Read Online The Google Resume by Gayle Laakmann McDowell - Free Book Online

I don’t live in the area. They don’t like to pay for relocation, interview travel expenses, etc. How do I explain to them that I’m relocating?
    ~Y. M.
    Dear Y. M.,
    I wouldn’t necessarily tell them that you’re relocating—I would just act like you’re already in San Jose. You should never lie, of course, but you can just tell them on a “need-to-know” basis. As long as you’re willing to pay for all travel and relocation expenses, this should not present an issue.
    Rather than listing your full address on your résumé, list just “San Jose, CA.” Employers don’t really need your address for anything anyway until they send out offer paperwork. They will likely just assume your lack of street address is a privacy issue and will just shrug their shoulders. Why not just list no location at all? Because they’ll then see “Chicago, IL” for your most recent company and assume that you’re still there.
    When they call you to schedule an interview, that’s when you should tell them the truth: that you’re actually not moving to San Jose for another two months at most , but you’ll be making a trip there in two weeks. Will there be a time then that can work? You’ll make your life much easier if you can batch your interviewers into the same week.
    Because you’re applying to start-ups, there’s a very good chance that they can’t wait two months. They needed you, well, yesterday. You may need to be a bit more flexible with your move, and spend a few lonely weeks away from your wife.
    ~Gayle
    Distant Relations
    Dear Gayle,
    Over dinner the other night, my mother mentioned that her friend Eliza had a friend Eric who worked at Facebook. I know it’s not exactly a close connection, but I’ve been trying to get an interview there for months. What’s the best way to make this introduction?
    ~V. R.
    Dear V. R.,
    So let me get this straight—you want an introduction to a friend of a friend of your mother’s (who, for all we know, needs to send you off eventually to someone else). This isn’t that distant as far as connections go, but it’s tricky because you may have little credibility by the time your résumé shows up at Facebook.
    My advice hinges on how well you know your mom’s friend.
    If you know Eliza reasonably well, you can reach out to her directly. Otherwise, your mother should ask Eliza if it’s all right if you e-mail her. At that point, your mother can either introduce you two, or you can just grab the e-mail address and e-mail her directly.
    Your e-mail should go something like this:
    Hi Eliza,
    I hope this e-mail finds you well. I’ve been working at [current company] as a [current position] for a few years now, and I’ve just started looking for a new position as a [new job title]. I’m extremely interested in Facebook, and I recently learned that you might have a contact there. If there is any way that you could facilitate that connection, I would be extremely grateful. My résumé is attached as well, in case that’s useful.
    Thank you!
    ~V.
    Short. To the point. A very, very brief mention of relevancy. Résumé attached. And absolutely no reference to your mother.
    Why no reference to your mother? Because your e-mail will, very likely, be just forwarded on to Eric and you don’t really want “my mommy helped me” attached to it. It’s better to have Eric assume that Eliza knows you directly, not via your mother.
    In fact, you should choose all your words wisely. Any e-mail that you write—to your mother, to Eliza, to Eric—will often be just forwarded along to the next step in the chain.
    Also, remember that you should never make a connection without mutual consent. That means, if you’re the introducer, have both people agree to the introduction. In this case, you don’t have control over how the you-to-Eric introduction works, but you do have some control over the you-to-Eliza introduction. Ask your mother to get Eliza’s permission.
    ~Gayle
    Just Following