By Claudia Jordan
Cindy had relocated to a different state and after three years decided to change professions from real estate to retail store management, her previous occupation. Her first step was to contact her former boss to ask him to be a reference. She had not spoken to him for more than three years. When he found out that she wanted to get back to retail management, he said, "Cindy, that's great! Did you know that, as we speak, our company is negotiating to buy six stores in your state? If it goes through, we'd love to have you back on board." The deal went through, and Cindy was instrumental as the regional manager since she had lived in the state three years.
Mary was re-entering the job market after her children started school, and decided to target an accounting job. Her career counselor recommended that she start networking, but Mary was so shy, she was embarrassed to tell anyone. Finally, the counselor suggested that she tell at least one person: her brother who lived in California, several states away. When the brother learned of her decision to be an accountant, he recommended a friend he knew in her hometown, and Mary got the job.
Tom was seeking a position as a technical writer. He had been looking for a long time and was about to give up. One day his father was talking to the tree trimmer he had hired. The father told the tree trimmer of his son's job search. The tree trimmer said, "My wife heads up a technical writing group, and she's looking for a writer." The wife interviewed the son (who lived in another state), and he was hired for a job he loved, in a location he loved.
It is indeed a small world. It has been said that any individual is only seven acquaintances away from any other person in the United States. Networking does work, whether it be local, out-of-town, or out-of-state. And today, with the Internet and e-mail, people keep in touch with lightning speed.
Where the Leads Are
Professional and trade associations can open doors to industry news, rumors, new contacts, and job leads. People are friendlier and easier to approach in a more casual setting, and where else can you meet so many good contacts in one place?
Find the appropriate associations by asking contacts in your field or at the library in the Encyclopedia of Associations. Before you go, do a little background work on the association by talking with a member you know or contacting the association and asking for its brochure and membership materials. Ask for a membership roster, too, (very helpful!). Some will provide it, some won't unless you are a member. Armed with information, head for the meeting. Don't forget your personal calling cards.
Your aim is to meet new contacts, learn of job leads, and hear industry news. Use finesse when meeting people. The last thing you want to do in this kind of situation is bludgeon people over the head with your job search. Think of some tidbits of information you can share with others, making your interaction more like an exchange of ideas and information. Do hand out your networking card to everyone you meet, everyone at your table, and leave some on the brochure table. Your cards spell out that you're in the job market and describe your target job. On the back of the cards you receive, write the date and event as well as why you'll call or write later.
Try to obtain a list of attendees at the meeting. The list is a gold mine of excellent sources of employers. Approach these employers in person at the meeting or future meetings, call them if appropriate, and/or send a personalized letter with your resume.
If you want to go the extra mile, join the association and volunteer to be on the membership committee - you'll have a lot of contact with the members.
The association you choose doesn't have to be your job target's trade or industry. Leads come from all people. A non-industry association may be very helpful because you're the only one from your field.
Once you hear about a job opening, a possible opportunity, or a company you would like to work for, find out the exact name of the hiring person. This person would probably be your boss if you were hired: a department head, vice president, or CEO in a large company or the owner or manager in a small company. You can learn the person's name by asking your contacts, through research at the library (both always verified by calling the company), and calling the company and asking the receptionist the name (and spelling) of the owner, department head, manager, or VP you are targeting.
Do not go through the personnel or human resource (HR) office. The HR office usually doesn't know about a job opening until late in the game and its primary purpose is to screen people out. Besides, the majority of jobs are with smaller companies, which don't have human resource departments.
Think Small
Did you know that more than two-thirds of all job openings are in small businesses with fewer than twenty-five employees? You'll find a job much faster by targeting this lucrative market. Small companies are also the easiest to approach.
The most effective ways to arrange a meeting or interview with prospective employers are:
* Using your contacts
* Applying directly to the company in person.
* Using a combination of methods: making an appointment by phone, sending a marketing letter and resume followed by phone calls, using information from networking and research in your approach, and having a systematic method for your entire job search.
This is where your preparation pays off. Use the valuable information you have assembled - your top skills, the employer's needs, contacts, and company research - in your presentations to set up a meeting. Above all, be politely persistent, and follow through diligently.
Job Vacancy , Indonesia Job , Job Indonesia
Cindy had relocated to a different state and after three years decided to change professions from real estate to retail store management, her previous occupation. Her first step was to contact her former boss to ask him to be a reference. She had not spoken to him for more than three years. When he found out that she wanted to get back to retail management, he said, "Cindy, that's great! Did you know that, as we speak, our company is negotiating to buy six stores in your state? If it goes through, we'd love to have you back on board." The deal went through, and Cindy was instrumental as the regional manager since she had lived in the state three years.
Mary was re-entering the job market after her children started school, and decided to target an accounting job. Her career counselor recommended that she start networking, but Mary was so shy, she was embarrassed to tell anyone. Finally, the counselor suggested that she tell at least one person: her brother who lived in California, several states away. When the brother learned of her decision to be an accountant, he recommended a friend he knew in her hometown, and Mary got the job.
Tom was seeking a position as a technical writer. He had been looking for a long time and was about to give up. One day his father was talking to the tree trimmer he had hired. The father told the tree trimmer of his son's job search. The tree trimmer said, "My wife heads up a technical writing group, and she's looking for a writer." The wife interviewed the son (who lived in another state), and he was hired for a job he loved, in a location he loved.
It is indeed a small world. It has been said that any individual is only seven acquaintances away from any other person in the United States. Networking does work, whether it be local, out-of-town, or out-of-state. And today, with the Internet and e-mail, people keep in touch with lightning speed.
Where the Leads Are
Professional and trade associations can open doors to industry news, rumors, new contacts, and job leads. People are friendlier and easier to approach in a more casual setting, and where else can you meet so many good contacts in one place?
Find the appropriate associations by asking contacts in your field or at the library in the Encyclopedia of Associations. Before you go, do a little background work on the association by talking with a member you know or contacting the association and asking for its brochure and membership materials. Ask for a membership roster, too, (very helpful!). Some will provide it, some won't unless you are a member. Armed with information, head for the meeting. Don't forget your personal calling cards.
Your aim is to meet new contacts, learn of job leads, and hear industry news. Use finesse when meeting people. The last thing you want to do in this kind of situation is bludgeon people over the head with your job search. Think of some tidbits of information you can share with others, making your interaction more like an exchange of ideas and information. Do hand out your networking card to everyone you meet, everyone at your table, and leave some on the brochure table. Your cards spell out that you're in the job market and describe your target job. On the back of the cards you receive, write the date and event as well as why you'll call or write later.
Try to obtain a list of attendees at the meeting. The list is a gold mine of excellent sources of employers. Approach these employers in person at the meeting or future meetings, call them if appropriate, and/or send a personalized letter with your resume.
If you want to go the extra mile, join the association and volunteer to be on the membership committee - you'll have a lot of contact with the members.
The association you choose doesn't have to be your job target's trade or industry. Leads come from all people. A non-industry association may be very helpful because you're the only one from your field.
Once you hear about a job opening, a possible opportunity, or a company you would like to work for, find out the exact name of the hiring person. This person would probably be your boss if you were hired: a department head, vice president, or CEO in a large company or the owner or manager in a small company. You can learn the person's name by asking your contacts, through research at the library (both always verified by calling the company), and calling the company and asking the receptionist the name (and spelling) of the owner, department head, manager, or VP you are targeting.
Do not go through the personnel or human resource (HR) office. The HR office usually doesn't know about a job opening until late in the game and its primary purpose is to screen people out. Besides, the majority of jobs are with smaller companies, which don't have human resource departments.
Think Small
Did you know that more than two-thirds of all job openings are in small businesses with fewer than twenty-five employees? You'll find a job much faster by targeting this lucrative market. Small companies are also the easiest to approach.
The most effective ways to arrange a meeting or interview with prospective employers are:
* Using your contacts
* Applying directly to the company in person.
* Using a combination of methods: making an appointment by phone, sending a marketing letter and resume followed by phone calls, using information from networking and research in your approach, and having a systematic method for your entire job search.
This is where your preparation pays off. Use the valuable information you have assembled - your top skills, the employer's needs, contacts, and company research - in your presentations to set up a meeting. Above all, be politely persistent, and follow through diligently.
Job Vacancy , Indonesia Job , Job Indonesia
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