What is the biggest secret about the best
way to find a job? It's NETWORKING, one of the best employment services available -
and it's FREE. It's as old as history, and if you use it well, you can find a much
better job than you ever would using the want ads.
NETWORKING is making use of your personal
contacts to get a new or better job. Most often, networks are informal - they're
"connections" with other people who can give you
information or refer you to others who can. Everyone has some kind of connections
and may not even be aware of it. Sometimes we might feel embarrassed to let people
know that we're unemployed or trapped in a nowhere job, but do you really want to
avoid a process which is the single best way to get yourself in front of hiring
managers? And NETWORKING is a two-way street -- the person who helps you today
may need your help tomorrow.
In a study conducted in 2001, 60% of study
participants from around the country overwhelmingly cited NETWORKING as the most
effective job source mechanism, followed by search firms at 7% and the Internet
at 6%. Tom Silveri, the CEO of Drake Beam Morin said, "... we emphasize the
importance of building and maintaining a network of relationships to tap the hidden
opportunities not yet advertised, and also because when given the choice, managers
prefer to hire someone they know - or to whom they were recommended. With
average job tenure decreasing, individuals will likely experience several
transitions in both job function and industry during their careers ..."
(www.dbm.com)
Are you spending most of your job search
time looking in the newspaper and on the Internet? If so, you are only finding 6%
(or less) of the jobs that are out there. According to Drake Beam Morin, if you
don't network, you will miss out on 60% of jobs! That means your job search may
take longer and the final result may be much less satisfying than if you had taken
the leap and networked.
Here are some tips on how to do it well:
1. Keep in mind, your goal is to
get information from people. Asking for a job outright can put people off or
make you sound desperate. But everyone loves to give information or advice.
Say "I would appreciate any ideas you might have about a marketing
career" or "I'm really interested in the pharmaceutical industry. What are
the trends in the industry right now?" or "What do you like best a
bout working for A-B-C Company?" and don't forget to ask, "Do you
know anyone else I could talk to who can help me in my career search?"
2. Don't be afraid to call people
you haven't talked to in a long time. Most people will be flattered to hear
from you. If they're not, what have you lost?
3. Talk to as many people as you
possibly can. Make a list of people you know. You may be surprised at how many
people are on that list when you're done. There is always someone out there
who would love to give you a hand.
NETWORKING contacts can include:
Personal (family and friends)
Work (current and former co-workers, supervisors, colleagues, etc.)
Professional Groups (trade associations, formal NETWORKING groups, breakfast clubs)
Personal & Professional Services (physicians, attorneys, accountants, etc.)
Multimedia (newsgroups, web sites, personal e-mail address list, authors, etc.)
4. Before you pick up the
phone, be ready! Here are some tips for good telephone NETWORKING:
Rehearse what you are going to say ahead of time.
Be energetic and positive.
Make sure the background is quiet.
Stand up and smile while talking.
Have pad of paper and pen handy to take notes.
Disable call waiting.
Remember the time difference if calling to a different time zone.
Don't have an unprofessional message on your answering machine.
Don't let a child answer your telephone.
Speak clearly and slowly if leaving a message on voice mail. Give times when you will be available.
5. Focus your goals and
requests, and be specific when you call people. Develop a 1-minute "commercial"
that tells your contact:
Who referred you to the caller.
Who you are in terms of education, work situation, and roles.
The highlights of your skills, qualifications, and accomplishments.
Why you are NETWORKING (job leads, information about a career, etc.)
Always ask for another name to contact,
and see if the person you called would be willing to look over your resume. Ask
if the contact knows of any
companies that might be hiring in your field. Be concrete and ask for tips, such as "What
other courses do you think I might want to take if I want to go into website design?"
Most people get hired for two reasons - they have
the skills to do the job AND they have a good personality match with their boss and
co-workers. NETWORKING over the telephone can be an efficient use of your time if
you develop good relationships with people.
6. Follow up with people you have called.
Keep the calls or meetings short -- 15 to 30 minutes -- out of respect for the
person's time. Thank the contact for their time by sending a thank-you e-mail or note.
When you call again,
briefly recap part of the conversation you had. Periodic phone calls maintain and build
relationships, but don't mistake being persistent with being pushy. Always have a
specific reason for calling -- a question, or a comment about how some of the
person's advice is helping you. If you are too shy to call, send a note every
once in awhile. As your search progresses, weed out those people who aren't helping
you so that your network will be stronger.
7. When you're out, always carry several
copies of your resume with you. Also, consider getting business cards with brief
information about yourself. You can list your name, address and contact information,
your degrees, certifications, and field of expertise.
8. Be organized. Keep written or computerized records of all the people you
have contacted in some kind of order so that you can find the record quickly if
needed (such as, if the phone rings and it's a potential employer on the other
line who wants to interview you!).
9. And as successful as NETWORKING is,
don't forget to check the Internet, classified ads, trade magazines, recruiters, and
make cold-calls to companies. Those ways still work, too!
information or refer you to others who can. Everyone has some kind of connections
and may not even be aware of it. Sometimes we might feel embarrassed to let people
know that we're unemployed or trapped in a nowhere job, but do you really want to
avoid a process which is the single best way to get yourself in front of hiring
managers? And NETWORKING is a two-way street -- the person who helps you today
may need your help tomorrow.
companies that might be hiring in your field. Be concrete and ask for tips, such as "What
other courses do you think I might want to take if I want to go into website design?"
briefly recap part of the conversation you had. Periodic phone calls maintain and build
relationships, but don't mistake being persistent with being pushy. Always have a
specific reason for calling -- a question, or a comment about how some of the
person's advice is helping you. If you are too shy to call, send a note every
once in awhile. As your search progresses, weed out those people who aren't helping
you so that your network will be stronger.
8. Be organized. Keep written or computerized records of all the people you
have contacted in some kind of order so that you can find the record quickly if
needed (such as, if the phone rings and it's a potential employer on the other
line who wants to interview you!).