The LinkedIn Cold Call: How one young professional used social media to get her dream job in offshore wind
Holly Rubloff is an expert at “the LinkedIn cold call.”
It’s a strategy she used to score a spot in Danish turbine manufacturer Vestas’ Graduate Programme, which has allowed the New York native to travel the world learning about and helping advance renewable energy efforts. This fall, upon completing the program, she was offered her dream job and moved to Copenhagen to work in corporate strategy for the wind energy company — another success story for Vestas’ talent development program that has taught over 380 graduates since 2006.
In the case of Rubloff and many others, Vestas’ program provided the right tools, experiences, and education at the right time to capitalize on a talented young professional’s passion for sustainability.
After completing a master’s degree in management, Rubloff started her job search with one thought in her mind –– “Maybe I’ll work in renewable energy?” With her long-held interest in foreign affairs, business and the environment, it felt like the right fit. But without a concrete path into the industry, Rubloff brought her career search to LinkedIn, a platform she says is one of several viable online pathways for recruiting more young people into the burgeoning industry.
She first began using LinkedIn to contact employees at Vestas to learn about its workplace culture and Graduate Programme with the hope they would pass along her resume to HR. Ultimately, Rubloff’s LinkedIn cold call proved to be an effective way to get her foot in the door.
“The first one I wrote, I spent hours typing the perfect message. You only have 300 characters [on LinkedIn],” she said. “I wanted to make sure I was concise and got the point across in a way that led to a response from the individual.”
Rubloff was successful. She found that most people were willing to offer feedback or career advice when asked about their experiences, especially in the world of renewables where so many have dedicated themselves to clean energy transition and preservation of our climate.
Vestas has also long viewed social media as a tool for reaching talented, prospective employees, especially younger generations now entering the workforce. LinkedIn and other platforms, including Instagram, offer a way to showcase the importance of renewable energy, put visuals to the impressive scale and impact of an industry like offshore wind, and share internal success stories such as Rubloff’s.
The company plans to continue using these platforms, as well as the Graduate Programme, as part of its broader talent strategy. The program puts a strong focus on both personal and professional development and gives participants the opportunity to work in two different locations during their tenure. As they move through the program, projects increase in complexity and provide real-life experience and training designed to help them take on future responsibilities and leadership roles.
In the two years Rubloff spent in the program, she traveled to and worked in cities around the globe, took on new projects and responsibilities, made friends with the diverse group of 18 program graduates, and even got to climb to the top of a turbine. In her free time, she now serves as a career development consultant for young professionals.
She also supports friends and peers with their online career searches and even created a LinkedIn cold call message template she shares with others.
“I advocate for LinkedIn so much whenever I am speaking to peers and other young professionals,” Rubloff said. “It is such a powerful tool, especially when the job market is competitive. It really helps you gain an idea of the company, the roles, and the people who work there and help get that foot in the door.”
Read more about the Vestas Graduate Programme here.
Want to know how Oceantic Network is supporting the next generation of renewable energy professionals?
Click here to learn about our New Wave program, a dynamic series of initiatives designed to empower and shape the future of the U.S. offshore wind and ocean renewables workforce. Next Wave includes in-person career development and networking opportunities, an internship program and scholarship, content at 2024 IPF, and new this year, a virtual job fair.
