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If you
ever bought or sold real estate, you’re familiar with the most
important thing about buying real estate:
“location, location, location.”
So when it comes to your job search, the most important thing
in a job search is “network, network, network.”
You can still post your resume or search online.
You can even look in the newspaper if it makes you feel good. But take this opportunity a step further…
You see an ad or posting online, it’s one of the companies
you’ve targeted on your “most want to work for” list.
Ask yourself this question, “who do you know that works for
that company?” Ask
your network the same question.
Even if
your networking contact is the grocery store clerk’s mother, you
stand a far better chance of her getting your resume to the right
person, then getting looked at by a piece of software that’s
scanning your resume for key words – strategically placed in key
locations on your resume. And,
when it comes this level of scanning, if you don’t make the first
cut, you’re never looked at again.
In
today’s troubled economy, with shaky employment, and many people
still unemployed and looking, take your job search beyond the
monster. Networking is
a learned skill that helps you build long-term relationships for
your next job and future jobs.
Considering
that networking is the number one most effective way to finding a
job, especially in today’s job market, why not increase your
networking opportunities now during the holidays.
Assuming you are already networking and finding a stalemate,
here are a few tips to get you through the holiday blues, meet a few
new people and have a festively great time in the process:
Revisit your contact list. Call
everyone you know and wish them “happy holidays” from now
through year-end. Depending
upon your list, it may take the next 3-4 weeks to do this.
But you’ll get a chance to have people think about you in
your transition and you’ll have an opportunity to ask “ do you
know of anyone in my field that I should be contacting...”
Ask about those “most want to work for” companies too.
Review your list of contacts with an eye for widening your network.
Who haven’t you met and would like to meet before the end
of 2002? What a perfect reason to call your network and ask if they
know this person and would provide the introduction for you.
Maybe that introduction would be during a holiday party or
holiday lunch/dinner.
Call business associates, personal friends and acquaintances you
haven’t talked to recently and bring them up-to-date on your job
search progress. You
may be surprised when they have a few additional ideas for you or
some new contacts for you. Guaranteed
this would not happened if you didn’t call them.
You’ll probably attend at least one holiday party this season.
For some people during December, it is out of control with
holiday functions – some scheduled for the same day or evening.
Stay one step ahead of your competition, when you put on your
holiday cheer, and include a few business cards in your pocket.
Yes, business cards! Make
it easy for the people you meet to remember you when at that holiday
party when they ask, “do you have a card?”
Don’t hesitate to ask someone you meet at a party if you could
call them sometime for coffee, or to talk further about their
knowledge of the industry they work in.
People love to talk about their work.
Get information as well as a different perspective when
asking probing questions about their work.
Bring business cards (never the resume) with you this holiday season
where ever you go, whether shopping with your kids at the mall (you
never know who you may run into), attending your spouse’s company
party or headed to your neighbor’s for an open house and eggnog
treat. You
will continually have opportunities throughout the month of December
to meet people, so take advantage of those opportunities.
Be prepared with business cards so you can be remembered and
be contacted at a later date. And
remember to follow up with those you meet.
So, not sure what to do this holiday season?
Add some holiday cheer to your job search.
You’ll never know who’s standing next to you while saying
hello to your host. It could possibly be your future employer – or the person
who will introduce you to that next employer.
Forget the fruitcake, have your business cards ready in this
ever-changing world. You
never know who you will meet regardless of the function you attend.
No matter who you are, the idea is to network now more than ever.
Ask for information, create new leads, follow up on old
contacts, etc. Cultivate
your leads into multiple generations of leads.
You’ll find that such networking can lead to additional
information, interviews and potential job offers not long after the
new year.
Happy Holidays to You and Yours!
Warmest Regards,
Rosemary Augustine
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