referrals and repeat business which are common in many industries.
The reason networking works is because the referring person is putting his credibility on the the line by suggesting someone he knows hire someone. If I recommend someone and they turn out to be a lousy employee, I will look bad and feel bad. The person that is looking for a job is supposed to know that, be grateful and be a better employee. I’ve kept my mouth shut about people I know applying for jobs because I am not sure of their work ethic. I have also recommended people I know would be perfect. This link has a graphic about why a recommended employee is a better employee: http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/infographic-employee-referrals-hire/
I agree about getting permission first.
I agree with that but I would’ve thought you would figure that out by the time of the 5th interview.
When it comes to one’s relations, the recommender may be willing to risk their own credibility. Recommending someone you know from work is different. You’ve seen how they are at work. Recommending son’s GF is not the same. Not only you have not seen how they are at work also you are inclined to see only good things about her.
I’m going to swim against the tide a little bit. I agree that you should make the call. However I’m not sure it will do much good. It depends on the size of the company, but I don’t think a CEO will typically want to get involved with hiring decisions for entry-level positions for people he doesn’t know personally. Usually the best networking connection is when the candidate knows someone at the company directly who can vouch for things like their work ethic, personality, experience, etc.
In this particular case the networking would have best been used to identify the job opening and get the first interview, but I think you’re well past that point now.
“I agree with that but I would’ve thought you would figure that out by the time of the 5th interview.”
You would be surprised how much charm some certified a-holes can exude in artificial situations such as interviews.
anomander, I agree that at a large company the CEO may be useless to contact about making the hiring decision for a position like this, but the OP indicated that she knows other folks within the co at lower ranks.
A phone call should do nothing more than facilitate an interview. Really, this is all anyone is asking for.
The request is not “hire sons girlfriend”. The request is for an opportunity to interview. “Hey , sons gf is actively looking for a position and might have the right skills you need.”
The it’s up to the person who gets interviewed to get the job.
Or, "hey, I heard that Susie had an interview at your company and is scheduled to come back on Tuesday for a second round. This gal is a real gem when it comes to (insert something you know about her skills etc.) OR You will not be disappointed with her - she is very easy-going, works like a bee, and … "
Or something like that.
It can’t hurt. There’s no downside. The worst that happens is that the CEO says - I can’t micromanage to that level.
Update- I got a very nice message from GF. She was very thankful for the offer but asked that I hold off on making the call. She has a fly in interview at the other prospect scheduled and she wants to see how that goes.
I would not have offered to make the connection if I didn’t feel strongly that she was qualified and would be a good addition to the company.
Bunsenburner- I like your approach and if I did it I would do it in that manner. I seriously considered it earlier in the week when I was talking with my friend but I didn’t want to overstep my boundaries. Now I am glad I didn’t. The worse would be for her to say something and have the GF turn down the job.
I would only butt in if the GF ask for help.
But I’ve got jobs without any help, same with all of my kids. Eventhough in some situations I could help, but there are skills that they need to learn. Even networking skills, that is something they have to do it.
Kinda rude, @bunsenburner.
There is a difference between professional networking (I know a great guy who wants to leave company X), and fixing things for family and personal friends.
I hope society will evolve towards professional HR and merit-based hiring.
Well, you calling the OP’s situation “cronyism” was pretty rude. Pot, meet kettle.
“Merit-based hiring” has resulted in many fiascos, because humans are not robots pre-programmed to do a certain number of tasks. Soft skills cannot be reflected on a resume, but can be extremely important. Family and friends can provide an important first stepping stone for someone into a career, and the young person can begin assembling her new network after that. I do not think the OP is “fixing things up” for her son’s GF.
It IS cronyism, the only question is whether it is appropriate (in an evolved society).
The gf already had several interviews without help so clearly she can hold her own. All OP would do is offer a personal recommendation in a low-pressure way to maybe tip the scale. That’s hardly cronyism.
Tipping the scale for family members IS cronyism. How is that not?
I have to agree with sorghum on this.
So can other remaining interviewees. If she can clearly hold her own, she will get the job without outside help.
Cronyism has a negative connotation to me. I think of it as more getting the interview because of who you know rather than your skills. The gf has skills or she wouldn’t have gotten this far in the process. Now, it’s just a personal recommendation as they narrow in on a decision. It’s different to me, but others may disagree, obviously.
It IS negative. It is tilting the playing field by knowing your bf’s mother. How’s that positive? She has skills so let her duke it out.