Dear Ed,
I just met the publisher and fashion editor from a VERY IMPORTANT fashion magazine at a fashion show. They were both sitting next to me as I was there on behalf of the fashion editor I currently work
for. I’ve always wanted to work for their magazine and they were actually really nice to me when we chatted. They didn’t give me their contact info, but I can easily track it down—is it okay to send them an e-mail? Or should I send a hand-written note? Would it be appropriate to send my resume with my note?
Thanks,
Jay, New York, NY
Dear Jay,
If you hit it off with the fashion editor, you could email her a quick note to say how nice it was to meet her at the fashion show. Don’t bother emailing the publisher because s/he isn’t usually involved with editorial anyway. If you’re interested in working for that magazine, you could mention that in your note and see if she’d have 15 minutes to meet with you to talk about opportunities at her magazine. Talk, briefly, about what you love about her magazine and the sections she works on. You may also want to bring up something you discussed at the show so she knows exactly who you are (she may have met lots of people there). Attach your resume.
Some editors might think e-mailing an editor when she didn’t give you her e-mail address is presumptuous; some might be impressed you took that initiative. Either way, it’s worth a shot. If she doesn’t get back to you, you could try following up with a phone call a week or two after the e-mail, but don’t leave a message, and don’t send any further e-mails. You wouldn’t want to harass her, since you may run into her again (and then she’ll avoid you like the plague).
Let us know what happens!
Love,
Ed
