|
HOW TO NETWORK
Career experts estimate that the vast majority of job openings are never advertised or publicly announced, but filled through word-of-mouth or networking -- known as the "hidden job market." The likelihood of a job opening not being advertised at all increases with the level of the job. Yet, even with this knowledge, most job seekers fail to fully utilize networking for all it's worth. Networking means developing a broad list of contacts
-- people you've met through various social and business functions -- and using them to your advantage when you look for a job. People in your network may be able to give you job leads, offer you advice and information about a particular company or industry, and introduce you to other so that you can expand your network. The best place to start developing your network is with your family, friends, and neighbors -- and with their family, friends, and neighbors, but don't stop there. Talk to co-workers, colleagues in your industry, and those you meet at industry gatherings, such as trade shows and conferences. Talk with former co-workers, bosses, and teachers. The key to successful networking deciding to put the energy needed to make it work. First, you need to get organized (for example, keeping a business card file or computer database). Second, you need to stay in contact (for example, through regular phone calls, email, and holiday greetings). Third, you need to set goals for yourself (such as 5 new contacts per week). The Steps to Successful Networking:
Develop a firm grasp of job search basics. A good place to start is to review the Domino Effect.
Conduct a self-assessment. An honest review of your strengths and weaknesses is vital. A good place to start is with the one of our career tests and quizzes. You should also make some decision relating to the types of jobs you want and the types of companies and industries that interest you. Unsure? Examine some of these career exploration tools.
Prepare a strong resume. If you don't already have a resume, now is the time to develop one. You should ideally develop two resumes -- one in traditional format and one in scannable format. You can get information on both types of resumes by going to Resume Resources.
Decide how to organize your network. This step is crucial to your success. If you have ongoing access to a computer, the best method is a database or spreadsheet where you can enter key information, such as names, titles, company names, addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers, email addresses, and dates of communication. Keeping an organized collection of business cards, where you can write notes and comments about your network, is another alternative.
Communicate with your network. It is extremely important to stay in touch with your network, which you can easily do by phone, mail, or email. Don't be afraid to ask for their help. Most people like helping others, and you must communicate your current needs with your network in order for them to be able to help you.
Initiate informational interviews. One of the best ways to gain more information about an occupation or industry -- and to build a network of contacts in that field -- is to talk with people who are currently working in the field. The purpose of the informational interview is to obtain information, not to get a job. For everything you ever wanted to know about this type of interviewing, go to Informational Interviewing Tutorial.
Follow up with your network. The key is keeping your network informed of your situation and thanking them for their efforts. Never take your network for granted.
Often career coaching can help you develop an effective job searching strategy and help you stay on course! |
 |
SMART TIPS TO GET THAT INTERVIEW
1. Apply for jobs you are qualified to do! This may seem like a no brainer, but in my business as an Executive Recruiter, probably a full 50% of the resumes I get do not remotely qualify for the position advertised. Don't think that someone will save your resume and call you when they get your perfect job. More likely, they'll think you aren't so smart, and toss you in the round file. (If your intention is just to get your resume in their hands in case something else comes along, make that known to them.)
2. Make your accomplishments stand out on your resume! The old format of Objective, Experience, Education doesn't work well in today's fast-paced world. Most recruiters will scan a resume for ten seconds at most- that's how long you have to grab their attention. So skip the objective, and put a list of accomplishments at the top, right below your name and phone number! This is not the time to be modest. Think of your resume as a sales flyer, and YOU are the product you're selling!
3. Make sure your resume can get past the "robot" screeners! Many companies today use automated screeners- computer programs that look for specific keywords from the job description. Go through the job description thoroughly, and be certain that you use the exact words they do for experience that you have, and the computer will "match" you positively.
4. Make sure your resume is polished! No matter if it's an entry level job or an executive position, people will think poorly of you if your resume contains errors. Proper grammar and spelling are of utmost importance. Use your word processing software's grammar and spell check, and also have someone else read it over.
5. Personalize your application! Do a little sleuthing, and find out who the hiring authority for the position is, and a little about the company and what they do. Address your email personally, and focus your email cover letter on how you fit the company's culture or vision for the future. Speak to your interest in the job and the company!
6. Do not be annoying! There are ways to totally turn off reviewers, and everybody has different pet peeves. Mine is when someone demands I get them this job. (Last I checked, the employer is paying me to find the best available person-maybe it's not you. Now, we can discuss what my fee would be for personal representation.) Other people hate it when someone marks their email "high priority" or acts like they're too good to answer questions that are asked. Keep in mind, these people are doing their job the way their boss wants them to. So be patient.
7. Your attitude is everything! Be sure that every single interaction you have with an employer is positive and upbeat, including emails and phone conversations. It is true that you can hear a smile in someone's voice over the phone, and people like to speak with and be around other happy, smiling people. Make sure they hear your smile!
8. Tell them WIIFM! WIIFM means what's in it for me. In other words, what can you do to make their life, and job, easier? What can you do to help the company make, or save money? Address this in your email cover letter, and again when you talk with them by phone.
9. Get their attention, in a good way! I've seen lots of crazy ideas , (sending a pizza with your resume taped to the top, sticking a post-it on it that gives you the thumbs up) that might get the hiring manager's attention, but....maybe not the right type. But do be proactive. Ask people you know for a personal reference-send those along with your resume and cover letter. If you know people at the company, ask them to personally recommend your work. Another trick is to leave a message on voicemail during the evening, so as not to disturb them during the day. Make it your "elevator pitch" about YOU, how you can benefit the company, and how interested you are in hearing from them to discuss the job.
10. Follow up! Do not just send your resume in and hope for the best. Follow up with the employer a few days after sending your resume. If you have their number, call them and ask if they need any further information or clarification from you, otherwise, send an email with the same request.
Follow up enthusiastically and be persistent! After all, these are two good traits most employers want.
| |
|
Hello Everyone~
Welcome to all our new readers this week. Thanks to Jeff Baker for routing our newsletter to his network groups we have a huge group 0f new readers! Please feel free to route our newsletter to your network groups. And please let me know you have done this so we can thank you.
WOW, we had an overwhelming response to our anniversary offer to provide a free resume review and 15 minute coaching session. Alisa, Tim, Ann and I will be very busy next week. We will still accommodate those that send their resumes to us by Monday, July 20 at mjackson@jacksonlifecoaching.com
This week the focus will be on how to contact decision makers so you get a step ahead of your competition. Your resume needs to be sharp, ATS friendly and you need to have an on-line footprint. Google my name and you will see what groups I have joined in order to have an on-line footprint.
Are you reading my blog? You can find it on our new website in the upper left hand corner. On the upper right hand corner you will find access to our new chat room. Each coach tries to make time to man the room so you can talk with us. If it is not open try again later and you will certainly find a coach to talk to.
Have a GREAT Week and we look forward to talking to so many of you who have taken us up on the free coaching.
Mikal Jackson
SKYPE: Mikal.Jackson
404-808-1896
Yahoo: Mikalj69
AIM: HRmikal1
|
|
|
GETTING TO THE HIRING MANAGER
 Because jobs are so scare in our down economy, you need every strategy you can lay your hands on in order to get a job interview. Here are three major strategies you can use which are designed to help you get past the "gate keepers" to the hiring authority and an opportunity for a job interview.
To be successful in your quest to get the job interview, you must remain in control of the conversation with the "gate keepers" like the receptionist or administrative assistant and even with the hiring authority.
Many telephones these days have automated systems which will ask you to push "1" or "4" or any other number to connect with a particular department. Or, you may be given the prompt to dial 411 for a company directory, which will only help you if you know the name of the person to whom you wish to speak. If everything else fails, press "0" to speak to the operator.
Now that you have a live person on the line, your strategies will help you to respond in a positive way to the most commonly asked questions and objections. Follow these guidelines.
· Remain calm and cooperative
· Be friendly
· Answer a question with a question to regain control of the conversation.
Here's an example. You have just telephoned an employer and managed to get through to the person you need to speak with. He asks you how you happened to get his name. A smooth response ending with a question could be "Mr. Smith, through personal research, I have learned that your company is progressive, solid and enjoys a fine reputation. It's the type of company I would like to work for. In that regard, I would like to make an appointment to speak with you. Would tomorrow morning be convenient or would after lunch be better for you?" This is known as an
alternate of choice close in that you are asking your prospect to make an easy decision, i.e. tomorrow morning or after lunch.
Handling a Receptionist's or Administrative Assistant's Question
These folks, often known as "gate keepers" can put up verbal walls which are designed to keep callers away from their boss. Here are some of the "walls" they will put up followed by strategies you can use to "tear down those walls".
Questions:
(1) May I tell him who is calling?
(2) May I ask what this is in reference to?
Here are answers you may use for these questions.
(1) Please just tell him ___________is on the line. Is he in?
(2) It's an important business matter. Please tell him _________is
holding. Is he in?
More "Walls"
(3) He is in a meeting or on the other line or not in at the moment.
(3) Please tell him that ________called Do you know when he'll be free to
to return my call?
(4) He's very busy and not taking any calls today.
(4): I understand. He's a very busy executive. What would be a good time
for me to reach him tomorrow?
What to Say When Encountering Hiring Authority Objections
(1) I'm busy.
(1) I realize you are a busy person. Could we meet after hours, perhaps tomorrow or would late Thursday afternoon be better for you? (Again, here's the alternate of choice close. Use it. It works)
Or try this. I beg your pardon. May I call you back this afternoon
or would tomorrow afternoon be better for you?
(2) Call our personnel department.
(2) I was hoping that since we are both in ________ and speak the same language, we could get together to see how I could help your organization. Then you could direct me to the right person in the personnel department. May I stop by your office for a few moments say around ten tomorrow or if that won't work, would early afternoon be a better time?
(3) We're not hiring now.
(3) Yes, I have heard that you have a busy, productive organization. In fact, that's why I thought you could give me some good advice as to my best career move. Could we get together tomorrow afternoon or would a few moments in the morning be a better time?
(4) You'll just be wasting your time.
(4) You may be absolutely right, but you sound like the kind of person who wants to have the most productive staffers around. I know your organization and I am willing to take my chances in an interview. Could we get together tomorrow morning or would early afternoon be better for you?
|
|
INTERVIEWING HUMOR
A survey of top personnel executives of 100 major American corporations came up with these stories of unusual behavior by job applicants. The lowlights:
-
Said he was so well-qualified [that] if he didn't get the job, it would prove that the company's management was incompetent.
-
Stretched out on the floor to fill out the job application.
-
Brought her large dog to the interview.
-
Chewed bubble gum and constantly blew bubbles.
-
Kept giggling through serious interview.
-
She wore a Walkman and said she could listen to me and the music at the same time.
-
Balding candidate abruptly excused himself. Returned to office a few minutes later, wearing a hairpiece.
-
Applicant challenged interviewer to arm wrestle.
-
Asked to see interviewer's resume to see if the personnel executive was qualified to judge the candidate.
-
Announced she hadn't had lunch and proceeded to eat a hamburger and french fries in the interviewer's office.
-
Without saying a word, candidate stood up and walked out during the middle of the interview.
-
Man wore jogging suit to interview for position as financial vice president.
-
Said if he were hired, he would demonstrate his loyalty by having the corporate logo tattooed on his forearm.
-
Interrupted to phone his therapist for advice on answering specific interview questions.
-
Wouldn't get out of the chair until I would hire him. I had to call the police.
-
When I asked him about his hobbies, he stood up and started tap dancing around my office.
-
Had a little pinball game and challenged me to play with him.
-
Bounced up and down on my carpet and told me I must be highly thought of by the company because I was given such a thick carpet.
-
Took a brush out of my purse, brushed his hair and left.
-
Pulled out a Polaroid camera and snapped a flash picture of me. Said he collected photos of everyone who interviewed him.
-
Candidate asked me if I would put on a suit jacket to insure that the offer was formal.
-
Said he wasn't interested because the position paid too much.
-
While I was on a long-distance phone call, the applicant took out a copy of Penthouse, and looked through the photos only, stopping longest at the centerfold.
-
During the interview, an alarm clock went off from the candidate's brief case. He took it out, shut it off, apologized and said he had to leave for another interview.
-
A telephone call came in for the job applicant. It was from his wife. His side of the conversation went like this: "Which company? ... When do l start? ... What's the salary?" I said, "l assume you're not interested in conducting the interview any further." He promptly responded, "I am as long as you'll pay me more." I didn't hire him, but later found out there was no other job offer. It was a scam to get a higher offer.
-
An applicant came in wearing only one shoe. She explained that the other shoe was stolen off her foot in the bus.
-
His attache [case] opened when he picked it up and the contents spilled, revealing ladies' undergarments and assorted makeup and perfume.
|
|
|
|
|
