Does Networking Feel Like Begging? Then You Are Doing It Wrong!

As a job seeker, you have probably heard three important statistics impacting job search success:

1) Between 45-75% of people get their job through networking

2) You have a 50 times greater chance of getting a job with a connection

3) Only 15% of the available jobs are posted online.

Even though networking greatly increases the chance of getting hired, too many job seekers refuse to network, many because they feel like they are begging when they go to a networking meeting. The good news is that is not what networking is about.

Here are the steps to follow to increase your chances of getting a job through networking:

      1)  Be prepared

Be sure you have all of your marketing materials ready. The job search requires much more than just a resume. For networking, you also need to know your elevator pitch, have an ample supply of job search business cards, and a complete LinkedIn profile.

     2)  Know WHERE to network

There are job networking groups in many towns but most of the attendees are not employed. That is not a target rich environment; it is like going to a married group looking for a date.

I am a professional affiliate of one of the nation’s best job networking groups, CrossroadsCareer.org and they serve a vital purpose. You also need to network with employed people especially people in your industry.

There are a number of ways to find industry groups in your area. The simplest approach to locating target rich groups is to search the internet using the name of your industry or job title, the word “association” and your state (example: technology association Georgia). You can also search for meetup groups for your industry or job title in your city (example: meetups data analysis Atlanta).

    3) Know HOW to network

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I am an introvert. I do not like networking because even the thought of it exhausts me. However, I know that networking is an essential life skill. Like me, you just need to learn how to do it, practice it, and do it!

There are a number of excellent books that help develop strong networking skills listed on the RightChanges web site (www.RightChanges.biz) under Highly Recommended Resources.

The great news is that it is just meeting and getting to know other people and you have done 

that all of your life.

RightChanges affordable and successful job search coaches are here to partner with you to learn and execute a results-oriented job search strategy to help you get the job you WANT! Through December 1 we have specials that makes it even more affordable. For more information go to www.RightChanges.biz.

Judi Adams

The Affordable and Successful Job Search Coach

How to Follow-up with People during the Job Search

How to Follow-up with People during the Job Search

As a job coach, I am often asked how and when to follow-up with people following an interview or with someone who has said they would get back in touch. There are some basic guidelines I always give and want to share with you to increase your job search success.

        1. They said they would get back to me. Should I follow-up?

It is the job seeker’s responsibility to follow-up.  Even if the other person said they would get back to you, YOU are responsible for following up.

        2. How soon after should I follow-up?

There is no simple guideline that can address that question; the answer is “it depends.” It is based upon the facts and situation. I always have to ask questions such as “what exactly did the other person say?” and “how did you leave it?”

Do not, however, follow-up before the timeline they set. There is a reason they gave the timeline that they did.

          3. When should I follow-up?

The guideline I share with my job search and business clients is this:

NEVER follow-up on a Monday or Friday and NEVER the day before or after a holiday.

You probably surmised the principle behind this guideline. On Mondays or the day after a holiday, people are busy getting caught up with correspondences that have come in since the last work day and planning out their week. On Fridays or the day before a holiday, people are looking to wrap up their work so they can get out of the office.

          4.  Should I email or call them?

I always suggest paying attention to and using the form of communication that the other person prefers. Personally I prefer e-mail communications because I’m either working with clients and can’t take incoming calls, or I’m speaking at night and I can’t get back to returning a call until it is very late at night. Using email allows me to reply and move the communications along regardless of how late it is. Each person is different so make note of their preference ex. if you email them and they call you back, they prefer a call.

         5.   What do I say to someone who was supposed to get back in touch with me?

It is very important to be sure you do not make the mistake of pointing out to them their failure to contact you as promised. I call this blaming and shaming. Do not say “I didn’t hear from you” or “you didn’t get back to me about”. You do not know what has transpired in the life of the other person since the last time you talked, they could have had something terrible happen and blaming or shaming only makes you look bad.

Instead of blaming and shaming, always start communications with what I refer to as the “nice, nice” such as asking about their holidays. Then ask the question you want the answer to or, as in the case of an interview you are waiting to hear back from, re-express your interest in the job.

The way you handle follow-up reflects on your level of professionalism and is considered in the hiring process. Apply these simple but sound guidelines to be sure you are not eliminating yourself from consideration.

RightChanges is very thankful to our clients, their job search successes, and the abundant referrals over the past 8 years. In appreciation and to encourage other job seekers to get the help that will make a difference in their success, we have launched two specials from now until Dec 1. Check out our website www.RightChanges.biz for more information and to save. 

Are You Working Smart in Your Job Search?

Are You Working Smart in Your Job Search?

If you want to achieve more success in your job search, it is time to verify you are doing what is needed to find and land that opportunity. It is a matter of working smarter not necessarily harder.

As I mentioned in my last article (http://bit.ly/2ydi3vz), the fourth quarter is a great time to look for a job.  You will want to take advantage of this time by maximizing your approach.

Here are a few questions to ask about your job search. If you answer NO to any of these, then there are changes you can make to be more successful.

1.  Do you know and use in the interview your REAL strengths using Strengths Finder 2.0 instead of giving the answer everyone else gives (I’m a people person, organized, detail oriented, blah, blah, blah)?
2. Have you identified and documented OVER 70 of your accomplishments and interview stories in STAR format? Are the bullets on your resume used for accomplishments and not just part of the job description?
3.  Was your resume built using multiple job descriptions to ensure the keywords, skills, and experiences are emphasized for the job you are pursuing.
4. Do you have a well-honed, 30-second elevator pitch that does not include the phrase “I used to…”?
5. Do you have a job search business card so you have a professional way of sharing your contact information?
6. Is your LinkedIn profile complete? Does it include a headshot? Have you tailored your LinkedIn URL? Do you use LinkedIn as an active tool in your search? Are you active in LinkedIn groups?
7.  Have you identified 5 – 10 target companies that are more than just the best known companies in town.
8. Do you have a Networking Guide (or Marketing Plan) that you distribute to people who offer to help with your job search but can’t hire you themselves?
9. Are you using the T cover letter format to highlight what a great fit you are for the specific job posting? Do you position the cover letter in the same document as the resume so everyone that sees the resume benefits from the T cover letter?
10. Does your job search include multiple approaches with no more than 20% of your time applying on-line and working with recruiters?
11. Have you taken training (including on-line or self-study) since you have been in transition?
12. Are you networking with employed people? Do you know where people in your target industry and target companies go to network?
13. Do you repost your resume on-line every 3 weeks? Do you use industry or career specific job boards?
14. Do you know how to have the company share the salary range and how to postpone further salary discussions until they have offered you the job?

If you answered NO to one or more of these, then get with a professional job search coach to power up your search.  It can make all of the difference in getting the results you want.

Judi Adams

www.RightChanges.biz The Affordable and Successful Job Search Coach