Weird to Make this Call?

[Jeremy21]

Okay, I'll try to keep this relatively short and try to keep it from getting convoluted also, although it is a little bit.

 

For reasons of employment-seeking, I've been considering/planning to move to New York City in a couple months (to put this in more context, I graduated college last year and mostly haven't gotten to use my degree so far). In my chosen field(s) and jobs I've been trying to get, there isn't much where I live currently and as I understand it it's kind of a waste of time to apply from afar as they won't look at your resume (at least, again, in these fields) unless you already live there. So I've been trying to get advice from the few contacts (family and otherwise) who live there, just in terms of making the move, finding an apartment, etc. Obviously, if any of them have any job-hunting advice as well, that's awesome, but I don't know many offhand who could help in that regard.

 

Anyway, my parents live in this condo building where they are friendly with another couple there, and my mom sang with one of them in a chorale so they know each other by name, etc. The building had a picnic recently and I guess they all ran into each other and got to talking. When my parents mentioned my plans (the others asked how their kids were doing), they mentioned that they have a daughter who has lived in New York for a few years and might be able to give me some advice. Apparently they didn't say what their daughter does for a living, but they passed on her name and number to my parents and then they passed it on to me.

 

Well, out of curiosity I did a quick Facebook search just to see if I could see what she does for a living before calling...and by sheer coincidence, it turns out that she's a writer for my VERY FAVORITE television show (to protect identities, I won't say which).....like, one I have been watching religiously for years, and often quote to other people in conversation. (And on top of that, I should mention that I'm an aspiring writer with some interest in writing for television one day, should the opportunity arise.) I'm not sure if my fandom is specifically important to my question, but I feel it's worth mentioning, because I mean, holy $#@!

 

My one concern is this...knowing something about the schedule for that show, she's probably pretty busy, and not to mention doesn't know me. I know her parents passed on the number, but I don't know if she was given any knowledge of that fact by them. I did voice my concern to my mother, and she apparently gave this writer a call and voice mail (not returned yet) basically asking if it would okay for me to call, which I thought might help since my mom is fewer connections removed than I am from the writer.

 

I'll probably make a call tomorrow and leave an extremely polite message...but is it too weird/rude to make this call at all? And if not, would it be too much to inquire about how she got on the show and get some advice on trying to find my own big break (not on the same show)?

[lila...]

No, I don't think it's weird at all, especially if you're going about it in a polite manner. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Hopefully she answers given her busy schedule, good luck!

[Ariel85]

Stop being a weinie. Call her, explain who you are, ask when is a good time to chat, etc. The vast majority of jobs are never advertised, btw. Go for it!

[catfeeder]

If this person hasn't yet returned you Mom's call or email, then I'd wait until she does. I think you're smart for awaiting permission, as the woman was volunteered for something she knew nothing about.

[abitbroken]

I would have hoped the woman's parents would have given her a heads up or asked for permission to give her info out. Maybe they did. I would let some time pass for your mom's messages to be returned, otherwise she may feel bombarded. I probably would have asked her parents to give her your info, etc., and not put your mom in the middle, but you can't change that. When you do talk to her, I would not mention the show at all. In fact, it could be possible that there is someone in NYC with the same name also and its not her. You never know. Anyway, I wouldn't wait forever, but I would give it a LITTLE bit of time.

 

BTW, companies DO consider candidates from out of the area if its a high level position or you are exceptional and are willing to relocate. You won't probably get a part time job that way, but if you are specialized you might. Do you have any professors or classmates that work out that way or have a connection to a business there? The reason being is that a personal recommendation from someone who knows you works well to get you an interview.

[Teaday]

In most industries it's smart to actively pursue connections like these. One of my friends recently called a "friend of a friend" solely for advice, which resulted in a recommendation that landed him the position in the same building. As cliche as it is, it really is "who you know" to get the job and then "what you know" to keep the job thereafter.

 

Definitely contact her as professionally and politely as you plan to. It's something that happens more often than you'd think, and most people are more than willing (and often flattered) to give advice. Your call already gives the unspoken compliment of "You're doing well enough that I can trust you for advice."

 

Just remember that this call is a big deal to YOU, not necessarily her. If you're conscientious, there's no way she'll find it weird.

[Jeremy21]

I would have hoped the woman's parents would have given her a heads up or asked for permission to give her info out. Maybe they did. I would let some time pass for your mom's messages to be returned, otherwise she may feel bombarded. I probably would have asked her parents to give her your info, etc., and not put your mom in the middle, but you can't change that. When you do talk to her, I would not mention the show at all. In fact, it could be possible that there is someone in NYC with the same name also and its not her. You never know. Anyway, I wouldn't wait forever, but I would give it a LITTLE bit of time.

 

 

I hoped to do that (the bolded part), but as it turns out my parents didn't have this couple's phone numbers offhand, and while my mom e-mailed one of them (a very polite "will she know he's calling?" sort of thing), she isn't sure how current that e-mail is now or whether they'll see it. I would have loved to speak with them first myself, but I just have no way of contacting them at the moment (they live a floor under my parents and they're all friendly and know each other by name...that's all I know).

 

As for it being the same person...I'm certain. I didn't really intend to snoop too much, but I did a Facebook search just to verify she's a real person, see if I could find her profession, etc and it's the same person that came up. I even found that she had posted something regarding her father and it was the same guy. And I found a bunch of profiles of her as a writer, etc that said she grew up here. So it's definitely her....pretty crazy.

 

As for connections out there...I'm not sure. There's a family member or two. Professionally, I think I have a few out in D.C. but not that I can think of offhand in NY. But I have one old professor (an actual TV reporter) out in D.C. who could be of some help I suppose, since his name would still be significant enough.

[pinkbriefcase]

You go make that call now. It won't hurt you...^_*

 

Keep on keeping on...

[chitown9]

You did not state what your career goal you are trying to attain. Are you an aspiring writer? I would wait a few weeks to determine if the way has been paved for you before you make the phone call. If you don't get the go ahead, I would still call her in an apolegitic manner. I would ask when it would be a good time for her to chat...

[Jeremy21]

You did not state what your career goal you are trying to attain. Are you an aspiring writer?

 

That's my ultimate goal, although ostensibly I'm planning to go to NYC to find work in publishing (such as working as an editorial assistant) as that's pretty much the "hub" of it. I was also a Political Science major and wouldn't mind working for the right political organizations (perhaps in writing/communications) but that's more of a "Plan B." But that said, my hope is to eventually write professionally (in an actual creative field), and hopefully gain some experience as an editor or something else related in the meantime. One bit of advice I've often heard/read is that it's best to go that sort of route and do writing on the side on your own for a while.

 

Ostensibly, this call is more to get general advice on moving to the area (again, this writer's parents did NOT mention what she did professionally), but given my goals, it would seem sort of silly for me to only pick a professional writer's brain on apartment hunting...

[MissIndigo]

Well, my mom would always give me a heads up if she gave my info to someone who was visiting my city who may need some help, but I long ago gave her my permission. I would think this gal's parents probably did the same thing. When you call, you could always ask her something like, "if you don't mind me asking, what brought you to NYC?" and that could be a good segue into talking about career matters. She'd probably be happy to talk to you about her writing career, either in that conversation or a follow-up.