Proactive Career Networking

Establish Your Support Network

It is important not to isolate yourself during a job search.  The solitude can be very taxing on your mental state and become a barrier to success.  To avoid this I suggest that every job seeker establish at least two people that act as their support network.

Your support network cannot be your spouse or anyone that is emotional attached.  They are experiencing many of the same ups and downs and cannot be objective in their feedback to you.

Select people that are willing to invest two hours per month in you.  They must be people your respect, are willing to listen to and will tell you what you need to hear rather than what you want to hear.

Each week call one person in your support network.  Give them an update on your activities over the last week and what you have plans for in the next week.  Ask them for feedback on your activity.  The last thing you want them to do is give you feedback on your voice.  Do you have energy and confidence in your voice or do you sound tired and desperate?  Better to hear from them rather than make mistakes when you are making phone calls.

These calls will make sure you sound great on the phone and keep you accountable during your serach.

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.

Out of work? Make your search your full-time job!

Starting a job search is full of emotions: fear, doubt, confusion and uncertainty.  For many, this is the first time they have had to look for a job and the distinct lack of control over one’s future can be overwhelming.

 

What do I do now?  Will I ever find a new job?  Why me?  All questions that cross the mind of the newly unemployed.  Updating the resume and responding to job postings on the Internet seems like a worthwhile plan, until you acknowledge that fewer than 10% of all jobs are filled through the Internet. The activity usually results only in stress and frustration.

 

You need a plan to make your job search focused, aggressive, structured and ultimately successful follow these guidelines.  Treat your job search like a project you need to complete for your new boss, YOU.

 

Your search is your full time job.  Set objectives for the number of hours per week you will invest in your search.  Think how many hours you worked at your last job and make sure you invest at least as much time in your search.  Set objectives for the number of phones calls per day you will make and the number of networking meetings per day you will have.  Track your actual efforts to see trends in your performance.

 

Have a clear message.   Make it easy for people to assist you by being prepared to share what you have to offer in terms of transferable skills and work style.   Craft accomplishment stories that demonstrate successes and be specific on the type of position you are looking for.  Identify potential employers and the people in those organizations you want to meet.

 

Finish your resume.  The ultimate test for your resume is whether it can pass the 30-second thumb test.  When someone is reviewing your resume you have no more than 30 seconds or until they get to their thumb holding the page to get their attention.

 

Take the first page of your resume and fold it in half.  Cover up your name and ask yourself, and a respected colleague, can anyone else put his or her name on this resume?  If the answer is no, you have passed.  If the answer is yes, rework your resume so that it’s unique to only you.

 

Network for success. Networking is not asking people you meet if they have a job that your qualifications fit. When networking, you should never ask for a job.  Your networking should focus on meeting people, sharing your message, gaining advice on where to find your next opportunity, and obtaining additional referrals to get you one step closer to the job you are looking for.  Utilize open-ended questions to generate a dialogue with people rather than closed ended questions that end up being a dead end. 

 

Join a networking group to provide support, learn the skill of networking and expand your network. As an example, Executive Connections – St. Louis is a business-networking group of highly talented professionals in all disciplines.  Members in a job search meet every other week to share their successes, obtain advice from trusted colleagues and assist each other networking.  The alumni, members that have landed, assist members with networking, support and advice.  Joining a group like Executive Connections is a great way of expanding your network exponentially in one step.

 

Over 75% of all jobs are filled by referrals.  Use these guidelines as a plan to keep you moving forward in your networking efforts. Because, who you know, who knows you and how well you know each other is critical to the success of your job search.

 

Frank Danzo is the president of Career Networking Pro in St. Louis, Missouri and the author of “People Hire People, Not Resumes” available at www.careernetworkingpro.com.

Make Your Job Search More Bearable.

Every job search is stressful and can take its toll on you both physically and emotionally.  Here are a number of suggestions to make your job search a better experience.

Ÿ       When you wake up complete…”My purpose is to _______ today.”

Ÿ       Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and less that are manufactured.

Ÿ       Make at least three people smile each day.

Ÿ       Take a walk every day.  Walking is a great anti-depressant.

Ÿ       Remember, no matter how bad the situation, it will change.

Ÿ       Before lunch, complete…“I am thankful for ________.”

Ÿ       Your “things” won’t take care of you in the future.  Your friends will.  Stay in touch!

Ÿ       Each night before you go to bed complete…“Today I accomplished ________.”

Having a strong support network is critical to making the best of a job search.  If you do not have one, start building it today.  It is never too late.

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 Maximize Your Outplacement Services?

Before I started my job search I had no idea what “outplacement” was.  Even as I started to explore my options I really did not understand how to evaluate different providers.  Here are a couple of thoughts to consider before you select your provider.

First, do not put off starting your services.  The longer you wait the harder it will be to motivate yourself to get engaged.

Interview each provider to understand their services, process, what is their point of distinction and meet the consultant you will be working with.

Ask each firm for references of past clients you can call that have worked with the same consultant.  Ask how available the consultant was, what services they offered and what they taught the client.

Meet with your consultant privately.  If you do not hit it off that should be a sign of concern.  You need to be able to speak freely, be willing to listen to their advice and be able to contact them easily.  Ask them how many clients they are working with to make sure they are not over loaded.

Follow the process and do your homework.  Some tasks will seem like a waste of time because you do not fully understand the process.  When in doubt, ask your consultant to provide an explanation on why the step is important.

Make sure you understand all the services offered by the firm.  Try all of them so you clearly understand how they may benefit you during your job search.

Meet with your consultant on a regularly scheduled time.  Do not let more than two weeks pass without talking with your consultant.  Make them earn their fee.

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 in your job search

Many clients have little experience using LinkedIn and ask how it can be used in their job search.  Here are a couple of suggestions.

FIND PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR A TARGET COMPANY – Search on a specific company and LinkedIn will display people that are currently working at the company.  If you uncheck “Current titles only” to find people that have worked for the company anytime in their careers.

DO A REFERENCE CHECK ON A COMPANY – Find the person that had the job you are interviewing for before you to see why they left and feedback on your potential future boss.  Find others that use to work for the employer to find out why they left.  These opinions can provide another perspective of the employer beyond your recruiter, HR contact or hiring manager.

LEARN ABOUT THOSE YOU WILL INTERVIEW – Review profiles of the people that will interview with and check their connections to see if you have any mutual colleagues.  This will help you prepare for your interview and possibly give you someone to call to obtain additional input on the person and company.

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.

Explaining your layoff

During your job search almost everyone you meet will ask you why are you looking for a job?  Why did you lose your last job?  What happened with your last employer?  Prepare for the questions and think through your answer before it is ever asked.  My advice is to write your answer down.  This will force you to pick the right words, think through the whole answer and keep you consistent with your thoughts.

In preparing your answer follow a few simple guidelines:

Come to terms with what happened.  If you are angry, bitter or still in shell shock take some time to get your head straight.  This is not an out to not get engaged but just a time out to prepare.  Talk to your career coach or a trusted friend to work through the emotions.

The fewer words you use the better.  Talking about your past does not help you find your future.  Answer the question and move on.

Be factual but limit the amount of detail you share.  If your company had a downsizing tell people just that.  Do not go into the why or how it happened.  It will just sound like an excuse.

Be careful to not come across as bitter or angry toward your last company.  Taking shots at your last employer may make you feel better in the short run but will not provide a positive impression to a potential employer.  You do not want to viewed as having a bad attitude.

Do not make excuses as they will come across as self-pity or that there is more to the story than being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Always remember that too much information is not in your best interest.

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.

Volunteering Your Time Can be a Great Idea

When you lose your job it can be a blow to your confidence.  You ask yourself what did I do wrong, what could I have done to prevent this, and/or will anyone every value my work again?

A great way to start healing your damaged confidence is to volunteer your time at a non-profit organization.  Select an organization with a mission you have passion for, visit their office to find out what opportunities they have and develop a plan to get involved.

A plan is important to outline how much time you are willing to invest and when you will be available to volunteer.  You job search should always take priority but you will have to live up to your commitments.

When you volunteer your confidence will increase, you will feel better about yourself and you will see the value of your work.  In addition the non-profit will gain a valuable resource that they did not have before.

Need someone to help you during 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.

Job Hunting Expenses – Deductions

This time of year people think about the upcoming holidays and spending time with family and friends.  It is also important to think about what job hunting expenses will be deductible on your income taxes.

In a recent Executive Connections meeting we had a CPA come and talk to the group about this topic.  The following is a summary of some of the items the IRS says are deductible.  If you would like more detailed information please see IRS publication 463.

Expenses of looking for a new job in a taxpayer’s present line of work are tax deductible, even if a new job is not found.  However, expenses of looking for a new job in a new trade or business, even if it is found, are not deductible.

Examples include career counseling, cost of preparing and mailing resumes, cost of preparing portfolio’s of work, legal, accounting or tax advice relating to employment contracts, transportation to and from interviews, phone costs including mobile phones, publications, 50% of meals and entertainment related to job searches and 100% of out-of-town expenses.   In all cases the total cost of your job search, and other misc. related expenses, must exceed 2% of your AGI before a deduction is made.

In all cases documentation is key.  Have receipts, record auto mileage, keep notes on what each expense is for and whom you met with.

Need someone to help you during 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.

Shake It Off and Step Up

A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule.  The mule fell into the farmer’s well.  The farmer heard the mule braying.  After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving.  Instead, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened…an enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Initially, the old mule was hysterical.  But, as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back…a thought struck him.  It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back…HE SHOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP!

This he did, blow after blow.

Shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up!  He repeated to encourage himself.  No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought the panic and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!!!

You’re right!  It wasn’t long before the old mule, battered exhausted, STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL!!!  What seemed like ti would bury him actually blessed him…all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.

THAT’S LIFE!!!  If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity.  The adversities that come along to bury us usually have within them the potential to benefit.

Need someone to support you during 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.

Working with a recruiter

During your job search working with recruiters can be both rewarding and frustrating.  Here are some tips to follow.

 

Do not take it personal.  Recruiters are paid by employers, not you, so their loyalty it to the employer not you.  They are paid to fill a position not to find you a job.  When a recruiter does not respond to your emails or phone calls do not take offense.  They do not have enough time in the day to correspond with every job seeker they come in contact with.

 

Always know where your resume is going.  When you give your resume to a recruiter tell them verbally and confirm your instructions in your email that your resume should not be provided to any employer without your prior approval.

 

Keep track of what recruiters and companies you provide your resume to and the date provided.  You do not want your resume being sent to a company both by you and a recruiter.  It will disqualify you from the position and embarrass the recruiter.

 

When you make a decision let your recruiter know.  Do not wait until an offer is made to turn it down.  This will only frustrate the company and recruiter.

 

If a job is not a good match for you suggest other candidates that the recruiter should contact and consider.  This can build relationships and make the recruiter work for you.

 

Need someone to assist you in working with recruiters?  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.