Getting the Interview

This is probably the second hardest thing to land after mastering the interview preparation itself. Companies like Google and Facebook get millions of applications a year, so standing out is quite difficult. Here are some tips to help you get noticed by a recruiter at a top tech company.

Have a LinkedIn presence

By far, LinkedIn is the tool recruiters use most to source and reach out to passive candidates. If you want to get noticed by recruiters, then it is imperative that you have a LinkedIn account. You must also keep job titles, companies, and descriptions up-to-date on your account. This is pretty basic. But you’ll want to show the role you’re currently in, along with some career progression that shows you’re growing in a TPM-related role. Some things to keep in mind with LinkedIn:

• Keep it professional. This is fairly basic: use a recent, professional headshot. Don’t try to be too cute in your descriptions, and respond to direct messages as you would a professional email in a work capacity. The world is small, and people have long memories. Just because somebody isn’t offering you an opportunity you want today, it doesn’t mean they won’t in the future. You want every impression you have to be that of the consummate professional, whether they are viewing your profile, your comments, or your messages.

• Grow your network. The more connections you have, the more likely you’ll be noticed. On your account, add everyone you’ve worked with, go to networking events and add those folks, and keep in touch with every recruiter. You never know when someone could be hiring, and if you’ve left a positive impression, then they’ll be more likely to reach out to you.

Get referrals from prior colleagues and friends

This is another great way to get your foot in the door. If you’ve made a positive impression on a former colleague or have friends at certain companies, then don’t be afraid to ask them to refer you for positions that will be a good fit. Note that many companies now ask referrers to specifically provide details on the referral (i.e., how well do you know this person and in what capacity, and why should we hire this individual, etc.) to filter out referrals where the person doesn’t know the individual being referred very well or is just referring someone to be polite. Therefore, you should try to ask for the strongest possible referral for a company; it should be somebody you’ve worked closely with in the past who can vouch for your abilities. This is yet another reminder that the world is quite small, so avoid making enemies wherever you go!

Reach out to recruiters or hiring managers directly

I’ve done this in the past, and it can be a hit or miss, but it’s a great way to get noticed if you don’t have referrals at certain companies. Be polite, and don’t be overbearing. Explain why you’re a good fit for the role or company, and keep the note concise and to the point. People are busy, so don’t waste their time.

Cold apply to roles

Finally, if all else fails, then apply on the company’s website. It doesn’t hurt and takes only a few minutes.