Does Social Networking Have a Good Impact to Your Career Search?
After you've created all your "self-marketing documents" and verbal presentations, you're ready to take your job search "to the street" and begin networking. The goal is to contact people who can help you reach the hiring managers inside your target companies. Networking can be done on the phone, in person, via e-mail or even "snail mail."
No matter what, don't ever let-up on your networking efforts. Ninety-five percent of people land great jobs through their networks. It's not worth risking those odds to NOT be continually networking! Remember: If you're in career transition, networking IS your job. It should be the primary focus of everything you do. The quantity and quality of your networking time is directly related to the personal, professional, and financial satisfaction you'll have in your next job."
Who should be on your contact list? Who should you be reaching out to? The answer is: everyone you know. Everyone? Yes, everyone! Every single person alive who knows your name should be on your contact list! (The only exception is people who clearly don't like you)! It doesn't matter what these contacts do for a living, or where they live, or how much power or money they have. The key is not to pre-judge people or make assumptions about who can and cannot help you. After guiding thousands of clients through the networking process, I have learned that most new jobs are secured through people who were least expected to be of help!
Let's "de-mystify" the networking process, so it won't seem overwhelming or confusing to you any longer. What follows is a highly-structured and purposeful approach that consistently produces excellent results! Using your Contact List to focus on the specific people to contact, here are the basic steps you'll need to follow:
1. Build Rapport. State, "I was referred by (give name of mutual friend/colleague), or "I was referred by our mutual colleague/friend (give name), who suggested that" .... (Find some area of common interest to discuss). I'm contacting you about a career matter, but let me assure you that I am not calling to ask you for a job - nor do I expect you to even know of any job openings. Let me start by telling you a bit about myself and my professional background....
2. State "where you've been" by using a Positioning Statement. This is a succinct, pre-prepared verbal statement that explains "who you are" professionally. Example: "I am a senior Financial and Operations Professional and graduate of Western General's Financial Management Program. I have more than 15 years of experience in the Manufacturing and Services industries. My strengths include analysis, problem-solving, communication and innovation. I have specific expertise in Financial Analysis and Reporting, Cash and Risk Management, and Productivity Analysis. I am seeking a leadership position with a focus on Financial Reporting."
3. Share "what happened" with an Exit Statement. This is a concise explanation of why you're no longer at your previous position, or why you're interested in leaving your current employer. Example: "As a result of a merger between two business units, over 1,500 positions have been affected, including mine. I now have the opportunity to explore other career options in Financial Services that will leverage my proven strengths in analysis, problem-solving, communication and innovation." The Exit Statement must be expressed in positive terms, so there will be no suspicion that you "did something wrong" to lose your job.
4. Ask for help. "Would you be willing to help me?"
5. "Decompress" - take the pressure off - reassure your contact again that you are not asking for a job. Reiterate, "As I said, I am not asking you for a job, nor do I expect you to know of any appropriate positions. However, I am interested any advice or guidance that you could offer, in addition to any networking contacts you could provide. (Give name of mutual friend/colleague) told me that you'd be a great person to talk to for this purpose. Would you be willing to review some of my credentials, and give me candid feedback? I could send the materials right over."
6. Ask again for help, i.e., expanding contact network, guidance, advice, feedback. Leverage the notion of "six degrees of separation" - ask for contacts from your contacts! And always "come from generosity." This means you should be on the lookout for opportunities to offer something of value in return.
7. Share your main documents, and set a time to get back to them. State, "I'll e-mail (or fax) a one-page Professional Biography and list of Target Companies to you. Then I'd like to follow-up and have another conversation - when would be better for you, Wednesday afternoon or Friday morning? I know your input will be of great value, and I appreciate your willingness to help. Follow-up after your networking meeting and keep the conversation going with two-way value exchange. Note: if the contact is a "center of influence," try to have your follow-up discussion face-to-face instead of on the phone, unless the contact is outside your geographic region.
It is a very smart career move to always be networking no matter what is going on for you professionally. If you do not need help at this time, build up your networking power by helping others. In general, people will want to help you. It makes them feel good about themselves. It boosts their self-esteem to be considered "a connector" of people with opportunities and information, and it makes them feel important." Networking is a great investment in your future, and over the long term, it always pays good dividends!"
Questions and Answers
Article Tags:
new career
,employment
,vacancies
,role
,training courses
,work
,jobs
,recruitment
,job centres
,in
Companies are taking a closer look at who they hire today. From heightened security concerns to an increase in negligent hiring lawsuits, companies understand that bad hiring decisions can cause them big problems. That's why over 90% of employers now run background checks on potential hires. During a background check, a hiring...
Teaching English abroad in Vietnam is a unique experience for anyone who seeks to explore a beautiful country with a rich heritage. You may find people who say that it is not difficult to find jobs in Saigon, but the converse is true. It depends on where and how you conduct your search.
Thailand is a beautiful country with an expanding opportunity to teachers seeking opportunities to travel and teach. The steady demand for native English speakers means that any confident applicant with basic teaching skills can secure employment without difficulties.
Doctor jobs are growing in demand. Canadian research discovered that over four million Canadians lack a family physician Because four million Canadians don't have a family physician, the need for physicians is enormous Provinces throughout Canada are desperate to fill these vacancies.
Although Singapore is an island nation, it has grown to become a modern and efficient first world model country in Asia too. The infrastructure is remarkable and education sector largely successful.
Malaysia is a beautiful country with a thriving tourism industry. Like other emerging countries in Asia, the education sector spurs the knowledge-based economy. The education reforms have been instrumental in producing a quality workforce that satisfies the professional demands of various industries.
Companies are taking a closer look at who they hire today. From heightened security concerns to an increase in negligent hiring lawsuits, companies understand that bad hiring decisions can cause them big problems. That's why over 90% of employers now run background checks on potential hires. During a background check, a hiring...
Finding a job is such a daunting task. Here, there, and everywhere, job seekers tend to look for the best means in order to find the best jobs. However, most of them are predisposed to neglect job fairs. This is because many job seekers get annoyed with the jam-packed, full of activity, and baffling series of events. Nevertheless, they are still the best place to land a job. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the United States, the employment status is likel...
I wasn’t happy with my last performance review. Should I dispute the review? Write a letter for my file? Talk to a lawyer? Or just let it go?” A. Most professionals feel you should offer some kind of response. But whether to respond, and the way to respond, will depend on your company’s culture, the unwritten message and your own career goals. 1. Assess your report in light of the company’s culture. In some cultures, anything but glowing praise will be viewed ...
While having a formal education is certainly a good way to break into some industries, don’t fret if you didn’t earn a college degree. There’s still hope! Let’s look at three qualities you must possess in order to get the job you want without a degree. Soft Skills: These are skills not obtained by getting a degree. Some of these skills deemed most important by employers include the following: Enthusiasm Friendly personality Punctuality Ability to get along well with ...
Discuss this Article
