by SuzanneI mean, literally no one. And yet so many women are hesitant to accept an introduction from a family friend.
Introductions and advice are not handouts.
The problem is in the perception of what a handout is. If a friend of the family who happens to be in high places says they want to recommend you for a role, they aren’t giving you a handout.
People want to help you because you’re worth helping.
They are offering something to you for precisely one reason: because they believe you’re worth helping, you’ll do a great job, and everyone wins.
Hiring managers want help in finding employees they can trust.
Here’s the biggest question that hiring managers face: Can I trust her to do the job?
Hiring is about the transfer of trust. In a sea of applicants with similar qualifications and backgrounds, trust is the single most important thing that can tip the scale in your favor.
You can’t convey trust on a resume.
But you know what does convince someone they can trust you to do the job? Someone they know and trust vouched for you. Why did they vouch for you? Because they are incredibly charitable and just want to give away all their personal capital knowing full well that you’ll let them down and tarnish their reputation? Absolutely not! They’re vouching for you because you’re worth it. They trust you to do your best (important note here that your best does not mean you have to be perfect).
You’ve earned a seat at the table, you’ve earned the chance to have an interview. If you were wholly unqualified for the role you’re interested in, or entirely not capable of doing the job, your family friend wouldn’t even consider making that intro for you. An interview offer isn’t a handout.
You’ve earned it.
You’re smart, driven, you work hard, and you’ve got the education (PhD, MBA, Bachelors) to backup that experience on your resume. You’ve got what it takes. So when someone offers to help, take the ball, run with it, and knock it out of the park.
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