Archive for Networking
Improve your job search with time management
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My career coaching client, Dan, recently texted me saying he needs to stop going on so many job interviews so that he has time to breathe and really think about his long term career direction. This is a nice problem to have!
Are you managing your time to the best of your ability? It is is crucial to stay on top of networking in your job search, but it is just as important to be efficient and stay organized along the way. Don’t let yourself get too overwhelmed with interviews and applications. Take the time to sit back and really manage your career path. Remember, quality is always better than quantity.
Way to go Dan on securing your interviews through networking and job boards. I agree, it’s time to take a step back and make sure you’re not entering the land of diminishing returns.
Hallie Crawford
Career Path Coach
P.S. If you would like more help with your job search and networking, be sure to check out our Free Resources Page today!
Everyday Networking Opportunities
Posted by: | CommentsWatch my latest YouTube video where I discuss a USNews.com article that I was featured in about creative and alternative places that can be used as networking opportunities. In this video I give specific networking tips about how to make the most of your networking events.
There are so many places we don’t even think of as networking opportunities. I’ve had clients get interviews at weddings through their in-laws, through their daycare provider, at sports viewing parties at bars and through friends who knew someone was going to be laid off before the company posted their job opening. The bottom line is networking really can happen anywhere, as cliché as that may sound.
If you’re in the job market, act professionally wherever you go. Put your best foot forward just in case. That doesn’t mean be stuffy, just be mindful of the impression you are making. Have some good icebreakers prepared for any networking event. What is something you can say to approach people and start a conversation? Have a way to gracefully exit a conversation as well. Even by simply closing things out with “It was great to meet you,” “Can we stay in touch?” or “May I follow up with you in a few weeks?” Make a plan for staying in touch with them so you design how you can best help each other in the long run.
Six steps to structure your networking strategy
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Here is a great article I wanted to share with you from the Harvard Business Review, Find a Job with Massive, Structured Networking. Networking is fundamental to any job search. Here’s an excerpt from the article:
The best source of possible jobs is networking. The way to succeed at networking is to reach out broadly to people who can help. The way to fail is to limit your contacts to the few people you know well. Massive outreach is the only reliable path to victory.
There are many ways to network effectively today, whether it’s virtually, online, or in person. I completely agree that no matter what method you us, you have to have commitment and be organized. You have to have courage in your job search, and do what it takes to stay on course. This article shares six great tips to help you with your networking strategy. I particularly like this one:
3. View discussions as learning opportunities, not just job inquiries. Ask about more than jobs. Ask about the industry, how to succeed, and how to position yourself. Approaching these meetings as conversations breaks the ice. It’s disarming. What you learn may lead you to shift your target, like Isabel did, or change the way you present yourself.
This is what it comes down to in your job search. You have to take the necessary steps along the way to learn and grow through the experience. This will help you in the long run be more knowledgeable and prepared for any opportunities that come your way. Step outside your comfort zone!
What can time do for your career journey?
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I was very impressed when I received this email awhile back from my career coaching client, Robin. Check out how prepared he was for his career fair. It went really well after all the time and effort he put into it!
I researched all 120 companies attending and wound up with a list of 12 I thought were good fits. Further research pared the list down to 4 and I received an invitation from a fifth who saw my profile on the career fair web site and asked me to come talk to them. I prepared folders with my resume, a business card and a cover letter slightly customized for each company. That seemed to be very well received and was an indication of my level of professionalism.
Having a plan and being prepared with information about the company and the positions they were looking to fill was invaluable. The lead company did not even list the position I wanted in the booklet we all received. It was an interesting and very fruitful discussion. Because I knew who I wanted to talk to and what I was interested in, I feel all of the discussions went well and expect good results. None of them may ultimately result in a job, but not for lack of preparation or execution.
When dealing with your job search, it’s always worth going the extra mile. Follow Robin’s lead and put the extra time and effort into preparing for your networking events and interviews. It will pay off!
Hallie Crawford
Job Search Coach
P.S. Is your resume ready for your networking events? Read this article to help you get organized and prepare for the big event!
Using the internet to find a job
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Many of our career coaching clients are making the mistake of a) not using the internet to find a job or b) using the internet inappropriately to find a job.
Some clients don’t have LinkedIn profiles; others have weak ones that don’t show potential employers their skills and what they might be able to offer. A lot of new clients talk to us about all the job searching they’ve done on the internet, and how all these hours have lead to nothing. Most of the time, those people are doing it all wrong.
I saw this great article on Harvard Business Review’s website – “How to Curate Your Own Personal Job Feed” that gives specific advice on how to use the internet effectively. It’s an article part of the series “The New Rules for Getting a Job”.
Read more here: http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/03/how_to_curate_your_own_persona.html
I encourage you to follow through with everything discussed in this article. These are the same tips we give to our clients, specifically her advice on using LinkedIn:
LinkedIn, unlike Twitter, is entirely focused on professional networking so there is no need to separate your job hunting activity. Your starting point for finding listings on LinkedIn is under the “Jobs” tab in the top navigation. At first glance, LinkedIn’s Jobs feature appears similar to other job boards in your ability to search by various criteria, but it offers another important element: the ability to search jobs based on how connected you are to the employer. After filling out your criteria on LinkedIn’s Advanced Search page, you’ll receive a list of results along with, on the left side of your screen, a list of ways to refine your search. When you refine by “relationship,” you can see job postings based on whether you have first, second, or third degree LinkedIn connections into that organization. This is crucial information for determining whether you might be able to ask someone in your network to personally introduce you to the hiring manager or recruiter at that organization.
In addition to searching LinkedIn’s job listings, check out LinkedIn Groups, which also feature job posting areas. Go to LinkedIn’s Group Directory and seek out groups for your industry or other niches. Then, for each group you join, click on the “Jobs” tab within that group. If the group is private, these postings won’t appear in a general Google search, so you may find opportunities that aren’t posted elsewhere.
To add these LinkedIn opportunities to your daily “rounds,” opt in to receive daily job alerts (available from LinkedIn’s main Jobs page) and to receive daily group digest emails from each group to which you belong.
Source: http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/03/how_to_curate_your_own_persona.html
One last important note: While networking online is a good idea, nothing beats networking in-person. Make sure to get out from behind your computer and network!
Hallie Crawford
Certified Career Coach
P.S. Is your dissatisfaction a passing phase or a sign it’s time to move on? Find out if you’re in the right career. Take our free Ideal Career Quiz today!
4 steps to help you meet your career goals!
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I had the privilege of being on a radio show for Q100 here in Atlanta last week. We talked about staying on top of New Year’s resolutions. Here are 4 steps to help you meet your goals that I shared on the show:
- Create a job search plan that includes your ideal career direction, plus two other possible ideas related to it, in case you need to expand your search over time.
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Firm up your elevator pitch. What makes you unique? You have to know your brand or your value. Understand your strengths and what you bring to the table.
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Network, network, and network. Networking is still the best way to get a job. Employers are still going to be hesitant to post jobs because they still get flooded with resumes. Set up as many informational interviews as possible.
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Go for what you really want. The job market is getting better, but you have to realize it takes work and time. Sometimes a new approach to your job search is needed to stand a better chance to land the job you really want.
If you’d like help at achieving your career goals this year, contact us today to set up a complimentary consultation.
P.S. If you are interested in furthering your career direction, be sure to check out these free tools, specially designed to help you on you career journey.
How to spice up your job search today!
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A key element to spicing up your job search is to ask for information. After working with many career coaching clients recently, I’m finding that people aren’t using the right networking strategy for their job search. Here are some key tips to spice up your job search:
- Informational interviews are resonating and helpful in your jobs search. Talk to the people in your network who work in an industry you want to be part of. Ask them for 15 minutes of their time to learn more about what they do. Don’t ask for a job, ask for information.
- Go places where people are, such as professional associations. Instead of going to job fairs and places where people are unemployed, this can be a great way to make connections and learn more about your preferred industry.
- A good networking strategy is critical and includes LinkedIn. Update your LinkedIn profile right away if you have not done so in the past 3 months. People still don’t get on LinkedIn and use it effectively. 80% of recruiters are searching here. We have a career coaching client who upgraded her account to paid and is reaping the rewards of seeing the actual traffic to her account. There are many ways to use this actively to run your search.
- Soft skills are important, and another area that job seekers often don’t fully understand. Soft skills are skills that an employer can’t teach you like work ethic, management skills, or your ability to work in a team.
I hope these tips are helpful to you. If you are motivated and want to spice up your job search more, contact us today to set up a complimentary consultation.
Hallie Crawford
Ideal Career Coach
P.S. A great way to receive free help regarding your career direction is to our Free Monthly Newsletter. Check it out today!
Pick up the phone – Schedule informational interviews today!
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I was on a group coaching call a few weeks ago and my client Farah shared a great success story. Farah has decided that she wants to become a medical illustrator. As part of her research into this field and to learn more about it and whether it would be a fit for her, I suggested she try to find illustrators she could talk to for a few minutes to learn more.
She didn’t have anyone in her network so she found an association online where she found a directory of their members. She started with the letter “A” in alphabetical order and picked up the phone and started calling each of them. By the letter “D” in the list, she had already conducted 5 interviews with people who were very friendly and willing to speak to her! Not everyone will have as a great of a success story with this process, but it goes to show that networking works!
Don’t be shy when it comes to finding the right career. Pick up the phone and do what it takes to start scheduling those informational interviews!
P.S. Be sure to check out our FREE REPORT: “Take Control of Your Career Transition: Uncover Hidden Opportunities” to further help you in your job search.
