Free Advice
Making the Most of Networking
Get out there.
Meet more people.
Tap into your network.
Have lunch.
Hit the career fair.
Your position has been eliminated, and now you’re doing all the things listed above to land that next job. Only it doesn’t seem to be working. Days of unemployment are turning into weeks and then to months.
I’ll be honest, there’s no magic formula that can guarantee you landing that next job. However, there are some definite strategies for making the most of networking.
1. Work Hard
You may have heard the old adage that it’s a full-time job getting a full-time job. It’s true. You are going to have to work hard, and you’re going to have to get out there if you want to find success.
Call up your favorite old boss that you haven’t talked to in five years. Attend the networking event that happens to be in an inconvenient location. Register for the career fair that may only have two or three companies that interest you.
I don’t suggest that you waste your time, but I firmly believe in the old saying, “You never know.” You may be at the career fair and meet another job seeker who has an amazing connection at your dream company.
Every situation may be a bit different, but you should be spending 40 – 50 hours a week job searching. The more effort you put in, the more likely you are to land a job.
At this point and in this market, your advantage is time and effort. Make sure you remember that.
2. Follow Up
Now is not the time to be passive. I think the single biggest mistake that most job seekers make is not following up on leads. In fact, I use those “sales” words because getting a new job is a lot like sales. Let me give you an example:
You’ve lost your job and you’re working the lunch circuit with old friends and hitting a few networking events. At the first networking event, you meet your old friend Patti who is now a big shot at OMD. Patti mentions that they might have some openings and that you could be a good fit. You tell her you’re interested, and she says she’ll be in touch.
What do you do?
A. Wait a couple weeks to see if she gets back to you. After all, she said she’d be in touch.
B. Send her an email the next morning telling her how much you enjoyed reconnecting and attaching a copy of your resume.
C. Stop the job search all together. “Hey, Patti said she’d hook me up!”
The answer is of course B. However, far too many job seekers I know opt for A. When you are in a job market like this, being assertive is critical. Success is in the follow up. Don’t assume your job search is at the top of everyone else’s to do list.
Now I certainly don’t recommend you call Patti every fifteen minutes for the next month checking on the job. Remember, a restraining order should not be a typical job search outcome, but you do want to effectively navigate the fine line between being persistent and being a stalker.
In this case, I’d email Patti the next day. If you don’t hear from her, shoot her an email about a week later. Then as a last resort, contact her roughly one month from your first meeting to check in one final time.
3. Understand the difference between determination and desperation
Let’s be honest. You need a job – badly. You have mortgage payments, a family to feed, and an incurable affinity for Gucci. Even though that may be your personal situation, don’t give off the air of absolute desperation when you’re networking and connecting with old colleagues. Quite frankly, it comes off poorly.
I have job seekers who have come to me and said, “Brad, I’ll take ANY job you have. I just need SOMETHING. I don’t care what it is”.
To be honest, no one you’re networking with wants to hear that – even if it is true. I equate it to dating. What if someone came up to you and said, “I’ll date ANYONE out there. I just need SOMEONE to go out with. Do you want to go out on a date?” I think you may be a bit turned off.
Position your inner desperation as determination and flexibility. For example:
“Right now, I’m looking for something in account management. I was a VP/Director in Chicago at my old company, but given the market, I’m fairly flexible in terms of title and location. For me what’s important is finding a good fit in terms of company and culture. I’m confident that if I get my foot in the door I can prove myself on the job.”
Sounds a bit better.
I know it’s not easy out there right now. Work hard and work smart and good things should come.
Good luck.