The Write Resume Career Strategies Weblog

Networking Your Way to a Great Job!

Some people have estimated that only about 30% of all job openings are posted on a Web site such as Monster and Careerbuilder or advertised in professional journals or newspapers like The New York Times and those published by major chains such as Gannett or Tribune. The jobs that are not advertised are like a gold mine waiting to be worked by those skilled at networking.

Networking has long been a fantastic way to secure a great job. Just about anyone can become a contact - friends, relatives, bosses, co-workers or current/old professors.

However, if you have never networked before, there are some tips to follow that will make your networking successful.
1. Join a professional organization. By joining a professional organization, you can begin to identify the "key players" in your industry. Most industry organizations have committees where you can serve (unpaid of course) and get your name out to the rest of your colleagues.

2. Networking is as much about giving as receiving. If you hear of a great opportunity, perhaps not even in your field, pass the information along. Failure to pass this information to others may result in the flow of information not coming your way in the future.

3. Networks take time to develop. Do not expect to walk into one network type situation and walk away with a plethora of great leads. People need time to get to know you - and not just in a business sense. Share a bit of who you are personally - but not too much. You might talk about hobbies or your family, but keep personal issues out of the conversation.

4. Be careful the people you choose to network with - they may not be very popular. When you meet someone from the company your colleague works for, ask about them. If the response you receive is not favorable (from more than one person), then this person is probably not the best choice to form an alliance with in the future.

5. If you're meeting a stranger for the first time, remember that you're always being sized up--even in an informal setting. Put your best foot forward, ask more about the other person, and be sure to get a copy of their business card.

6. Follow-up with the individuals you received business cards from the very next day. Let them know you appreciated meeting them. You must keep contacting members of your network regularly--even after you've landed a new job. Many contacts will become invested in your job search and will want updates on your progress.

As with any type of talent it takes practice to be an effective networker. Always be listening for opportunities for yourself or others. Be kind, gratious and never discount the power that a person may have because of their position. You never know which people are related to those in power.

Backlash from Candidates?

Will employer "non-communication" with job seekers hurt them in their recruiting efforts? I have heard from many of my clients that they have not received any communication from employers after they have applied for positions. I figured there would be a backlash at some time and it looks like that time is now.

 

Here is an article from Roger Herman from www.hermangroup.com whose firm specializes in employment consulting for employers. In his article, he confirms what I thought was going to happen in the near future. Perhaps the employers will sit up and take notice!

 

Candidate Uprising Waiting to Happen
Roger Herman

Many employers are not paying attention. Their lack of sensitivity is about to cause some serious damage to their corporate recruiting.

During the late 1990s, employers faced the two-headed dragon of a shortage of qualified workers and a seller's market in labor. With numerous jobs available, talented people could---and did---pick the opportunities they wanted with the companies that offered the best package. That package always included how employees were treated.

Recruiters, gradually becoming more sensitive to employment market conditions, began courting desirable candidates. In fact, to assure their good reputation in this highly competitive environment, human resource professionals maintained a high level of communication with their applicants. Some of those workers would be hired; others would not be, but would tell other candidates of their experiences. As prospective employees shared their experiences---good and bad---with their fellow job seekers, employers became aware of the influence of word-of-mouth. If a company earned a bad reputation because of poor treatment of applicants, the top talent would not even bother to apply.

Over the past four or five years, employers have tended to ignore the common-sense courtesies of interpersonal relations. This misbehavior has become prevalent with employees as well as with applicants. Conditions have changed, but employers have yet to make appropriate adjustments.

The two-headed dragon is back. We face critical shortages of many skills, creating a scarcity in certain occupations that is already more critical that what was seen a decade ago. As we have shifted back to a seller's market, employee turnover has begun again. Executives continue to report that "finding and keeping valued workers" is one of the top three concerns that keeps them awake at night.

Job seekers are talking about how they are being treated. Incredibly, few employers have the courtesy to respond to prospective employees---acknowledging their resumes, thanking them for taking their time for an interview, or letting them know if the job is no longer available. Discourteous employers will soon discover that their competitors are capturing the most desirable workers, just by showing some consideration. Manners make a difference in today's marketplace.