KB_FarmerType

Strategic Sales

Valued Contributor

Hiring Mgr, am I being an a**hole here? I withdrew

This is happening to me again, so asking.

I saw perfect role (dream company), I carefully crafted my messaging, I navigated through cold outreach and landed on Hiring Manager inbox after few followups. The guy is seasoned VP (ex-FAANG Cloud sales).

My messaging and intent was to know if headcount is still open and if he is looking for people like me (hoping to have quick qualification call or connect to recruiter).

He responded that he does not personally meet candidates to be fair to all candidates and has received a lot applications. He was directing me to the portal to apply.

To which, I responded (with gratitude) that I appreciate his response but I am a hardcore high-ticket transformation seller, I don't agree to participate in any RFPs unless I get a chance to qualify it first before wasting anyone's time. Job search is not too different from that. If he has got many applications and doesnt appreciate my well researched outreach, I don't stand a chance. So applying in portal? No Thank you!

So, my curiosity:

1.) What kind of Hiring Mgr doesn't like direct outreach from candidates? or feels annoyed?

2.) Is someone in organization telling HMs to not entertain cold outreach?

3.) When I was a manager, I was all over to build a network of talent and speak to A-Players in the market. Am I a minority type?

🧢 Sales Management

🗣 Interviewing

19

35 comments

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braintank

Politicker

16

Enterprise Account Executive

I can sympathize with his stance. He probably gets hit up by dozens (if not hundreds) of candidates and it's not sustainable to talk to everyone.

Also, describing yourself as a "hardcore high-ticket transformation seller" isn't doing you any favors.

jefe

Arsonist

5

🍁

All of this is on point.
TBH, he's probably got things he feels are more important than talk to potential AEs. People like this get inundated with all kinds of requests

oldcloser

Arsonist

4

💀

Yes to al of the above. If it's me, I appreciate the effort, but give the same answer. He's got a recruiter. He's just letting them do their job.

jefe

Arsonist

6

🍁

Delegate, delegate, delegate

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

2

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

You are absolutely right. I think you need to get to the recruiters on the role too. Just build the buy-in. Once you get past the screen, you can follow up with the VP to let him/her know how great you are.

GDO

Politicker

8

BDM

Yeah I get that he gets contacted a lot. He just wants HR or someone else to do the screening befor the top candidates get to them.

He wants you to be on a shortlist before wasting his time

CuriousFox

WR Officer

6

🦊

Dude sounds a little overwhelmed. Try his process then follow up with HR?

oldcloser

Arsonist

6

💀

I like the RFP analogy. But as you'd dig to discover a company's buying process, you were just told what their hiring process is. You gotta go the "general admission" route and multi-thread the follow up.

Space_Ghost20

Valued Contributor

5

Account Executive

As others have said, he might be inundated with these types of messages. But also, with DEI and EEOC being top of mind at a lot of companies, he might have gotten reamed out recently by HR, who may have informed that failure to follow the official application process opens the company up to potential liability.

KB_FarmerType

Opinionated

0

Strategic Sales

Thanks for that perspective

HVACexpert

Politicker

4

sales engineer

TBH in my opinion using the word ‘hardcore’ to a hiring manager is a little cringe

CuriousFox

WR Officer

5

🦊

A little???

HVACexpert

Politicker

2

sales engineer

Ok a lot I was trying to be nice? But not really? 🤷🏼‍♂️

KB_FarmerType

Opinionated

1

Strategic Sales

Couldn’t control it! But u r right 😅

Avon

Politicker

3

Senior Account Executive

I think you come off annoying and a little arrogant. I agree with the initial reach out, but after that I'd accept what he told you and follow instructions.

Pachacuti

Politicker

2

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

If he’s a seasoned middle manager type, he’s basically an admin and has lost any appreciation for people who put in a little Extra effort.

That said, he may already have a candidate in mind and is just pushing you to a portal because he doesn’t want to deal with you. And/or it’s a HR-ruled company and he’s falling in line with the status quo.

KB_FarmerType

Opinionated

1

Strategic Sales

Yes, that’s what it feels like.

Diablo

Politicker

1

Sr. AE

He must be just overwhelmed but at least he responded which means he respected your message. Wish you all the best!

Sunbunny31

Politicker

1

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Many companies require applications to be entered through their portal, regardless of outreach. If you've ever had to fill out an application after you've already gotten the job so they have that paper trail, you'll know this happens.
You are probably also not the only one to have reached out directly. Many people are going this route, so it's no longer a way to separate yourself and stand out. If you really want this job, you can follow his request and follow up later with him and HR.

oldcloser

Arsonist

2

💀

Yapp - decent companies gotta hit the EEO benchmarks no matter what.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

1

Sales Rep

The manager is status quo with hiring and follows a strict process, maybe there has been nepotism in the past at the company so everyone goes through the portal.
I might recommend mentioning how you applied to the portal to show you are following their process also

KB_FarmerType

Opinionated

1

Strategic Sales

Yes, makes sense!

ventox35

Politicker

1

Sales Leader

move on my friend. i spent weeks trying a similar approach to break in to what was the perfect role for me..this job market just sucks. being a hiring manager has to be miserable right now

KB_FarmerType

Opinionated

0

Strategic Sales

True

ApocalyBoom

Politicker

1

Account Executive

So I got a lot of contacts. He just wants HR or someone else to do a screening before bringing the candidate up.

1

VP of Sales

Before I send a message on LinkedIn, I start by apologizing for sending a message as I know there is a ton of spam. If they give me a no, I apply and move on.

KB_FarmerType

Opinionated

1

Strategic Sales

What do you say in the message? How do you get their attention?

0

VP of Sales

Depends on the role, but I generally say something along the lines of how interested I am, a 1-2 sentence about how I believe my experience stands out, and if there are any additional steps I need to take for consideration.

TheQueenofDiamonds

Politicker

1

Account Executive

Try to hit up his boss 😉, let his boss to instuct the HM to take a look at you. Another option is it get someone internally to submit your application, multi tread to increase your chances
GL

gaurav

Valued Contributor

1

Director Digital Experience

IMO, it's important to appreciate the process and adhere to it. Both hiring and selling requires that.
That'd be a major red flag for any mid-large organizations. Building/following and navigating the process is a major part of the job as you grow in rank and size of organizations.

my two cents!

KB_FarmerType

Opinionated

0

Strategic Sales

Thanks for your insight!
💯 for appreciating the process, But also to me the process/org operating system is the reason for where people get ahead or stay stuck in doing the wrong things.

I am forming the opinion that middle manager in large corps are now mostly burnt out

gaurav

Valued Contributor

0

Director Digital Experience

100% but unfortunately that's how the game works!
Few years ago a senior person told me that 70% of all the budget in enterprise transformation exercises goes to Mckinsey, BCG and KPMG which is largely aligning the organization, setting up the process, getting scope aligned etc.

Only rest 30% goes in actual implementation of the transformation.

Managing the process is a super power, most folks don't have.

1

Retired Sales Professional

Perhaps there was a time when you could engage in A-Players network building mentality, but HR has become much stricter with following procedures do to lawsuits and like many of the comments he is perhaps just following procedures that were put into place by HR. I don't think it's anything personal, he probably admires that someone is that proactive, but he still has to follow procedures. Don't let this stop you from putting your hat in the ring and going for the position. If your that good you will stand out.

KB_FarmerType

Opinionated

0

Strategic Sales

I love you , thanks for the encouragement

Beans

Big Shot

0

Enterprise Account Executive

Nah he's accurate, follow their process or don't bother.

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