Ask HN: Do you cold-contact peers when considering working at a company?

#1

Post by mandytolliver » Sat, Nov 30, 2013, 5:40 PM UTC

I'm thinking about my next software development job. I think I might find a developer in a similar job in a company, cold-email them, and ask a few questions about what it's really like to work there. (I'll include a link to my personal site so that they understand I'm worth responding to.)

I'll be more comfortable talking to them rather applying for a job directly which makes me seem needy.

They'll probably be more honest and open than a hiring manager. And if it goes well, they may pass on my resume.

I'm surprised that I haven't heard this done more often. Have you tried this? Does it work for you? Or does it seem rude?

Re: Ask HN: Do you cold-contact peers when considering working at a company?

#2

Post by brodyp » Sat, Nov 30, 2013, 5:45 PM UTC

Yes, I've learned a lot and made some good industry contacts this way. You have to do it gently though -- people are jealous of there time unless they understand you are a colleague worthy of respect.

Re: Ask HN: Do you cold-contact peers when considering working at a company?

#3

Post by scottalpert » Sat, Nov 30, 2013, 5:47 PM UTC

Of course you mean doing this BEFORE any interview. (After the first interview, hopefully they'd set you up with people to talk to.)

Re: Ask HN: Do you cold-contact peers when considering working at a company?

#4

Post by amys » Sat, Nov 30, 2013, 5:51 PM UTC

brodyp wrote: post #2

Yes, I've learned a lot and made some good industry contacts this way. You have to do it gently though -- people are jealous of there time unless they understand you are a colleague worthy of respect.

If you contact the manager/VP directly, then as long as you write a good email and include some professional links, you'll usually get a response.

Contacting a peer has advantages, but on the other hand the manager gives you a straighter path to a job -- if you decide that that's what you want.

Re: Ask HN: Do you cold-contact peers when considering working at a company?

#5

Post by amarantha » Sat, Nov 30, 2013, 6:03 PM UTC

We developers keep hearing that we need to do "networking." In general, I don't even know what that means -- but here is an excellent example of what you should do.

Re: Ask HN: Do you cold-contact peers when considering working at a company?

#6

Post by mandytolliver » Sat, Nov 30, 2013, 6:04 PM UTC

Thank you folks. I'm still wondering though -- why don't we hear of this more often?

Re: Ask HN: Do you cold-contact peers when considering working at a company?

#7

Post by mandytolliver » Sat, Nov 30, 2013, 6:05 PM UTC

scottalpert wrote: post #3

Of course you mean doing this BEFORE any interview. (After the first interview, hopefully they'd set you up with people to talk to.)

Sure thing, this is about the exploration stage when I am just wondering what workplaces are right for me.

Re: Ask HN: Do you cold-contact peers when considering working at a company?

#8

Post by wsxcde » Sat, Nov 30, 2013, 6:10 PM UTC

I haven't done exactly this but I have "cold" contacted people who I had some sort of connection with - same college, common friends, etc.

I usually mention this in my e-mail saying something like "I'm contacting you because we both did X so I thought it might be alright to bother you."

Re: Ask HN: Do you cold-contact peers when considering working at a company?

#9

Post by mandytolliver » Sat, Nov 30, 2013, 6:15 PM UTC

wsxcde wrote: post #8

I haven't done exactly this but I have "cold" contacted people who I had some sort of connection with - same college, common friends, etc. I usually mention this in my e-mail saying something like "I'm contacting you because we both did X so I thought it might be alright to bother you."

Thanks, that makes sense. But if you don't know anyone, why not find some developer and their email address (a bit of Google-Fu will do it) and contact them?

To me, it seems polite enough.

Wouldn't _you_ answer such an email if it was polite and seemed to come from a serious developer?

Re: Ask HN: Do you cold-contact peers when considering working at a company?

#10

Post by rodrodrod » Sat, Nov 30, 2013, 6:17 PM UTC

Yeap. Being on the employed side of things now, I've had acquaintances reach out to me with questions about the company/work/culture and ask me to pass their resume along. It's only a few minutes of my time and people are quite appreciative of it, so I'm always happy to help out.