Proactive Career Networking

Relationship or Rolodex Building

In a normal week I meet with three to five new people all interested in expanding their personal networks.  Most are in job transition trying to uncover the “hidden job market” while many others are prospecting for new business.  A few people really understand the networking process, which makes our meetings enjoyable with anticipation of our future.  Most treat these meetings as one night stands without focus or purpose.  My hope is that more people will follow these guidelines to improve the quality of their networking by building long term relationships.

Rule 1 – Quality is more important than quantity.  

Rule 2 – Do what you say.  

Rule 3 – Be interested, not interesting.  

Rule 4 – Help others be successful.  

Rule 5 – Stop keeping track.  

Rule 6 – Protect your network.  

Rule 7 – Exercise your network.  Think of your network as a muscle that helps you succeed both personally and professionally.  If you ignore the muscle it will get weak and soft much like a coach potato.  By reaching out to your contacts on a regular basis you work the muscle, keeping it strong and tight.  The closer you are, or want to be, with a person the more frequent you should interact.  Out of site out of mind is a very true with your network.

Want help learning how to network to build relationships?  Contact Career Networking Pro  to work with a professional coach to teach you the skill of networking.

Relationship or Rolodex Building

In a normal week I meet with three to five new people all interested in expanding their personal networks.  Most are in job transition trying to uncover the “hidden job market” while many others are prospecting for new business.  A few people really understand the networking process, which makes our meetings enjoyable with anticipation of our future.  Most treat these meetings as one night stands without focus or purpose.  My hope is that more people will follow these guidelines to improve the quality of their networking by building long term relationships.

Rule 1 – Quality is more important than quantity.  The value of a few close friends that are your advocates is much greater than scores of acquaintances.  When I see people that have 1,000 contacts in LinkedIn or 2,000 friends on FaceBook I want to ask them how many have they actually?  How can someone that you only connect with electronically ever be your advocate?

Want help learning how to network to build relationships?  Contact Career Networking Pro to work with a professional coach to teach you the skill of networking.

Keeping Track of Your Progress

The first objective many job seekers set when they start their job search is when they will have a new job.  This is a big mistake since this is out of their control.  Typically they set a date that is too aggressive only to be disappointed, experience failure and frustration.

I ask my clients to set objectives for activities they control such as the hours they invest in their search, the maximum hours they will spend on the Internet, the number of phone calls they will make each day, how many face-to-face meetings they will have each week, how many face-to-face meetings with hiring managers each week and how many referrals you obtain from each person you meet.

Each of these are process metrics and will provide feedback on how well you are working the process.  You, the job seeker, has control whether you meet these objectives or not either by your direct activity or how you execute your search.  The more productive you are in achieving these metrics the quicker you will find your new job.

Need someone to help you in your job search?  Want to talk to someone who has the experience to provide valuable guidance? Visit the Career Networking Pro website, http://www.CareerNetworkingPro.com, to learn how to get hooked up with an experienced career coach.  Read about the job search process in the new book, People Hire People – Not Resumes,http://www.careernetworkingpro.com/book.

Find Board Members Easy

During a job search finding people you need to know can be a challenge.  The key to a successful job search is meeting the right people before a job is open.  To get introduced to the right people you need to know who they are so you can help others direct your networking to your target people.

A great resource to find people on the board of public companies is They Rule.  You can look up board members of individual companies and also see what other boards they sit on.  It is always interesting to see the connections between companies.

Need someone to help you in your job search?  Want to talk to someone who has the experience to provide valuable guidance? Visit the Career Networking Pro website, http://www.CareerNetworkingPro.com, to learn how to get hooked up with an experienced career coach.  Read about the job search process in the new book, People Hire People – Not Resumes, http://www.careernetworkingpro.com/book.

Do you pass the "likeability test"?

When networking is your primary marketing tool in your job search you should take a different approach to selling yourself.  Usually job seekers are focused on selling their skills, experiences and accomplishments.  I must admit that this is what I did during my job search and have made this same mistake when coaching my clients.

Not that these are not important, but in networking your first objective is to connect with people on a personal level and then sell your skills, experiences and accomplishments.

This is why passing the "likeability test" is so important in your job search.   If you do not pass the "likeability test" it really does not matter what your skills, experiences or accomplishments are.  If I do not connect with you then it is unlikely that I will consider you for employment or referring you to my network.

Invest time in making sure you are connecting with people on a personal level first, and then "sell" your product.

Need someone to help you in your job search?  Want to talk to someone who has the experience to provide valuable guidance? Visit the Career Networking Pro website, http://www.CareerNetworkingPro.com, to learn how to get hooked up with an experienced career coach.  Read about the job search process in the new book, People Hire People – Not Resumes,http://www.careernetworkingpro.com/book.

Business or professional, networking works

During a recent workshop we were discussing how to expand your network for both personal and professional growth.  It is always great to use specific real world examples to drive home the point and build credibility.

Prior to the workshop a potential customer of my client had gone through a significant management shuffle.  The CEO, President and a number of other senior executives all left in a very short timeframe.  The Board had just appointed a new interim CEO until a search could be completed.

Little did I know that the interim CEO was an old colleague of one of the employees of my client.  She reached to him to wish him well and see if there was anything she could do for him.  This seemed like the opening they had been hoping for but in times in crisis you never know how companies will react.

In less than a week the two of them had a number of direct conversations, which concluded with an invitation to visit them and provide a proposal for new business.  By making this contact years ago, investing in the relationship by staying in touch and then reaching out when he was presented a new challenge the door opened.

You never know who will present you with a new opportunity or when it will happen.  By staying connected and investing in your network good things will happen.

Want to learn how to build and invest in your network?  Want to talk to someone who has the experience to provide valuable guidance? Visit the Career Networking Pro website, http://www.CareerNetworkingPro.com, to learn how to get hooked up with an experienced career coach.  Read about the job search process in the new book, People Hire People – Not Resumes, http://www.careernetworkingpro.com/book.

I have met the Go Giver

Today I was presenting a workshop on business networking and career planning.  One segment of the workshop I referred to the book Go Giver.  We reviewed the five laws presented in the book and I described the type of person I felt was a true Go Giver.  As I completed the description I realized that I have met this person.

During my career I have met thousands of people.  Once in a while you have the privilege of meeting a truly special person and today I realized who one of these people was.  His name is Jerry Orzano.

Jerry and I had met close to a year ago.  When we met I considered him a nice guy, easy to talk with, and professional sales person.  During the past year I have watched Jerry transform into one of the best networkers I have ever seen.

The thing that really separates Jerry from the rest of the crowd is his interest in helping other people.  He always is looking for ways to help others be successful by sharing information and providing an introduction.  He does this first and always.

Jerry is a role model for me and someone that I respect very much.  If only there could be more Jerry’s in this world.

Want to learn how to become successful networker and be more like Jerry.  Want to talk to someone who has the experience to provide valuable guidance? Visit the Career Networking Pro website, http://www.CareerNetworkingPro.com, to learn how to get hooked up with an experienced career coach.  Read about the job search process in the new book, People Hire People – Not Resumes, http://www.careernetworkingpro.com/book.

Guidelines to Improve Your Networking

Networking can be like an emotion.  You cannot see, taste or touch it but you know it is real.  For many networking, is very similar.  People keep telling you to “network” but you are not sure why or how.

Here are a couple of guidelines to aid understanding networking.

1. Networking is a combination of discipline and randomness.  You need to invest a consistent effort and search for opportunities.  Quality networking can happen when you least expect.
2. Never assume an individual cannot help you.  Since you do not know whom their neighbor, sister or fellow board members are you never know whom each person can introduce you to.
3. Never be critical of others.  People want to be associated with positive people.  If you bad-mouth others I will assume you will bad mouth me.
4. It’s not what you say but what you do that matters.  Your reputation is built on the value people place how you deliver what you say.
5. Ask open-ended questions about the people you meet.  The more interest you show in others the more interest they will have in you.
6. Be a giver not taker.  Do not keep score as it guarantees you will lose.

Invest, build and expand your network.  It is the infrastructure that will support your future success.

Need someone to help you in your job search?  Want to talk to someone who has the experience to provide valuable guidance? Visit the Career Networking Pro website, http://www.CareerNetworkingPro.com, to learn how to get hooked up with an experienced career coach.  Read about the job search process in the new book, People Hire People – Not Resumes, http://www.careernetworkingpro.com/book.

How to find those old contacts?

Each time I talk with a new job seeker the conversation sooner or later ends up with the person saying he or she wishes they had invested more time on their network.  This is a common problem in today’s business world of 60-hour workweeks and family activities.

Since we cannot change history the best course of action is to quickly build your network.  Start by compiling all your contacts, no matter how old the information is, into one database that you can easily sort.  Search through piles of old business cards, email history, Rolodex’s, membership lists, and any other source of contacts.

Sort your contacts in three categories; holds a high position in a company, knows lots of people and all others.  Start reaching out with the highest potential people to verify if their contact information is still current.  Do not be surprised if many of your old email addresses and phones numbers are not current.  Make a note of this and continue down your list.

As you make contact with people ask them if they have current contact information for mutual colleagues.  If you do not have a profile on a social networking site such as LinkedIn step out of your comfort zone and draft a personal profile.  Search for people by name, company, title and location.  This can help you find people you are looking for as well as find people that you have forgotten about.

An easy place to search is the Internet.  Do a Google search on the person and see what pops up.  Be accurate in your spelling and add specific’s about the person if they have a common name.

Search out professional organizations in your area, select one and join.  Become active in a committee such as membership or communication.  This is a great way of meeting people quickly.  Volunteer to speak at an event or trade conference.

Do not forget to contact your alma mater’s alumni association.  See if they have a local chapter in your area or a database you can review for past classmates.

Remember that networking is a two-way street so invest time identifying what you can offer the people you will meet.  Whether it is a contact, information, coffee or lunch, or a favor.  It gives the message that you are interested in the success of both of you.

Need someone to help you in your job search?  Want to talk to someone who has the experience to provide valuable guidance? Visit the Career Networking Pro website, http://www.CareerNetworkingPro.com, to learn how to get hooked up with an experienced career coach.  Read about the job search process in the new book, People Hire People – Not Resumes, http://www.careernetworkingpro.com/book.

Ways to use LinkedIn

Many clients have little experience using networking systems such as LinkedIn.  They ask what is it, how should I use it and should I use it?  My response is LinkedIn is a great tool to stay connected with your colleagues, get introduced to new people, and you definitely need to utilize this tool in your job search.

Here are a couple of ways to use LinkedIn to your advantage.

INCREASE YOUR VISIBILITY – By adding connections, you increase the likelihood that people will see your profile first when they’re doing a search.  Include a link to your profile as part of your email signature.

IMPROVE YOUR CONNECTABILITY – Fill out your profile like it’s an executive bio, so include past companies, education, affiliations, and activities.

ENHANCE YOUR SEARCH ENGINE RESULTS – Set your public profile to “Full View”.  In addition, promote your personal blog or website in your profile so they are searchable by Google and Yahoo!

Need someone to help you in your job search?  Want to talk to someone who has the experience to provide valuable guidance? Visit the Career Networking Pro website, http://www.CareerNetworkingPro.com, to learn how to get hooked up with an experienced career coach.  Read about the job search process in the new book, People Hire People – Not Resumes, http://www.careernetworkingpro.com/book.