Social media is a must for you as a job seeker, and LinkedIn is King of social media for white-collar professionals. If you are in the job search, you need to see this short video and find out why LinkedIn is such a necessary resource for you. Click the video to watch.
How many times have you interviewed for jobs but didn't get it? Even though you were qualified, you were interested, and you had a great interview conversation? Probably at least a few....we all have. Or maybe you were offered the job but had to turn it down.
If you are in the job search right now, make a list of those companies and contact them again. Not to ask for a job--to ask for information.
In the video below, I will tell you about my own experience and how you can use this rich resource in your own job search. I'll even tell you what to say when you call. Click on the video to watch.
When you need to find a job, you shouldn't be picky about where that job lead comes from.
You might not think about your friends or family or your church family as a network, but they are. They know you well, they know how great you are. And because they probably don't work with you, they have contacts that you don't...outside of your normal work space. That can be a powerful resource.
Watch the video below and I'll tell you more about this.
I also have an entire blog article that will tell you more ways you can utilize this valuable resource. Read it here: Fastest Way to Find a Job Tip 23.
It is so important to talk to your friends, family, and church family about your job search situation if for no other reason than they are your support system. The job search is too stressful to carry it on your shoulders alone.
I’ve known job seekers to leave the house every day at the same 8am time just like they were still going to their job because they didn’t want to let their family know they’d been laid off. They didn’t want them to worry. And they then went off to try to look for a job and come home at 5 just like nothing's changed…even though it did, in a big way.
That’s a terrible way to handle this situation. That means that you, the person who’s looking for the job is bearing the weight of the job search all alone, and it’s crushing. It’s just too much.
So the first thing I want you to do when you find yourself out of a job is tell your friends and family and church if you have one. It’s good for you.
If you want a more practical reason than that, think of this: if it’s good for you, it will be good for your job search. If you have a happy, healthy attitude, it will show. You project what you’re feeling inside to potential employers. There have been studies that show that people with positive attitudes get jobs faster than those with negative attitudes.
And here’s an even more practical reason: your friends and family and church peeps know people, just like your “official” network does. For instance, I’m someone who knows a LOT of people. I have hooked so many people up with jobs in so many ways, completely outside of recruiting. You have no idea what connections your friends and family might have, and very often the most informal relationships can hook you up with a great job lead.
But friends and family could easily prove valuable even if they don’t have a lead or someone for you to talk to. For instance: I know someone who wanted a waitressing job at a restaurant and couldn’t get hired. She was their hostess, but they wouldn’t move her over to waitressing for a year, they said. So she talked to a friend of a friend, and that person started coaching her on how to move up faster. They told her to first memorize the menu. Then, on a slow day, find a waiter to follow around and see how they do their job. When someone doesn’t show up, offer to take their shift. Help the waiters clean up so they can see that you’re dying to do their work.
Not everything is as easy to transition into as a waitressing job…but: Every job has “insider” tricks and tools that would help you move into that job if you knew what they were. And someone in your network just might know what you need to know to do that.
Talking to your friends, family and church family is not as valuable as contacting hiring managers, but it can definitely help you into the job you want.
This information is so important I'm willing to 'bribe' you in order to get you to attend. Of course it's an ethical bribe. In fact I am willing to bribe you three times. You NEED to get this information if you are in a job search.
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Industry or professional organizations are some of the best job search resources anywhere. These can be fantastic because they are a direct connection for you to people in your field—including potential hiring managers, but that’s not your only benefit here. You can expand your network, you can learn a lot about your field, and you can often find out about jobs that aren’t necessarily listed on national job boards.
For instance, I was a part of several organizations when I was in clinical diagnostics sales:
My membership in these organizations paid off for me in multiple ways, over and over again. I ended up with great connections to potential customers as well as great sales reps and industry leaders I learned a lot from. My network and my knowledge both grew as a result of my membership. Every industry has some of these organizations, and they are extremely valuable for you.
There are thousands of these kinds of associations. Here are some examples:
This list isn’t even big enough to qualify as the tip of the iceberg because there are just so many of these organizations. Find yourself a directory and start looking. I think that Weddle’s Association Index is a good place to start.
So how do you take advantage of these resources?
Industry organizations usually have an events calendar you can find with lots of opportunities to participate. They will very often hold at least monthly events. Go to these events. They are very valuable to you, maybe more so than alumni organization events or generalized networking events because they are a concentrated gathering of people in your field. Think about all the hiring managers you could meet!
When you go, just follow the guidelines of good network event practices: Don’t be shy about introducing yourself. Have a quick but confident explanation of who you are and what you do ready to go, but listen more than you talk. Try to make some sort of a meaningful connection beyond just trading business cards. Follow up after the event with a personalized email or personalized LinkedIn invitation to connect (no generic invitations allowed).
Industry associations also usually have very strong networks within the organization…everybody usually knows everybody, and when you join, you will eventually know everyone, too.
Some industry organizations have internal job boards, which can be helpful. But beware…they will also attract a pool of highly motivated, connected candidates who also belong to that organization and saw the listing, too.
Bottom line: When it comes to industry organizations, join and participate. They’re worth it.
This information is so important I'm willing to 'bribe' you in order to get you to attend. Of course it's an ethical bribe. In fact I am willing to bribe you three times. You NEED to get this information if you are in a job search.
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Do you have a love/hate relationship with networking events? You know how important networking is for your job search and career success. Networking events are specifically set up so you cannetwork and meet new people. That’s a very good thing. Yet, the thought of “working the room” and walking up to total strangers to introduce yourself makes you feel a little sick, at worst, or insincerely schmoozy, at best.
While networking events are not as instantly beneficial as say, contacting hiring managers directly, they’re still a worthwhile use of your time and you should learn how to do them well. That said, here are some vital tips for networking success before, during, and after the event.
Before the event
See if you can find out what people will be at the event and research them and their companies. It’s always better to have some background rather than just going in cold.
Give yourself a goal to meet. Decide that you’re going to have X number of meaningful conversations, or you’re going to collect X number of business cards. That should keep you moving in the right direction, rather than getting sidelined in a conversation with one person or hiding in the corner.
Bring your positive attitude. Remember that everyone there is interested in meeting people. That’s why they came. So there’s no reason in the world to feel awkward. Dress in something that makes you feel confident and professional, stand up straight and put a smile on your face. You will feel better, and you’ll be more likely to attract others, too.
During the event
Get there early. It’s easier to walk into a room with less people in it that haven’t gotten deep into conversations yet, rather than a room full of people already talking to someone.
Before you do anything else, start by introducing yourself to the person at check-in, and ask where you can find the organizer. Introduce yourself, and thank them for setting up the event. That should start you out on the right foot.
Try looking for people who are standing by themselves. If you’re nervous, it’s easier to strike up conversations with them rather than break into a group. And chances are, they’re nervous, too.
Have some conversation starters ready, like, “Hi, how are you?” or “What brings you here today?” (See, they’re not hard.)
Focus on asking questions and gathering information, rather than selling yourself—but have a quick, clear explanation of who you are and what you’re looking for ready to go.
Think about spending 5 minutes establishing a connection rather than just grabbing their business card and running.
When you do get a business card, take a couple of seconds and write a few notes on the back to jog your memory later.
After the event
You must follow up with every business card or contact info you have, or the entire networking event will be worthless to you. Send an email, connect on LinkedIn…something. I would follow up within 24 hours. Just continue the conversation. Tell them it was nice to meet them, ask a question about how something they told you turned out, ask how things are going, give them a few more details about you, tell them if there’s anything you can do for them don’t hesitate to ask. And then add them to your list of contacts to maintain to keep a healthy network.
This information is so important I'm willing to 'bribe' you in order to get you to attend. Of course it's an ethical bribe. In fact I am willing to bribe you three times. You NEED to get this information if you are in a job search.
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Not all social or civic events are hotbeds of job search networking…I’ll give you that one. Networking events are better suited for that. However, I believe that any gathering where someone might ask you, “So what do you do for a living?” is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to say, “I am a ____ who’s in between jobs and looking for a new opportunity.”
Does the idea of just putting it out there like that make you nervous? It shouldn’t. In our society, we have a very bad tendency to be ashamed of the fact that we don’t have a job. Well, if unemployment is a permanent condition for you and you are physically and mentally able to work, maybe you should be ashamed. But a job search is a temporary state that will end as soon as you find what you’re looking for. It doesn’t define you. The only difference between you being unemployed and employed is one job offer letter. Your unemployment will end as soon as you find that one opportunity and get that one offer letter. And you can’t find what you’re looking for without talking to people.
(Just a side note: If you ever find that you are feeling depressed about your job search, go back through your resume and brag book and remind yourself of how good you are. You can even call previous bosses or co-workers and ask them how they would describe you and what you have to offer. Their positive reinforcement will do wonders for you.)
Having said all that, I would say this: I don’t think that social events are as useful as civic events. They could be…you just might run into someone who happens to know someone who needs help, but probably not. Maybe if you’re in more socially-based job…
On the other hand, civic events can be pretty useful: Chamber of Commerce meetings, City Council meetings, boards or commission meetings, or other community-based events. People who go to those are usually going to be more focused on business, and therefore more focused on networking to benefit themselves or their companies.
I was a member of the Chamber of Commerce in my town a couple of years back, and I can tell you that when you went to that Chamber meeting, you could find out anything if you needed it. We had a Chamber luncheon once a month, and if I went to that luncheon, I had my finger on the pulse of the community. They were a resource for me, too: I could ask someone at any time, “Does anybody know someone who does XYZ?” And everyone there would help me out. Now, this is Texas, where everyone is really friendly, but I suspect you’d find some friendly folks in your town, too.
This kind of networking could work well for all kinds of jobs: PR, marketing, fundraising, accounting, advertising…(I’m running out of steam, but you get the drift). You could easily get the chance to sit down next to someone who needs a person like you, who could directly benefit their business.
This information is so important I'm willing to 'bribe' you in order to get you to attend. Of course it's an ethical bribe. In fact I am willing to bribe you three times. You NEED to get this information if you are in a job search.
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Alumni organizations are great networking resources for you, which means they are also great resources to help you find a job.
I graduated from the University of Oklahoma, so I have attended many OU alumni functions in Dallas. (Most alumni organizations have groups in different cities.) Because of that I landed at least one business contract that was very profitable for me, and I also had a speaking gig at the OU School of Business MBA program for years because of my association and participation in that alumni organization. I built relationships within the organization because I showed up and talked to people, and it paid off.
I got a lot of exposure for my business from those relationships in my alumni organization, and I could have easily gotten several jobs over the years. If I could do it, then you can, too. Anyone can.
So how can you build relationships and leverage that membership in your alumni organization?
First, go to functions. They are so important.
You just never know who you might get a chance to speak with…people with specific skill sets, people with very extensive networks, people who know just the person you should talk to. You never know what connections they have outside that organization, and your connection with them through your alumni association is your ticket to those connections.
Alumni organizations also provide you with the opportunity to get to know people very high up on the food chain that you would otherwise never get the chance to speak to. You could get the chance to sit down and have dinner next to a CEO who happens to be in your group when there would be no other avenue for you to do that.
You don’t even always have to physically show up at an alumni function (although I always recommend that you do, for the reasons above). For example, I knew someone who graduated from Georgetown, and he was able to get internships, job shadows, and all kinds of opportunities just by tapping that Georgetown Alumni Association on LinkedIn. Alumni groups are even easier to access on social networks like LinkedIn and Facebook.
You can also leverage that membership in other ways. If you’re a subject matter expert, let your alumni organization know. You can give back to them by being a speaker for their functions or events, like I did with OU’s business school. That gives you exposure (plus very valuable public speaking experience) and gets people to thinking about you. You never know where that might lead.
Alumni organizations are very valuable. There’s a lot of opportunity in them and they should never be overlooked.
This information is so important I'm willing to 'bribe' you in order to get you to attend. Of course it's an ethical bribe. In fact I am willing to bribe you three times. You NEED to get this information if you are in a job search.
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There's a trick to finding a job fast, and you don't have to already know someone in the company to do it.
Even with high unemployment and a competitive job market, you don't have to be in the job search nearly as long as everyone else is. Watch the video and I'll tell you what you should do.
Do you realize how important your LinkedIn headline is to your success? It is a big factor in whether or not you show up in the searches that hiring managers and recruiters do to find great candidates. In the video below, I'll give you some tips for writing a great LinkedIn headline.
My LinkedIn Profile Tutorial is packed full of detailed suggestions for making every part of your LinkedIn profile as powerful as it can possibly be so you can attract hiring managers like a magnet.
Did you know that keywords in your LinkedIn profile can help you get the job? If you concentrate on putting the right words in 3 critical spots, you'll boost the number of times you show up in LinkedIn searches and get more job opportunities. Find out where your keywords should go and what kinds of words you should focus on in the video below.
LinkedIn doesn't tell you these kinds of tips because they're mostly concerned with networking. If you want to also use LinkedIn for your job search (because it's a great place to find hiring managers), find out how to create a powerful profile with our LinkedIn Profile Tutorial.
Adding a photo will do a lot to make your LinkedIn experience better...if you want the best experience possible, check out our LinkedIn Profile Tutorial for the best tips on making every section of your profile an opportunity magnet for you.
I've been teaching job seekers how to find and contact hiring managers for years, and they can't believe how fast they find great jobs
I wanted more people to have the same success my candidates have had, so I created a tool called the Hidden Jobs Finder. It consistently helps job seekers find unadvertised jobs and get interviews.
Most people who use it get multiple offers.
What does it teach?
how to get the names and emails of hiring managers in your field
what to say to hiring managers to get them to talk to you (written and verbal scripts)
how to build rapport and get an interview
It's a very easy, step-by-step system, and it WORKS. In just a few hours, I can teach you how to find all the unadvertised jobs you want. You could be choosing between multiple job offers within a few weeks.
If you aren't on it because you don't know what to do with it, see this article that explains some of the major features of Google Plus, and then sign up! The same "rules" you'd use for LinkedIn apply: be professional, post a great photo, participate in discussions ("groups" in LinkedIn, "hangouts" in Google+). See these fun graphics that show Google vs. Facebook. And you can also check out this article about how Google+ affects your job search.
If you are on it already, I'd like to share a circle of recruiters with you.
Recruiters are an extremely valuable ally in your job search. Connect with them on LinkedIn, follow them on Twitter, friend them on Facebook, and add them to your Google Plus circles. They are a strong part of your strategy to crack the hidden job market.
They are great contacts for your network. So, find me on Google+, scroll down to my post offering to share this circle, and click "Add circle." That's all there is to it.
Holiday networking is a limited-time-only gift to yourself
Holiday networking is full of big opportunities for you in the job search. It's like giving yourself a gift. But you better grab those chances while you can.
Take advantage of the season
The most important thing you've got to remember about networking during the holidays is just to do it. Reach out. This IS the time of year when any contact you make will be received positively. People expect it, so take advantage of it. Send out cards and emails to EVERYONE.
Reconnect with people you haven't talked to in years
Think about all possible contacts: people you used to work with, former bosses, old high school or college buddies, former neighbors, your kid's Little League coach from 10 years ago, everyone. Send a card or an email. You have a reason--it's the holidays. Just say, "Hey, how are you? I was thinking about you and wanted to say Hi. What have you been up to? Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!" (Or Happy Holidays, or whatever holiday you celebrate right about now.) You don't have to tell them you're looking for a job. And you shouldn't, yet. There will be time to gracefully fit that into the conversation later.
If they respond and they're geographically close to you, invite them to grab lunch or coffee or drinks with you to catch up. If they're too far away for that, they might ask how you're doing and then you can talk briefly about your job search goal in a positive, upbeat way. (If that seems difficult, watch my video Be Positive When Explaining Your Unemployment.)
Thank your boss
If you're employed, now is a great time to give your boss a gift or just say "Thank You" without looking like a suck-up. Bosses like appreciation, too.
Attend holiday parties and events
If you've got a holiday party on your calendar, check out these networking event tips. Set a goal of a certain number of people to meet, and follow up with them after the party with a nice "It was good to meet you" note. If you're an introvert, Forbes has a nice article called The Shy Person's Survival Guide to Holiday Networking Events.
Offer help and information to others
Keep in mind the spirit of the season. If you can think of a way to help someone else out--do it, even if it's as simple as giving them a link to information they might want. Be a resource for people. I firmly believe that if you put good things out there, good things will come back to you.
HOW TO WRITE A 306090 DAY PLAN - These do take some work to research and put together, but the investment you make in time and effort is going to pay off big for you in terms of money and job offers
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