A personal network can be a powerful thing, so long as you use it correctly. It is especially useful when searching and applying for jobs. Those who are searching for jobs often underestimate just how useful this personal network can be; they can't see the potential or imagine the opportunities that could come their way through the extensive network that they have built.
With social networking becoming a part of everyday life, you should understand and utilize the network that is available to you.
Knowing Your Network
Every job search should begin with basic networking. This can be as simple as contacting your friends for advice or asking your family if they know of any jobs that are currently available. You may be surprised at the results that you can achieve from networking. For instance, did you know that the average American has approximately 634 contacts (according to the Pew Research Center)?
The network that you have built will consist of friends, family, and previous colleagues or employees. Although the majority of your contacts will prove fruitless and will not aid you in your search for a job, but don't ignore the possibilities that your network could provide.
Traditional Strategies To Extend Your Network
When your contacts fail to provide you with further information or links to aid you in your job search, it may be time for you to consider expanding your network a little further. There are many methods of extending your network and gaining new contacts, some of these include social events, business meetings, and breakfast groups for those that are looking to promote their business or offer work.
If you're looking for something a little more casual than a meeting or business event, you could attend a job fair. A job fair can allow you to contact many more individuals than if you were to sit in a business meeting. A job fair also gives you the chance to ask questions concerning the job roles and impress the representatives of each company with your knowledge and curiosity.
While you are at the job fair, you should inquire about potential job roles as well as take in the larger picture. For companies you would really like to work for, be prepared to take the time to get to know their representatives. Building some form of foundation for the relationship could lead to a potential contact within the company that you can refer back to.
Contacts And Social Networking
Not all of your meetings and referrals have to be achieved through physical contact, though. Some of the best opportunities can be obtained through the use of social networks, which include Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. These platforms are ideal for gaining contacts that you may not have created otherwise.
These websites have proven to be useful in the past. For instance, did you know that 97% of users registered with LinkedIn use it to source candidates for jobs (as stated in the Bullhorn Reach report)? These social networking sites allow you to become members of groups where you can engage with new people and become acknowledged by those in relevant positions.
Your first impression can be crucial - not everyone is willing to give a second chance or even a second glance, so it's essential that your impression is compelling and will last. According to the Taylor & Francis Group, you have as little as 50 milliseconds to impress those who view your page. Consequently, you must ensure that your feed or wall is free of inappropriate comments, photos, or any other information that could damage your credibility. Censorship is imperative while you are trying to impress potential employers and future contacts.
Using Your Network Effectively
The old saying, "It's not what you know, it's who you know," still holds true to this day. The likelihood of you getting the job you want will increase with the number of contacts you acquire. However, in order to use this network effectively, you must maintain contact and encourage your contacts to spread the word of your job search.
One of the most effective ways to use your network and get the most from your contacts is by creating a list that prioritizes each of them according to how likely they are to help you in your search for employment. With this list in hand, you significantly increase the chances of gaining a job - However, you must keep in touch with your contacts and speak with them on a regular basis. Although, it has been theorized by Robin Dunbar, the director of the Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology at Oxford University, that you will only keep in touch with approximately 150 of these contacts.
It's of paramount importance that you speak with all of your contacts in a warm manner and show respect at all times; you cannot expect others to do you such a favor if you aren't willing to show them some common courtesy by being polite and involving them in conversations that aren't always related to your job search.
It's the same as any other aspect in life: the more you put in to your contacts, the more you will get out. Remember to devote a large amount of your time to your personal network and your efforts could be rewarded. A leading example is Christa Zihlmann at Mercer Human Resource Consulting, who received her job through making numerous phone calls and eventually attracted the attention of a headhunter.
This post was originally published at an earlier date.
Is your job search turning into a grind with no end in sight? It may be time to take a step back and reevaluate your entire approach.
In cold weather climates, the beginning of spring is a time to clean the house and get organized—a practice known as spring cleaning. Through the years, spring cleaning has taken on a larger meaning with people using the time to organize and declutter things in their lives.
For professionals on the job hunt, a little spring cleaning (metaphorically speaking) could be a great way to reinvigorate your job search. Here are a few strategies your job search spring cleaning should include.
Reevaluate Your Job Search Approach
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Make a list of the last handful of jobs you applied for and see if you can identify any positive or negative trends. Consider things like:
How did I learn about this job?
How did I apply for the job?
Did I earn an interview?
What was the ultimate result?
A lot can be learned about your job search approach just by answering these questions and identifying patterns. For example:
Negative Trends
You discovered five jobs through job boards, applied to all of them via the job boards, and never heard back from any of them.
The common pattern here is applying through job boards. This isn't to say that job boards don't serve a purpose in the job search process, but they have their limitations, and you can't run your job search entirely off of them. When you apply through a job board, there's a good chance that your materials will never get past the applicant tracking system (ATS) and never be seen by an actual person.
One simple fix is to research who the hiring manager or recruiter is that posted the position and email your materials to them directly.
The more efficient fix would be to take a proactive approach by putting together a bucket list of companies that you want to work for and start making connections on LinkedIn with people who work at those companies. You may already know some people who work there or have connections that can refer you to some individuals.
This is a great way to network your way onto a company's radar.
Positive Trends
You applied to three jobs via referral, were invited to two job interviews, and made it through multiple rounds of interviews for one of the jobs before being passed over for someone with a little more experience.
The pattern here is that getting referred to a job by a professional acquaintance is a great way to land a job interview. This indicates that you're leveraging your network well and you should continue to focus on your networking efforts.
The next step is to review the interview process and determine what went well and what needs to be improved. Sometimes the interviewer will provide feedback, and that feedback can be valuable. However, not everyone is comfortable with giving feedback.
Chances are you probably have a good idea about areas of improvement and the skills you need to gain. Put together a plan for addressing those shortfalls.
The good news in making it deep into any interview process is that it indicates that the company likes you as a potential employee (even if the timing just wasn't right) and the experience could be a roadmap to a job with that company at a later date, or another similar opportunity elsewhere.
Give Your Resume & Cover Letter Some Much-Needed Attention
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Are you continuously sending similar resumes and cover letters to each job opening with only minor adjustments? If so, your strategy needs some serious spring cleaning.
The reason why it's so important to tailor your resume is that throughout your career, you acquire numerous skills, but the job you're applying for may only be focusing on 6-8 of those skills. In that case, those skills must rise to the top of the resume with quantifiable examples of how you successfully used those skills at previous jobs.
Remember, recruiters go through hundreds of resumes. They need to be able to tell from a quick glance whether or not you're a potential candidate for the position.
While updating your resume, you could also spruce up your LinkedIn profile by highlighting the skill sets that you want to be noticed for by recruiters.
As for writing a good cover letter, the key to success is writing a disruptive cover letter. When you write a disruptive cover letter, you're basically telling a story. The story should focus on how you connect with the particular company and job position. The story could also focus on your personal journey, and how you got to where you currently are in your career.
If your resumes and cover letters aren't unique, now is the time to clean things up and get on track.
Build Your Personal Brand
Just because you're looking for work doesn't mean that you don't have anything to offer. Use previous career experiences and passions to build your personal brand.
Ask yourself, "How do I want other professionals to view me?"
Pick an area of expertise and start sharing your knowledge and experience with your professional network by pushing out content on your LinkedIn and social media accounts. Good content can include blogs, social media posts, and videos.
By sharing content about your experiences and passions, you slowly build your personal brand, and others will start to notice. The content could lead to good discussions with others in your network. It could also lead to reconnecting with connections that you haven't spoken to in years, or making new connections.
You never know when one of these connections could turn into a job lead or referral. The trick is to get on people's radars. So, when you're cleaning up your job search, be sure to build a plan for personal branding.
Maintain Healthy Habits During Your Job Search
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Your job search is important, but it's even more important to know when to pull back and focus on personal health and spending time with family and friends.
There are actually things that you can do for your own enjoyment that could help your job search in the long run, such as:
Grab coffee with a friend - It's good to engage in light conversation with friends during challenging times. And if your job search does come up, remember that most people have been through it themselves and you never know when a friend may provide you with a good idea or lead on a job.
Volunteer - Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community and help others. In addition, if you develop a little bit of a career gap while looking for a job, you can always talk about how you filled that time volunteering, if you're asked about it during a job interview.
Continue to focus on other passions - Are you a fitness nut? Blogger? Crafter? Continue to do the things that bring you happiness. And if you're in a position to profit from your passion through a freelance job or side hustle, even better!
Spring is the perfect time to clean up and improve your job search so you can land the job you want. If you're struggling to find a job, follow the tips above to reinvigorate your job search—and watch your career blossom!
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
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