Do I Have to Network?
Posted: April 7, 2014 Filed under: Networking | Tags: Job Search, Networking, Success Leave a commentThere are people that just are not comfortable with the idea of networking. Maybe they are shy, insecure or just don’t like meeting new people. I get that. I’m not one for glad handing myself. But at the end of the day, networking is how people find jobs.
Here’s a true story. When I was about to graduate college I wrote letters to the major banks in my hometown looking for a job. I was extremely fortunate that my letter hit HR right when one bank was starting a new department and was looking for new college graduates with my skill set. It was a fluke, but it got my career started.
That job ended three years later when that bank was sold and my department was eliminated – my first RIF. Since then I’ve been RIFed (or whatever you choose to call it) five more times. I’ve been on the wrong side of mergers, acquisitions, downsizings, restructurings, etc. During the intervening periods between jobs I’ve been out of work for periods ranging from two weeks to 13 months. Once I ran my own consulting company for about two years.
I’ve also quit two jobs – once when I got a call from a head hunter with an opportunity too good to pass up and once to take the job I have now. So that means that I’ve been hired nine times. For eight of those nine (excluding the fluke at the bank) I have networked to find the job. I met someone who knew someone who referred me to someone else who was hiring. I was never hired by a friend or a relative. Every hiring process was competitive and all of the jobs were advertised. But for all of them, I learned of the job (and often they learned of me) through networking.
During that same period of time I’ve also applied for lots of jobs that I’ve seen advertised. I’ve had lots of first interviews and I’ve been a finalist probably a dozen times, but I have never been hired for a job that I simply applied for. Maybe that says something about my inability to close a deal, but I’d rather not think that way.
I believe that things tend to work out the way they are supposed to. People find the jobs they need – and that need them. It takes patience, hard work, self-confidence and being honest with yourself about who you are and what you want to do. But using me as an experience as an example, if you don’t network, you don’t work.
Now, let’s get out there and knock on some doors.
Pray for Whirled Peas
Posted: February 17, 2014 Filed under: Networking | Tags: Encouragement, Job Search, Networking, Support Leave a commentI have a friend who has a t-shirt that intrigues me. The shirt has a graphic of a round green and blue swirled ball that vaguely resembled the view of Earth from space. The caption is “Pray for Whirled Peas.” It is great! She also has one that simply says (in large letters) HUMANKIND (and in smaller letters) BE BOTH.
These two shirts have, rather obliquely, spawned this post. I’ve worked with a lot of job seekers and the key to finding a job remains networking. For many, if not most people, networking is difficult. You have to put yourself in some uncomfortable positions to tell your story over and over. You have to make yourself vulnerable and ask for help (now I’m starting to sound like Dr. Phil). Bottom line – it’s not fun, but it has to be done.
But what makes networking even harder is when you run up against someone who refuses to help. Someone who doesn’t want to hear your story – or even worse, who makes you go through your whole spiel an then says “Sorry, I don’t know anyone who is hiring.” HUMANKIND people! BE BOTH.
If someone asks you to help them with their network, say yes. Listen closely to their story and be empathetic to their position. Always refer them to someone and in those rare instances where they’ve already talked to everyone you know ask to see their Target list. Encourage and support them in any way that you can. Make sure they always get something from you: a name, an organization, a job search tip, something. Do what you can so that when they walk away 15 minutes later they feel better about their job search.
I can hear some of you thinking … “Why?!? The job market is crappy and sometimes these people just need a dose of reality. They need to wake up and smell the coffee. This is no land of fairies and rainbows. There are no jobs like they want, they need to step off their high horse and just get back to work doing anything.”
And my answer to you is “Put a sock in it buddy.” You do not know everything. You cannot predict the future. Your job in the networking process is to be helpful and supportive. Reality will take care of itself. There are two reasons that you need to behave like this. One – it’s the right thing to do. Two – you just might find yourself in this situation in the future and you’ll need friends. You’ll want to go to the people that came to you and you’ll want them to be helpful and supportive. It’s a small world and what goes around comes around.
Now, your take way from today is when someone asks you for networking help – give it to them. And in your spare time, pray for whirled peas.
Where Can I Find A Job?
Posted: February 11, 2014 Filed under: Networking | Tags: Internet Job Search, Job Boards, Networking 1 CommentWow. Simple question – hard answer. There are so many places to look for jobs these days, and so many people looking in them – what is the “best” place to look? The answer (that you probably didn’t want to hear) is all of them.
The most popular “place” to look for a job these days is the Internet. While not really a place, it is a method you need. You need to look (often) on all the major job boards – Monster, CareerBuilder, Indeed, CraigsList, etc. (Look here for one list of the top 15 job boards.) You may be one of thousands that is viewing that posting or applying for that job, but better 1 in 1,000 than 0 in 1,000. Better yet, you need to find job boards that are specific to your industry or job type – the numbers are better there. Regularly look at the website of every company on your target list (see my post from November 16th if you don’t have a target list). Unfortunately, while lots of people look for jobs on the Internet, not many find them there.
You need to look in the newspaper. Yeah, I know, the old fashioned want ads seem just so, old fashioned, but you gotta go there. And don’t stop with your city’s main newspaper, look in the local papers and the “jobs” papers. Look at all of them every week. But again, while you need to look, most job seekers don’t find jobs there either.
Don’t forget the local unemployment office. They have listings of jobs and they are paid to help people fill those jobs. Plus, talk to recruiters, head hunters, temporary agencies, whatever you call them. Let them know you are “available to industry.”
I’ve been looking for a good source of job-search statistics and I can’t find any that are both current and easy to cite, but everywhere I look I get the same general feel that if you do everything I’ve mentioned so far you’ve got at best a 50/50 chance of finding a job. Was 50/50 not what you were hoping for? What’s the real secret you ask? Well, it’s not really a secret, but the answer is networking.
Networking is the key. Somewhere between half and 95% of jobs that are filled (depending on who you ask) are never advertised. They are filled when the hiring manager has an opening and knows a qualified candidate. Those might be internal promotions or transfers, but more often than not the personal knowledge came from networking.
You need to tell everyone you know that you are looking for a job. Take your resume with you everywhere you go. Ask everyone you talk to for a referral to someone else. They may not know of any jobs but their name will open another door. When you can call or email a stranger and say “Bob Smith told me that you might be able to help me,” they will usually be willing to stop what they are doing and listen to your story. Just keep repeating that process.
The message today is get out from behind that computer screen and go talk to people – face-to-face. Tell them your story and ask them to refer you to someone they know. That chain of people, while possibly long, will have the link to your next job.
New Year’s Resolutions …
Posted: January 1, 2014 Filed under: Networking | Tags: Job Search, Networking, Resolutions, Resume, Target List Leave a commentHappy New Year!
New Year’s Day is about putting last year behind us and making plans for a new beginning. While it may be a bit corny, New Year’s Day is about making resolutions. If you lost your job in 2013 and you want to start a new one ASAP, here are some resolutions you might consider…
In 2014 I resolve to …
- Make a target list of at least 25 companies that I might like to work for and update it weekly with new information I learn
- Identify and reach out to at least 10 new contacts every week so I can tell them my story and ask if they know anyone I can network with
- Have a human resources professional critique my resume and cover letter for content and appearance
- Write a list of at least 10 accomplishments from my career that I can mix-and-match on my resume based on the job I am applying for
- Identify job clubs in my neighborhood and attend at least two meetings per month
- Ask a friend (or professional) with good typing/page-layout skills to help freshen up my resume and cover letter
- Work as hard at finding a job as I am willing to work at my new job
- Search the Internet for lists of interview questions, then write out my answers to those questions and practice saying those answers out loud
- Keep myself healthy so I can interview more effectively and be a better worker once I land that job
- Stay positive – I will find a job this year that utilizes my skills and helps me to provide for myself and my family
Clearly there is a theme here. Finding a job is hard work – but it is work that is proven to have rewards. The economy is improving. January is traditionally a good hiring month. Let’s work together and get you back to work.
Best wishes for a fantastic 2014!
How long will this take …
Posted: December 26, 2013 Filed under: Networking, Support | Tags: Emotions, Job Search, Networking, Patience Leave a commentI get it. You just lost your job. You have bills to pay. You’re ready to go back to work. The question you ask is “how long will it take to find a new job.” You better be sitting down, because you may not like my answer.
The rule of thumb that I use is that you should be prepared for your job search to take one month for every $10k of salary you want to earn. So, a $30,000 annual salary job could take 3 months and an $80,000 job could take 8 months. I’ve been fired/laid off/RIFed/what-have-you six times. The fastest I’ve ever found a job was 2 weeks (and actually I had some advance notice so it was really about 4 weeks) and the longest was 13 months. That is not completely true because one time after about 4 months I decided to open my own consulting business and stopped looking. After about 2 years that consulting business led me to my next job.
This does not mean it will take that long. Some people are in the right place at the right time. Also, if you already have a strong and well-maintained network, you may be able to speed up the process.
Likewise, this does not mean that it will only take that long. For the 1-month rule to be a rule, it has to be an average. For many of you it will take longer – but hopefully not much longer.
What this means is that you need to be patient and you need to be prepared. If you think you are at risk for losing your job, evaluate your assets. If you have no other source of income and will rely on unemployment and savings, how long will they last? If you don’t have enough money for the rule of thumb it will change your search process. You may be forced to settle for a lower paying job just to get some income flowing. You might have to lower your standards, or look in another geographic area. You just need to be prepared.
If, like me, you have a loving spouse with a good job and you can get by, be patient and work the process. Know that it probably won’t happen overnight, but it won’t happen on its own either. You have to do the work, build the network, and get the system to work for you.
Patience may be a virtue, but when it comes to finding a new job, impatience often is just as important.
Holiday Giving …
Posted: December 18, 2013 Filed under: Networking, Support | Tags: Friends, Gifts, Job Search, Networking, Thankfulness Leave a commentIn about a week many of us will be sitting down with family and friends to celebrate the holidays and exchange gifts. What gift can you give a job seeker? Here are some of the items that have been on my wish lists over the years:
Resume Support – not all job seekers are equally gifted with grammar, writing or word processing skills. If you have those skills offer to help the job seeker with their resume and cover letters. Help with the phrasing, proofreading and layout so the resume presents the job seeker in the best possible light.
Networking – actively work to help the job seeker expand their network. Just because you don’t know anybody that you know is seeking to hire someone with the job seeker’s background, does not mean that you don’t know someone. Introduce the job seeker to the people you know and let the network take care of itself.
Time – job seekers are often unemployed and may need support like day care or transportation so that they can go on networking meetings and interviews. They may need someone to run some errands so they can focus on meeting an application deadline. Give them some of your time, so they can spend their time focused on the job search.
Financial Support – while many won’t want to ask for help, being unemployed can be financially draining. Financial support, no matter how small, can be incredibly uplifting. Offer to pay a phone bill or water bill, buy some groceries, or whatever you can.
Emotional Support – more than anything, job seekers need your emotional support. Most job seekers didn’t plan to be job seekers. They lost their job, and while often that was not their fault, that does not mean that they don’t see the loss of a job as their failure – their inability to provide for their family. Often, they don’t need advice as much as they just need to someone to be there, to listen, to encourage and just be a positive and affirming presence in their life.
Holiday giving isn’t about the dollar value of the gift; it is about the thoughtful act of giving. Give your job seeker a hug, tell them that you believe in them, and you’ll support them during their job search.
Happy holidays!
Feelings, Nothing More than Feelings …
Posted: December 14, 2013 Filed under: Networking | Tags: Emotions, Fired, Job Search Leave a commentAnybody a fan of the movie Big? I love it when Tom Hanks sings this Barbara Streisand song to his mom to prove that he is really her missing little boy.
How does it feel to get fired? Simple – it sucks. It’s like getting punched in the stomach. Even when you know its coming it is an awful feeling. I’ve been blindsided a couple of times. The boss calls you in. You think everything is going great. Then she says, “I’m sorry but we’ve decided to make a change. We’re eliminating your position. Your last day will be …”
You don’t really hear much after that. Your head starts to swim. You feel a little nauseated. Depending on how quickly you move through the stages I wrote about in an earlier post you may get angry. You may try to plead. Your fight or flight instincts kick in and sometimes you just want to get the heck out of there.
You’re probably reading this because you’ve already been fired and know what I’m talking about. If so, then you may be wondering why I’m wasting your time recalling bad memories.
Here’s why. You need to remember what that feels like. I don’t know if you got fired yesterday, last week, or 10 years ago, but look at where you are today. You’re alive. The world continues to revolve, the sun rises and sets. Life goes on, and no matter how bad you felt when that happened, you survived.
It might have been difficult to talk about – maybe it still is. It’s always hard to tell your family – believe me I know that. But you’ll go on. Follow this blog. Read the book (soon I hope). Build a network. There are people who can and will help you.
Now let’s get busy and find you that next job.
On Giving Thanks …
Posted: November 28, 2013 Filed under: Networking | Tags: Friends, Job Search, Networking, Thankfulness Leave a commentOn Thanksgiving afternoon, after too much turkey, potatoes, veggies and pie, it seems a perfect time to write a post about thankfulness. But rather than thanks for all the blessings I’ve been given, I’d like to reflect on those blessings I’ve received from repeated job searches.
I’m thankful for Michael Shirley and Leigh Branham. They were my first job coaches when I went through outplacement after my second reduction in force. Together they taught me, really for the first time, how to write a resume, how to use a target list, and probably most importantly, how to network. My time with these guys plays heavily into I’m Fired?!? and Leigh graciously wrote the Forward.
I’m thankful for all the people I’ve met along the way. Some have become close friends while others I’d rather not speak to again, but all of them helped to shape who I am. I’ve learned to ask for help when I needed and graciously accept it when it’s offered. I’ve learned to be more objective about business decisions and not take personally those that affect me adversely.
I’m thankful for the different bosses that I’ve had. Some have been great coaches, mentors and teachers who have taught me about business and helped me refine my craft. Some have been complete jerks who in their own way taught me valuable lessons of patience and discretion.
I’m thankful for the twists and turns in my career path (at least most of them). I’ve experienced more industries and types of businesses than anyone I know. I think this gives me a great appreciation for diversity and flexibility and limits my ability to say “we’ve always done it this way.”
Most importantly, I’ m thankful for my wife, children and parents. They have supported me and encouraged me time and again as I’ve gone through the job search process. They have never blamed me; never been angry with me, and never doubted that I would find another job. Their constant love and support gave me the encouragement to continue to work the process, even when it seemed like there were no jobs to find.
I encourage you to sit back and reflect on your blessings. Your career may not be heading in the direction you’d planned, but don’t be surprised if there is good news just around the corner. Have a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Who Are You Targeting?
Posted: November 16, 2013 Filed under: Networking | Tags: Job Search, Networking, Target List 3 CommentsI often am asked to network with job seekers. Having been in their shoes six times I usually agree and freely give out advice and contacts as appropriate. Most job seekers are much more adept at the search process than I was when I first went through this it my first time. They have good looking resumes; they know how to network; and they are getting better at being prepared and doing their research. But most still have not prepared one of the most important job search documents.
If you are job seeker you need a target list. This is a list of 20-25 organizations where you think you might want to work. These organizations may not have job openings, but they’re place who might be a fit for you due to their size, industry, location, reputation, what-have-you.
Inevitably, during a networking meeting you ask, “So, do you know anyone that I should talk to?” All too often your host says “No, I can’t think of anyone.” The prepared job seeker then pulls out the Target List and says “Here is a list of organizations that I’d like to know more about. Do you know anyone who works at any of these?” Now the conversation can begin anew.
That list of companies will spark some potential contacts, “Oh, my next door neighbor works for XYZ Company.” You may also hear, “You don’t want to work for that company; they’re a sweat shop.” Whatever the feedback, you’ll have more information that you did at the beginning of the conversation and that’s what networking is all about.
Target Lists should be updated continually, adding new companies and removing those that aren’t the fit you’d hoped they were. Format the list to look like your resume – same headers, fonts, paper, etc. You want this to be a professional looking document that has the same feel as your other search related papers.
So, if your networking is not yielding the success you need, add a Target List into the mix. It is guaranteed to make your networking sessions more productive and speed you on to that next career adventure.
I'm Fired?!? 
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