Usually, the response is either in the affirmative and taken care of right way or the person has so weak a connection that s/he doesn’t feel the other party is enough of a known quantity to ask. It never hurts to ask.

It’s not a guarantee of an interview by any stretch of the imagination. Let’s say that 1/2 the time your connection can forward you. About 1/3-1/4 of the time the recipient gets in touch. But that odds are still vastly improved than when applying into the blackhole of online application systems.

It’s easier to pursue an introduction to a connection in a different department when the company is smaller because that individual might have dealings with relevant parties. Larger companies are trickier, but if your mutual connection is strong, you may find someone that is willing to check the internal job listigs to see who your resume should be forwarded to and then do so.

When it’s a more tenuous relationship between the job you want and the connection’s job, you’re relying more on the strength of your mutual connection’s relationship to that person.

I’ve had complete strangers forward me along to a hiring manager after a brief email exchange and I’ve had people ask me a few questions over the phone to make sure I”m sincere and qualified before forwarding me along.

You need to make it your mission to get your resume on a hiring manager’s desk. And do what it takes to get that done.

thanks for the clarification. I am curious how your request of an introduction is generally received, and what your success rate is in getting one. I was also curious about another thing: Say you are a sales person, interested in a sales position at company X. You have a third degree connection in that company, but he/she is in a completely different field, for example Interactive Technology. Will you still pursue an introduction? What is “the angle”?

It’s taken a long time to fine tune my long term interests. Now it’s time to find a company that will put to work what I have to offer.

Last week was just one opportunity flowing to the next after I started talking about what I wanted and needed. So I’m just going to try to keep that forward momentum in place.

Fingers crossed I land round 2 in short order.

Hope you’re enjoying your travels; I see your tweets about them

You’re so brave to share your dream, I know how scary it can be.

And I strongly believe that it’s one of the most imporant steps towards realizing your goal. Not only do you share your dream with others who might be able to help, you’re also making it clear for yourself that this is something you really want to do. The more uncormfortable it feels to share, the more do you need to do it.

I’m so happy to see that you’ve already met people who can help! I have no doubt that you’re going to make it!

Good luck on your interview, I’m so excited too hear how it turns out!

All the best,
Marthe

I can’t say that I read any of the Lurlene McDaniel books but I read Gunther’s Death Be Not Proud a dozen times as a kid. Summer of My German Soldier also stands out as a book I read often.

I always had a love-hate relationship with the classics because I kept reading the ones where the women met desperate ends over a guy. And I just never thought he was worth it in the end, but if the book has stood the test of time — it must be worth reading right?

Do you still get caught up in series books as an adult. Paulina Simons did a trilogy startiing with The Bronze Horseman that I was very attached to. I think I’ve been reading Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books for almost 15 years now.

On the one hand, more people than ever are applying to programs like Teach for America and the Peace Corps, but on the other we’re part of an instant gratification generation. . . so I worry about our ability to commit for the long haul. Change doesn’t happen overnight.

I hope you’re right.

Though I’m not super interested in blogs people write about their day-to-day lives, I admire the ability to be so open.