You searched and searched and searched, and finally feel pretty sure that a company is going to make you an offer. The interviews have gone well, maybe they’re even checking references. You run out to get a nice bottle of bubbly and wait for the good news.
Only, it doesn’t come.
Within the past 2 weeks alone, I’ve had this happen to my clients and even met someone who was offered a job, but had the offer rescinded before they started. The unfortunate thing is that all of these people put off making additional contacts because they were waiting for the big call. Completely understandable, it’s a tough job market and looking for a job totally stinks, but the time to stop job searching and networking is, unfortunately--never.
Here’s why you need to always be on the hunt:
1. Having multiple job offers is never a bad thing. If you’re working with one company, but they’re moving with the speed of molasses flowing uphill, you can nudge them along by letting them know you’ve received an offer from another firm, and while you’re very interested in working with them, in this economy, you’ve got to pay the bills. Everyone knows the state of the economy, and if this gets them to tell you the real story (maybe funding for the position is iffier than they were conveying), then it’s best you know that now before waiting for an offer that won’t come.
2. Lost opportunities rarely come back. If someone has brokered a networking introduction for you with a good job lead and you don’t follow up on it immediately, you make your friend look like an idiot, and, should you call the hiring manager few weeks later about that job, it definitely sends a message that they are your second choice. You lose either way. The trust of a friend, and a job opportunity, which puts you’re back to square one. Follow up on every lead. Always. Even if you’ve accepted another job. In talking to the hiring manager, you may know someone else who would be perfect, and voila, you’ve just turned your good fortune into someone else’s.
3. Building your network of contacts is always time well spent. Once you land in a new job, you’re in an even better position to help someone else. I firmly believe that those who will weather this downturn the best, are those that reach out to help others, and those who ask for help. There is no longer a stigma to being out of work—everyone has learned that their job fate can turn on a dime. By keeping your toes in the networking pool and helping people to make connections, it will come back to help you in ways you can’t anticipate. However, if once you get your job you shut down your job search, reaching-out mindset, you’re essentially turning your back on those people whom you could help. You’ve been there. You know what is helpful and what is not. Give to those who are in transition something that will help them.
Maybe you’re sitting there saying, ah, that’s not me. Once I get my next job the company will be completely downturn-proof, I’ll totally LOVE my new boss, I’ll be challenged to my utmost every day, receive regular promotions and nice raises, there is NO way I will even have the time to keep up with networking—I’ll be too DARN HAPPY!
I’m going to totally go on a limb and say that this was probably what you were thinking when you accepted your last position.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
What's Your Networking Strategy For Your Job?
Lately I’ve been asking my clients about their networking strategy. I’ve even decided to add coaching people on networking strategies to my roster of services—it’s becoming THAT important in this job economy. Sitting at home, in your fuzzy slippers and applying for jobs online just ain’t cuttin’ it. Here’s the two-step process to improving your network.
1. Figure out what how to talk about yourself. Check out 15secondpitch.com to figure out how you should talk about your experience. The Wizard takes you through questions like Who you are, what you specialize in, what you do, and why you’re the best at what you do. (gee..exactly what you should have on your resume and be talking about in an interview…imagine that. :) ) The key is to introduce yourself in a way that’s memorable so that people remember who you are and what you do; and Second of all: want to help you. You want them to become your sales force on the streets looking for jobs for you.
Case in point: I have many clients, each one with their own unique talents and skills that I enjoy crafting into a great resume or helping them highlight in a job interview. Since I know my clients really well, I’ve always got my radar on for ways to help them. This morning I got a follow-up call from someone whose resume I’d done several months ago; Tom. He landed, and then was recently let go through no fault of his own. This afternoon I went to lunch with a current client, Rick and told him about Tom’s background and what he was looking for. Rick gave me a fabulous lead that could help Tom. Because I thoroughly understood Tom’s background, I was willing to stick my neck out for him and advocate his abilities.
This is what you need as a jobseeker. You need advocates. You need to turn people you meet into a sales force who will stick up for you and go the extra mile to help you. Think about recommendations you’ve made to other people about restaurants, dry cleaners, doctor’s, etc. What qualities did those people or services have that caused you to speak out about them? What made them stand out in your mind? Since you’re now looking to BE recommended, you’ve got to exhibit those qualities when meeting people to get recommended. You need to turn them into advocates for your cause and funnel job leads and ideas back to you. Will you get some leads that you don’t want? Yup. Does it matter in this economy? Nope. Just pass it along to someone else you know who might benefit.
2. Look for places where you can now hone this fabulous sales-pitch of yours. First, look for jobseeker groups that meet in your area. There’s about 4 here in Southwestern CT, and I’d imagine that they’re popping up around the country at this point. You can also go to Meetup.com and look for other jobseeker groups. If there isn’t one—start one. Contact a local career coach in your area and ask them if they’d be interested in hosting it. As long as they’re providing good content and advice, they’ll be a huge help to the group. While you’re on meetup.com, check out other special interest groups—like movie going groups, board games, wine aficionados. All of those activities gives you a chance to meet new people and broaden your social network.
Another good option is to take a class, either through your school District’s Continuing Education program or a local college. My friend Gilda Bonanno teaches great classes in CT on Presentation Skills, (beefing up your skills in this area looks awesome on a resume, BTW). You can also take a business class that interests you at a local community college. Want to explore your options in project management? Then sign up for a workshop on that topic.
Attend association events. It’s not enough to be a member of the American Marketing Association and checking their job board, you need to show up at a meeting and charm them with your personality. Looking for a job with a local company? Check out your town’s Chamber of Commerce meetings. You can peruse their list of members to get a feel for the types of people who attend. Chances are that you won’t be in competition with many other (if any) jobseekers. Make conversation with the businessperson by asking about how they’re faring in this economy, get their thoughts on what’s happening in the local market. Then introduce yourself as someone in transition, and say that you’re looking to network with people in x industry or y company. NEVER ask for a job. You’re just trying to get an introduction to someone who has the potential to help you, either with advice about your skills or someone who has an idea of other avenues for your job search. People at Chamber meetings are master networkers. Always keep in mind that people will speak up for others whom they know and like.
Why does networking work well? The problem now is that hiring managers and recruiters are being flooded with resumes for their open postings. It’s much easier for them to listen to a recommendation from a friend or co-worker about someone who is a great candidate, check out your resume and discuss the position with you. Don’t you go to restaurants and buy cars that other people recommend before you strike out on your own? It’s the same decision-process for hiring managers.
The trick is that they don’t know you unless you make yourself known. Time spent networking is more productive than sitting on your couch worrying about your jobsearch.
1. Figure out what how to talk about yourself. Check out 15secondpitch.com to figure out how you should talk about your experience. The Wizard takes you through questions like Who you are, what you specialize in, what you do, and why you’re the best at what you do. (gee..exactly what you should have on your resume and be talking about in an interview…imagine that. :) ) The key is to introduce yourself in a way that’s memorable so that people remember who you are and what you do; and Second of all: want to help you. You want them to become your sales force on the streets looking for jobs for you.
Case in point: I have many clients, each one with their own unique talents and skills that I enjoy crafting into a great resume or helping them highlight in a job interview. Since I know my clients really well, I’ve always got my radar on for ways to help them. This morning I got a follow-up call from someone whose resume I’d done several months ago; Tom. He landed, and then was recently let go through no fault of his own. This afternoon I went to lunch with a current client, Rick and told him about Tom’s background and what he was looking for. Rick gave me a fabulous lead that could help Tom. Because I thoroughly understood Tom’s background, I was willing to stick my neck out for him and advocate his abilities.
This is what you need as a jobseeker. You need advocates. You need to turn people you meet into a sales force who will stick up for you and go the extra mile to help you. Think about recommendations you’ve made to other people about restaurants, dry cleaners, doctor’s, etc. What qualities did those people or services have that caused you to speak out about them? What made them stand out in your mind? Since you’re now looking to BE recommended, you’ve got to exhibit those qualities when meeting people to get recommended. You need to turn them into advocates for your cause and funnel job leads and ideas back to you. Will you get some leads that you don’t want? Yup. Does it matter in this economy? Nope. Just pass it along to someone else you know who might benefit.
2. Look for places where you can now hone this fabulous sales-pitch of yours. First, look for jobseeker groups that meet in your area. There’s about 4 here in Southwestern CT, and I’d imagine that they’re popping up around the country at this point. You can also go to Meetup.com and look for other jobseeker groups. If there isn’t one—start one. Contact a local career coach in your area and ask them if they’d be interested in hosting it. As long as they’re providing good content and advice, they’ll be a huge help to the group. While you’re on meetup.com, check out other special interest groups—like movie going groups, board games, wine aficionados. All of those activities gives you a chance to meet new people and broaden your social network.
Another good option is to take a class, either through your school District’s Continuing Education program or a local college. My friend Gilda Bonanno teaches great classes in CT on Presentation Skills, (beefing up your skills in this area looks awesome on a resume, BTW). You can also take a business class that interests you at a local community college. Want to explore your options in project management? Then sign up for a workshop on that topic.
Attend association events. It’s not enough to be a member of the American Marketing Association and checking their job board, you need to show up at a meeting and charm them with your personality. Looking for a job with a local company? Check out your town’s Chamber of Commerce meetings. You can peruse their list of members to get a feel for the types of people who attend. Chances are that you won’t be in competition with many other (if any) jobseekers. Make conversation with the businessperson by asking about how they’re faring in this economy, get their thoughts on what’s happening in the local market. Then introduce yourself as someone in transition, and say that you’re looking to network with people in x industry or y company. NEVER ask for a job. You’re just trying to get an introduction to someone who has the potential to help you, either with advice about your skills or someone who has an idea of other avenues for your job search. People at Chamber meetings are master networkers. Always keep in mind that people will speak up for others whom they know and like.
Why does networking work well? The problem now is that hiring managers and recruiters are being flooded with resumes for their open postings. It’s much easier for them to listen to a recommendation from a friend or co-worker about someone who is a great candidate, check out your resume and discuss the position with you. Don’t you go to restaurants and buy cars that other people recommend before you strike out on your own? It’s the same decision-process for hiring managers.
The trick is that they don’t know you unless you make yourself known. Time spent networking is more productive than sitting on your couch worrying about your jobsearch.
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