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Sell yourself Networking is a must when hunting for a job Networking is one of the best ways to find a job, but it can be tricky. Here are some tips to help you get started and avoid the pitfalls.
Sharpen your focus A major cause of networking failure is lack of focus. When the person you’re talking to determines you don’t know what you want, they’ll want to get rid of you as quickly as possible. Before stepping out the door or making that first networking call, determine what sort of information you want from a given contact? Why do you need that information? Do your homework so you’ll know about the job you want and the company you’re interested in. Put mind in gear before engaging mouth Do not ask unproductive questions. Instead, job seekers should ask open-ended questions when making networking contacts. An unproductive question would be, Do you like working as a nurse? A much better question would be, What happens during the third shift when you are a hospital nurse? Other good questions could be: What frustrates you most about your job? What do you like about the company? If you suddenly became unemployed where would you look for work in your field? The goal is to keep them talking. Write it down After talking to a contact, write down what the person said while it is fresh in your mind. Have a note pad and pen or a laptop with you at all times. Timing is everything Don’t call business people during their busy times of day. Either they won’t take your call at all or they will take your call, possibly be preoccupied and cut the conversation short. “It seemed like they just wanted to get it over with,” a frustrated job seeker who made such calls told me once. Business people are good networking contacts, but they are turned off when you call at busy times. I often found Mondays and Friday afternoons to be one difficult times to call when I needed to discuss job openings. It is best to call early or late in the workday. Avoid the “hey-buddy” technique. The “Hey buddy, got any jobs?” line is an extreme example of some people’s approach to networking. They are so focused on leads that they lose sight of people. Instead, take time to develop a relationship with your contact. Perhaps you have information that would be helpful to them. “Hey buddy” networkers come off as users looking to take advantage of someone. True networking is a process of mutual give and take. No cold calls in networking Calling people you don’t know — a successful person in a local professional association, say – can be a bright idea and a good way to network. But it takes planning not to come off in a clumsy fashion. First, introduce yourself – in writing. Several days before a call, send the contact a letter and your resume. This way they won’t be surprised by your call and may have thought about what to say to you. Try, try again Don’t be discouraged if your first contact isn’t productive. Good networking opportunities occur when you least expect it. One of those least likely networking opportunity times would be when you have just been turned down for a job. Networking may be the last thing on your mind at this moment. However, I have seen job seekers put a “You’re not what we are looking for” interview session to good use. You could ask, “If you don’t see a place for me in your business, can you suggest someone else in the industry who might be able to use someone with my skills?” Network 24/7 Don’t let nerves keep you from networking. Some entry-level job seekers feel awkward networking. They believe their nervousness is a turn off to the contact. But networking is like any skill; it takes time to master. Confidence comes with time and practice. Be a people person Some job seekers never make a dent in an employer’s consciousness because they ignore how employers look for an employee. Often, the first place employers look for a new hire is within their ranks. It’s easier and less costly to place someone already working for the company in an open job. Then, they’ll most likely ask current employees if they know someone they’d recommend for the job. Seventy five percent of jobs are filled by internal promotions or employee recommendations. Job seekers should make it their business to intercept the news generated by this informal job grapevine. Put it in writing Finally, buy a box of thank you cards and some stamps. Liberal use of thank you notes is a good investment. It’s tax deductible. And a classy thank-you note delivered via first-class mail won’t get caught in someone’s Spam folder. |
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