How to contact an HR of a company
Are you in a fix because your dream company does not advertise its internship program? Well, it’s certainly not the end of the road. What you could still do is — contact the HR who handles recruitment and request her to consider your candidature. But how?
In past, we have been inundated with a lot of requests for ways to contact a company’s HR. We put on our thinking hat and this is what we got out of ourselves –
Scour LinkedIn – LinkedIn is the Facebook of corporate world. Use the filters to zero in on the HR of the desired company and send her a connect with a customized message, something like – Hi Rashmi, Hope you’re well. Wanted to connect to you regarding internship openings at Internshala. Thanks. This is the most reliable method to get a reply!
We have already outlined the immense benefits LinkedIn can provide – read the complete guide for using LinkedIn.
Through college Training and Placement Cell – They contact HRs every year and in the process, they accumulate a huge database of contacts. Your college will be more than happy to help you bag an internship (but only during vacations). Additionally, their reference ensures you start on a positive note with the HR.
Find references – Your friendly neighbor Mr. Sharma doesn’t go poking his nose around all the day. You will be surprised how many doors he could possibly open for you.
Same it is with your professor. He might be a scrooge with marks, but can help you connect to HRs of some big companies in your field. Again, same goes for your seniors. If someone has done an internship at XYZ or working there after graduating, then she may guide you on how to score an internship with the same company. People are generally very forthcoming in helping someone they know set a foothold in their career. Don’t hesitate to ask.
There are many student blogs/discussion forums wherein students actively discuss internship prospects – Quora, forums/groups on LinkedIn, entrance-exams.net and even on Facebook. Being active in those could help you build a good network.
Visit the official company pages – There is a ‘Contact us’ page in almost every corporate website, or a ‘Directory’ that you can use to collect the email ids and phone numbers of the concerned persons. Mail your CV along with the cover letter, but expect either a delayed reply or in worst case, no reply. A follow up call (see next point) after 3-5 days after you have emailed, is recommended (see the next point). Be ready to persevere as HRs, usually, are flooded with such requests.
In general, you have a better chance of getting a reply from a startup than a corporate office.
Cold calling – Has limited chances of working but, nevertheless, worth a try and can help you stand out as a sincere candidate. You could call the reception desk of a company (the number is usually listed on the website) and ask them to connect you with the concerned person for recruitment. If you’re lucky they will patch you through. Be ready with your elevator pitch, the next minute will decide whether you’re getting that crucial internship or not.
Hope this article has helped you! Have you tried any other way and it worked? Tell us in the comments section below!
And now that you know how to communicate with the HR of a company, what are you waiting for? Register on Internshala and apply to these cool internships now!
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