How do I transfer positions within a company?

This might seem elementary but I figure a lot of the CEO's here deal with this.

I found a job on the website at the company i work for that would be perfect for me. im a contractor here and want to get on full time and this is the kind of job opening Ive been waiting for since Im easily qualified, have transferrable skills and a good rep in the company with 16 months of work, etc.

I found this article but what are some things I should know/do?

Also, should I:
1) Find the manager of the division and talk to them?
a) If yes and I dont know them at all, how should I break the ice?
2) Provide samples of my work?
3) Tell my current boss Im looking? Being an independant contractor I walk on egg shells. I dont want them to find a replacement if they think Im looking elsewhere. I know Ill get a good recommendation but I dont want to lose a job.

Thanks

Originally Posted by Davidko19

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This might seem elementary but I figure a lot of the CEO's here deal with this.

I found a job on the website at the company i work for that would be perfect for me. im a contractor here and want to get on full time and this is the kind of job opening Ive been waiting for since Im easily qualified, have transferrable skills and a good rep in the company with 16 months of work, etc.

I found this article but what are some things I should know/do?

Also, should I:
1) Find the manager of the division and talk to them?
a) If yes and I dont know them at all, how should I break the ice?
2) Provide samples of my work?
3) Tell my current boss Im looking? Being an independant contractor I walk on egg shells. I dont want them to find a replacement if they think Im looking elsewhere. I know Ill get a good recommendation but I dont want to lose a job.

Thanks

All of the above. If you can find out the manager, great, reach out to them. First, though, how do people normally handle "lateralling" to permanent positions in the your organization? Is the client happy to accept contractors? How does the contracting company treat staff that attempt to take permanent roles? If the above is all positive, reach out to your current supervisor (client-side) and tell them you "would love an opportunity to join the company for so and so reasons, and you have found the perfect way through so and so position. UNfortunately it wouldn't be working with him (the current client-side supervisor) but you feel it's a great opportunity". Get their blessing then feel out the supervisor for the advertised position (essentially informational interview, so they know your name and face and your application pops out at them when they review them), then apply for the position. I would give minimal consideration to the contracting company - until you find out you got the job.

Originally Posted by Davidko19

Click to expand...

This might seem elementary but I figure a lot of the CEO's here deal with this.

I found a job on the website at the company i work for that would be perfect for me. im a contractor here and want to get on full time and this is the kind of job opening Ive been waiting for since Im easily qualified, have transferrable skills and a good rep in the company with 16 months of work, etc.

.....

Thanks

ok, this is a little sticky so let me clarify...

Im basically full-time. I work at the office 40 hours a week, 5 days a week but am considered an independant contractor with no agency. I get paid with 1099 instead of a W2. So its like Im a full time employee, just without all the benefits - sucks but i need the cash. Ok. so...

1. A girl who used to work in my dept. transferred to the marketing dept. She was a full timer and not a contractor though so Im sure it was easier for her- Plus she was a wunderkind and loved by all. Should I ask her for advice on how it worked, though we dont really talk anymore?

2. i told my current boss in december I wanted on full time and was told "Ok" and that was the end of the conversation. I wasnt taken serious at all so since then ive been actively looking. I have no loyalty to my current position. Just dont know if I should let him now or later or once the position is actually offered?

3. If I never met the person in charge of this position before this should i just drop into their office and start asking? Send an email? Schedule a meeting? Hope we meet in the elevator?

What exactly do I say to break the ice/introduce myself? ("Hi, you dont know me but i work in ____dept and saw your posting online for the manager job. I asked Mr._____ and he said you were the person I should talk to and I wanted discuss the role and give you my resume if you had a few minutes"?)

Originally Posted by Flambeur

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i was trying to flatter ya'll. I know everyone is fraudin - but surely someone has encountered someone coming to them asking for a lateral transition and can offer tips.

Definitely don't tell your current manager you're planning to leave until it's absolutely necessary. I've heard way too many horror stories of people letting their boss know they were applying elsewhere, then ended up completely fucked afterwards when things didn't work out.

Anyway, it's not really an internal transfer if you're a contractor, but what I would do is find out who the hiring manager is and then go talk to him/her in person if it's someone you know; otherwise send an email with your resume attached. Good luck.

^^ I figured about not telling my boss.

Yea, its not technically a transfer. But if the hiring manager knows me or at least recognizes my name, wouldnt it be worth it and at least drop by and introduce myself and drop off a hard copy/cover letter/ samples of my work or current projects at the company Im working at? An email doesnt really distinguish me from anyone. If it was me hiring I'd think "Gosh, Im right down on 5th floor. If he really wanted the job he'd sell himself to me" amiright?

I figure putting a face with it and showing my experience at teh company and my current role should at least put me into an interview....

Let me put it this way. . .

I have ignored plenty of random emails with resumes attached. But, I tend to spend a little bit of extra time reviewing them since there was some initiative and it got directly to me.

I have ignored far fewer people that came to me directly somehow, via phone or networking (well, some types of networking. . . when someone hands me their kid's resume and they are horribly unqualified, I still pitch it). Networking is best because I really do trust my friends and former coworkers to send me high quality people.

So my advice, based on how I behave, is to go find this person and have a face to face chat about things. They get a quick pre-interview, and if they like you, they'll coach you on how to get through HR, etc.

My company's HR sends out emails trying to recruit within everyday, the HR department has a special section that deals with it. You might want to look into that if your firm has an HR department.

Originally Posted by Milpool

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So my advice, based on how I behave, is to go find this person and have a face to face chat about things. They get a quick pre-interview, and if they like you, they'll coach you on how to get through HR, etc.

thanks man, good info.


So I probably dont know the hiring manager - what should I say when meeting out of the blue?

What are some major points I should bring up if I drop by their office out of the blue and have 2 minutes to sell myself? Any other tips you have that people have done to really stand out?

Call them first. Introduce yourself saying who you are and what you do. Mention you came across the opening for the blah blah position and wanted to get an idea of what they were looking for ahead of submitting an application. Ask if it would be okay to discuss in person. They may simply just say "we want blah blah, submit an app and we will evaluate you like everyone else" or the person may take 10 mins (or longer) of their time to discuss the opening and your background during the same call or later. Do some minor prep and don't be a fool and the worst case is they won't be able to discuss it at all until after you apply.

Call versus just stopping by and asking that?

Reason I ask is Im in an open work environment and you never know who is overhearing...


Anything else I should know? Should have my resume and coverletter prepared and just give it to him when I talk or get some info and do intros and wait and see what they say.

Give him a call. Have a resume ready, but don't push it at that moment. Just talk about the position, what it involves, what is he looking for, etc. Everyone understands the drill. If you are asking the right questions and showing the right enthusiasm, then he'll ask you for your resume.

yeah, basically go find him. have a resume ready, and have a 90 second speil about why you think you are right for the job. have the names of one or two people that he can ask about you (probrably not your boss is you don't want him to know); be ready if he says to come in and be interviewed right then and there, but that probrably won't be the way it goes


good luck

Update:


Asked around and know the incumbant of the position (works on my floor, but I never formally met her) and the Sr. Director who would ultimately do the hiring.

1. The sr. director works out of the NY office and Ive never met him. Should I email my information and a few quick lines and see what happens? My fear is since I cant pin him down in person he will email my boss asking about me and that would be dangerous.

2. Should I approach the woman who's position it was before (Note: I have no idea if she got promoted, is leaving the company, switches jobs or what, so its a little risky)?

3. Just apply through HR but drop major call outs about how I love the company, want to grow here, etc... and go through the normal process?

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