You never know where your next network reference will come from. Having good manners could get you noticed and make the difference in you landing the job you are seeking. Manners will leave a positive impression and help you to be remembered during your next interview. The first impression you provide for others is up to you, will it be a winning impression?
Whether in person or on the phone, being polite goes a long way. You’ve heard of or watched the scene play out on television where a person is running late and knocks down people, steals a taxi ride or cuts someone off in traffic to get to their interview or big meeting. Of course, when they reach their destination they find the person they were so rude to just a few minutes earlier is really the person they are in need of impressing.
Don’t let that scenario happen to you. Practice improving your manners by starting small such as saying “thank you” or holding opens a door for someone. This will improve your manners and increase your joy during the day. Intentionally helping others always makes you feel better.
Another manner to work on is being friendly. By simply smiling at someone or asking how a situation is turning out, you show interest and using your manners will help develop friendly and productive rapports with others. It is often the simplest gestures that leave the most impact. You can also change how you choose to react to a situation by staying calm instead of yelling or making unkind remarks. Take a deep breath, smile or laugh to defuse yourself, this will help you remain calm and others from feeling uncomfortable.
One tip for improving your manners is to address people by using there name. Everyone loves to hear their name said. It will make others feel good and improve your relationship because they feel important. Remembering names however, can be very difficult so try a few of these tricks. First repeat the name a few times while you are in conversation with the person. While in the conversation find ways to associate their name with something to help you remember it. Secondly as someone comes toward you think of their particular name association so you will be ready to receive them using their name. It is definitely a habit that will take some practice before it gets easier. Start with people in the office or staff you see less frequently or those from other departments and work from there.
So, how is being nice, polite and friendly going to help you find a job? The professional benefits are endless! New networking contacts will be easier made when you are friendly to others including strangers. You never know how a little small talk can lead to finding your dream job. Helping someone catch the elevator or holding open a door can lead to conversations that just might put you in front of the CEO or hiring manager of a company you would love to work for. It might not be a direct meeting but you could be helping out the spouse, child or friend of a vital contact. You never know the impact you have on others. Try setting a goal of 3 or 4 daily acts of kindness. It will improve your job search and get you noticed.
It is important to use your manners on all the employees you meet while going through your interview process. Be friendly, smile, speak clearly and use proper English because a hiring manager will want a friendly, confident and well spoken employee to represent the company. After you have completed the interview don’t forget to send a thank you note to all participants of your interview process including the reference or contact that informed you of the job opening.
In today’s busy and competitive world manners still leave a positive impact. A friendly and inviting approach during your job search can make a real difference with networking activities and give you a competitive advantage over others with similar job skills and experience. Many times the race is close and it is the seemingly small things like manners that will make the difference and get you hired.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Tricks to Combat Interview Nerves
Just the word interview makes most job seekers nervous. During an already stressful time of changing careers or losing a job, the process of career management usually adds to the stress. Preparation is the key to nailing interviews and finding a new career that is rewarding and lucrative. Updating your career documents to accurately represent your current job focus and showcase the adequate skills, experience and accomplishments is the crucial first step towards finding you new job.
Once your documents are in order you must tackle the job search as if it is your job. Develop a business plan for securing a new job. Make sure to update the plan and track your progress daily. As you are contacted for interviews treat your interview opportunities as a competition - a race with the other job seekers. Gain your advantage by researching the company, the industry, the position, the work ethics, projected future, current notable activities or expansions, and anything else pertinent to your interview. The more you are familiar with the company the more you will understand it and know whether this is a company worth competing to be a part of.
Next, it is imperative to practice your response to frequently asked interview questions by writing down and rehearsing your answers out loud. Knowing how you will answer the interview questions is your best defense against nerves during the interview. Have a friend or family member conduct a mock interview with you and practice saying your answers to someone else. Video taping your mock interview can assist you in improving your verbal and non-verbal skills.
When applying for any position I remind clients repeatedly that the interview is just as much their interview of the company as it is the company doing the interviewing. It is important to find out information about the company and its’ environment to determine if this is even a place where you want to work. What do you want from the job? Make sure the person you are meeting answers all the questions you have.
Another trick to reduce interview stress is to rehearse the actual interview in your head. Visualizing a productive and successful interview incorporating sight, sound and other senses make the visualization even more real. Rehearse the introduction, the actual interview including questions asked and answered and the offering of the position to you for the perfect salary. Your mind believes imagined events as though they are real. This process will reduce your stress level helping you feel more familiar and confident during the interview
Learn to develop cues that help you relax. Try meditating to a particular song or while looking at an object such as a pencil or a ring. The meditation object can even be a place in your mind that relaxes you such as a vacation spot or somewhere in your home. When you are in the middle of an interview and start to feel pressure or nervous, take a couple of deep breathes and focus on your target object or location to help you calm down and regain focus and mental composure. This technique takes a little time to master so practice at work, with your children, while fighting traffic or with the in-laws.
Positive self talk is always helpful to psyche yourself up and build lasting self confidence. I have several mantras I repeat to myself that are both professional and personal in nature. The more I say these statements and say them out-loud with real conviction, the more believable and effective they are. Your positive self talk can help to change negative thought patterns or habits. For me, the harder the mantra is to say to myself out loud the more I need correct that thought pattern. So repeat to yourself 50 or 100 times a day, “I am a great communicator” or “I deserve a great job” or something you come up with and see what happens.
The time to try these techniques for controlling nervousness and build interview confidence is before you actually go to an interview. Start working through these stress relieving techniques and see which ones feel comfortable. The more comfortable you are during the interview the better results you will have. Comfort will come from your career management and interview preparation. Not only will you feel more confident and comfortable but you will place yourself at an advantage over the other interview candidates that are not prepared.
Once your documents are in order you must tackle the job search as if it is your job. Develop a business plan for securing a new job. Make sure to update the plan and track your progress daily. As you are contacted for interviews treat your interview opportunities as a competition - a race with the other job seekers. Gain your advantage by researching the company, the industry, the position, the work ethics, projected future, current notable activities or expansions, and anything else pertinent to your interview. The more you are familiar with the company the more you will understand it and know whether this is a company worth competing to be a part of.
Next, it is imperative to practice your response to frequently asked interview questions by writing down and rehearsing your answers out loud. Knowing how you will answer the interview questions is your best defense against nerves during the interview. Have a friend or family member conduct a mock interview with you and practice saying your answers to someone else. Video taping your mock interview can assist you in improving your verbal and non-verbal skills.
When applying for any position I remind clients repeatedly that the interview is just as much their interview of the company as it is the company doing the interviewing. It is important to find out information about the company and its’ environment to determine if this is even a place where you want to work. What do you want from the job? Make sure the person you are meeting answers all the questions you have.
Another trick to reduce interview stress is to rehearse the actual interview in your head. Visualizing a productive and successful interview incorporating sight, sound and other senses make the visualization even more real. Rehearse the introduction, the actual interview including questions asked and answered and the offering of the position to you for the perfect salary. Your mind believes imagined events as though they are real. This process will reduce your stress level helping you feel more familiar and confident during the interview
Learn to develop cues that help you relax. Try meditating to a particular song or while looking at an object such as a pencil or a ring. The meditation object can even be a place in your mind that relaxes you such as a vacation spot or somewhere in your home. When you are in the middle of an interview and start to feel pressure or nervous, take a couple of deep breathes and focus on your target object or location to help you calm down and regain focus and mental composure. This technique takes a little time to master so practice at work, with your children, while fighting traffic or with the in-laws.
Positive self talk is always helpful to psyche yourself up and build lasting self confidence. I have several mantras I repeat to myself that are both professional and personal in nature. The more I say these statements and say them out-loud with real conviction, the more believable and effective they are. Your positive self talk can help to change negative thought patterns or habits. For me, the harder the mantra is to say to myself out loud the more I need correct that thought pattern. So repeat to yourself 50 or 100 times a day, “I am a great communicator” or “I deserve a great job” or something you come up with and see what happens.
The time to try these techniques for controlling nervousness and build interview confidence is before you actually go to an interview. Start working through these stress relieving techniques and see which ones feel comfortable. The more comfortable you are during the interview the better results you will have. Comfort will come from your career management and interview preparation. Not only will you feel more confident and comfortable but you will place yourself at an advantage over the other interview candidates that are not prepared.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Five Crucial Steps to a Successful Career Change
Leaving any job is stressful but when you decide to not only change jobs but also change careers it is definitely a stressing situation. Good news though, you can take steps to make the transition a smooth, lucrative and rewarding experience. Below are five steps to take before ever leaving your current job that will help you in conducting a successful career move.
THINK IT THROUGH - Extensive thought should be given on the ramifications and expectations a new career. Many questions must be answered before making a decision if it going to be a successful move. These are just a few questions to get you started in contemplating a career change.
Is it the right job for you? How do you know? Have you talked with people or researched the position which you are interested in? What does your career change say to future employers about your commitment capability? What are your expectations for position growth and/or promotion? How will the new job affect your family or personal life?
Once you have reviewed your reasons for seeking a new career and have decided that this is the right decision for you, you can be confident in giving your full attention to preparing for your new career.
GET ALL YOUR DUCKS IN A ROW - Before leaving your current position, make sure you have had your resume and cover letter updated. The resume should show transferable skills that will be advantageous to your new employer and new position. These skills may include staff, budget and resource management; negotiation skills; project management capabilities and more. Your cover letter should reflect additional transferable skills and provide proof or examples of how you can contribute to the new company. Both documents should emphasize the skills and accomplishments applicable to your new career.
Securing valuable references from your current place of employment is definitely something to invest time in. Speak with the reference candidates before leaving. Let them know your career plans, ask permission to use them as a reference and prepare an outline or notes for them describing what you would like mentioned and accented during a reference call or email. Don’t leave it completely up to your references - let them know what skills, accomplishments and even examples you would like or not like them to share.
PREPARE FOR YOUR FUTURE CAREER – Do you have what it takes to be successful in your new career? Before quitting your current job check into what will be expected of you in your new career. Do you need to finish school, complete a masters program, or become certified in particular skills. The more prepared you are for your new position the better you chances will be of landing you dream job. Find others in your field of choice, talk with them, expand your network and find out if there are pitfalls to watch for as you enter your new career.
If you are in a situation where you don’t have the option of staying at your current position until you are ready to make a move, an important thing to do is make sure you have a little nest egg set aside to pay for expenses between jobs. As in any situation it is a good idea to have savings for unexpected situations. Usually suggested is to set aside money equaling three months worth of expenses.
PLAN YOUR JOB SEARCH STRATEGY – Many times a career change occurs within the same industry which is easier to adjust to and can be used to your advantage. In this case, already having a strong understanding of the industry can be demonstrated on your resume, cover letter and during interviews. You have contacts throughout the industry that should be used for networking. Most jobs (some experts say as high as 80%) are found by word of mouth. The down side is making sure these contacts will be maintain your confidence throughout your search if you don’t want your current employer to know you are looking for a new career.
If you are looking for a career outside of your current industry you will need to find contacts in the new industry and work with them in locating companies that are hiring. The optimal situation would be if you are in control of your time frame, then you would have the ability to select a job you really want and have less pressure to take the first job that meets most of your requirements.
LEAVE YOUR JOB ON A POSITIVE NOTE – It is important to make every attempt to leave your current position on a positive note. As mentioned earlier, one of the main reasons is to obtain a positive reference. If someone enjoyed working with you and respected the work you performed and the way you left the company, you will be more likely to receive encouraging references. Not burning bridges may be beneficial for future work as well. You may find yourself being in contact or doing business with past employers, coworkers or staff. Employers can even be helpful and assist in your search if they are aware of your ambition to progress into a new career. And, if things don’t work out in your new career you may be looking for work again at your previous employment, if you leave in good standing it may easily be an option.
Your best approach is to think through and weigh your options; prepare yourself, your family and your career documents; and develop a concrete plan to follow, keep you motivated and moving forward in your search. Proper planning before your move will aid in making the right decisions for your future – good luck!
THINK IT THROUGH - Extensive thought should be given on the ramifications and expectations a new career. Many questions must be answered before making a decision if it going to be a successful move. These are just a few questions to get you started in contemplating a career change.
Is it the right job for you? How do you know? Have you talked with people or researched the position which you are interested in? What does your career change say to future employers about your commitment capability? What are your expectations for position growth and/or promotion? How will the new job affect your family or personal life?
Once you have reviewed your reasons for seeking a new career and have decided that this is the right decision for you, you can be confident in giving your full attention to preparing for your new career.
GET ALL YOUR DUCKS IN A ROW - Before leaving your current position, make sure you have had your resume and cover letter updated. The resume should show transferable skills that will be advantageous to your new employer and new position. These skills may include staff, budget and resource management; negotiation skills; project management capabilities and more. Your cover letter should reflect additional transferable skills and provide proof or examples of how you can contribute to the new company. Both documents should emphasize the skills and accomplishments applicable to your new career.
Securing valuable references from your current place of employment is definitely something to invest time in. Speak with the reference candidates before leaving. Let them know your career plans, ask permission to use them as a reference and prepare an outline or notes for them describing what you would like mentioned and accented during a reference call or email. Don’t leave it completely up to your references - let them know what skills, accomplishments and even examples you would like or not like them to share.
PREPARE FOR YOUR FUTURE CAREER – Do you have what it takes to be successful in your new career? Before quitting your current job check into what will be expected of you in your new career. Do you need to finish school, complete a masters program, or become certified in particular skills. The more prepared you are for your new position the better you chances will be of landing you dream job. Find others in your field of choice, talk with them, expand your network and find out if there are pitfalls to watch for as you enter your new career.
If you are in a situation where you don’t have the option of staying at your current position until you are ready to make a move, an important thing to do is make sure you have a little nest egg set aside to pay for expenses between jobs. As in any situation it is a good idea to have savings for unexpected situations. Usually suggested is to set aside money equaling three months worth of expenses.
PLAN YOUR JOB SEARCH STRATEGY – Many times a career change occurs within the same industry which is easier to adjust to and can be used to your advantage. In this case, already having a strong understanding of the industry can be demonstrated on your resume, cover letter and during interviews. You have contacts throughout the industry that should be used for networking. Most jobs (some experts say as high as 80%) are found by word of mouth. The down side is making sure these contacts will be maintain your confidence throughout your search if you don’t want your current employer to know you are looking for a new career.
If you are looking for a career outside of your current industry you will need to find contacts in the new industry and work with them in locating companies that are hiring. The optimal situation would be if you are in control of your time frame, then you would have the ability to select a job you really want and have less pressure to take the first job that meets most of your requirements.
LEAVE YOUR JOB ON A POSITIVE NOTE – It is important to make every attempt to leave your current position on a positive note. As mentioned earlier, one of the main reasons is to obtain a positive reference. If someone enjoyed working with you and respected the work you performed and the way you left the company, you will be more likely to receive encouraging references. Not burning bridges may be beneficial for future work as well. You may find yourself being in contact or doing business with past employers, coworkers or staff. Employers can even be helpful and assist in your search if they are aware of your ambition to progress into a new career. And, if things don’t work out in your new career you may be looking for work again at your previous employment, if you leave in good standing it may easily be an option.
Your best approach is to think through and weigh your options; prepare yourself, your family and your career documents; and develop a concrete plan to follow, keep you motivated and moving forward in your search. Proper planning before your move will aid in making the right decisions for your future – good luck!
Friday, September 14, 2007
Career Changes – Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Make Your Decision
Extensive thought should always be given to the expectations and ramifications of a career change. Whether you are an entry level professional or have been working for decades, a career change can result in major life changes. I heartily agree that you should love what you do, however, careful thought and planning will ensure a career change is the right step for your professional and personal life. The questions below address important factors to consider before starting your decision making process.
1. Why do you want to change careers? Is the change sought for money, status, economy, or maybe boredom, office conflicts, or it is a desire to work in a different profession? Money is always an issue and in some cases must be the deciding factor; often those individuals end up still unhappy with their careers. It is important to research factors such as job expectations, stress levels, hours you’ll spend on the job and the amount of expected travel to make sure your expectations are accurate. Lastly, examine your current options to see if there are any alternatives to making the change. Could you change your attitude on your current career? By setting new goals you may be able to improve your circumstances and positively manage career boredom or office politics.
2. Will this be the right job for you? Have you thought through what your day will be like? What skills you will be using? What will be expected of you in terms of activities and responsibilities? Thoroughly research what the atmosphere and work environment will be like as well as what the job entails. Is this how you want to spend one third of your life? A great tool to help identify your behavioral preferences is a behavioral assessment analysis such as the DISC Behavioral Profiling Assessment. Proven to be accurate more than 80-85% of the time, the DISC Assessment is very effective in discovering strengths and weaknesses in your preferred behavioral style. The results can be utilized to understand what types of work patterns, skills, and environments you prefer and are a great tool for learning how to communicate more effectively and for improving professional relationships.
3. How will the new job affect your family or personal life? A new career is not only a major change for you but can also mean changes for your family or personal life as well. Check to see what the average work week will consist of; will there be longer hours or more travel? What will you or your family be giving up and what will you be gaining from the change? Is it worth it? A balance in professional and personal life will help keep both areas of your life healthy and enjoyable.
4. What are your career expectations for growth potential and/or promotion? Look into the possibility for advancements and determine if there are areas for promotion, available opportunities to take on additional responsibility and potential to make more money in your new chosen profession. Changing careers often places you back at a lower seniority status. You may start with a decrease in income from what you are used to and if there are layoffs or cuts made you may be the first to go. Since this may be the case, make sure you have a sufficient nest egg set aside to handle unexpected changes.
5. What does the career change say to future employers about your commitment capabilities? Is this your first career change or is this something you have done before? If you have made similar changes in the past it may appear to an employer as a lack of dedication or focus on your part. Employers spend a great deal of time and resources hiring new employees and they expect their employees to be willing and able to a make long term commitment. Review your professional history and prepare positive interview responses regarding changes in past professions or positions. If this is your first career change prepare to show your career progression and always offer a positive spin on your past decisions – even if they positive outcomes you can still show what you learned and accomplishments you achieved along the way.
There are many more questions that can be asked of you before beginning a career change. For some, a change will improve quality of life and it will be easy to determine if it is the right decision. For others, these questions will hopefully provide insight and help in making an informed decision. Either way it is important to take the time to think about the reasons for wanting a change and affects a career change will have on you and those around you.
1. Why do you want to change careers? Is the change sought for money, status, economy, or maybe boredom, office conflicts, or it is a desire to work in a different profession? Money is always an issue and in some cases must be the deciding factor; often those individuals end up still unhappy with their careers. It is important to research factors such as job expectations, stress levels, hours you’ll spend on the job and the amount of expected travel to make sure your expectations are accurate. Lastly, examine your current options to see if there are any alternatives to making the change. Could you change your attitude on your current career? By setting new goals you may be able to improve your circumstances and positively manage career boredom or office politics.
2. Will this be the right job for you? Have you thought through what your day will be like? What skills you will be using? What will be expected of you in terms of activities and responsibilities? Thoroughly research what the atmosphere and work environment will be like as well as what the job entails. Is this how you want to spend one third of your life? A great tool to help identify your behavioral preferences is a behavioral assessment analysis such as the DISC Behavioral Profiling Assessment. Proven to be accurate more than 80-85% of the time, the DISC Assessment is very effective in discovering strengths and weaknesses in your preferred behavioral style. The results can be utilized to understand what types of work patterns, skills, and environments you prefer and are a great tool for learning how to communicate more effectively and for improving professional relationships.
3. How will the new job affect your family or personal life? A new career is not only a major change for you but can also mean changes for your family or personal life as well. Check to see what the average work week will consist of; will there be longer hours or more travel? What will you or your family be giving up and what will you be gaining from the change? Is it worth it? A balance in professional and personal life will help keep both areas of your life healthy and enjoyable.
4. What are your career expectations for growth potential and/or promotion? Look into the possibility for advancements and determine if there are areas for promotion, available opportunities to take on additional responsibility and potential to make more money in your new chosen profession. Changing careers often places you back at a lower seniority status. You may start with a decrease in income from what you are used to and if there are layoffs or cuts made you may be the first to go. Since this may be the case, make sure you have a sufficient nest egg set aside to handle unexpected changes.
5. What does the career change say to future employers about your commitment capabilities? Is this your first career change or is this something you have done before? If you have made similar changes in the past it may appear to an employer as a lack of dedication or focus on your part. Employers spend a great deal of time and resources hiring new employees and they expect their employees to be willing and able to a make long term commitment. Review your professional history and prepare positive interview responses regarding changes in past professions or positions. If this is your first career change prepare to show your career progression and always offer a positive spin on your past decisions – even if they positive outcomes you can still show what you learned and accomplishments you achieved along the way.
There are many more questions that can be asked of you before beginning a career change. For some, a change will improve quality of life and it will be easy to determine if it is the right decision. For others, these questions will hopefully provide insight and help in making an informed decision. Either way it is important to take the time to think about the reasons for wanting a change and affects a career change will have on you and those around you.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Three Easy Networking Steps to Your New Job
Networking is the new buzz word – it’s everywhere these days. It used to be known by catch phrases like, “It’s not what you know – but who you know” or being part of “The Good Ol’ Boys Club”. Business-focused networking today can really be a powerful career management tool but it takes time and effort to make it effective. There are many forms of networking some are very informal and others are strategically developed for optimal outcomes. Described below are three main strategies to launch your networking plan.
CONTACTING ALL THOSE YOU KNOW - The probably most obvious form of networking is done by going through your entire address book and business card collection. Set up an organized routine of systematically working through your list; communicating with friends, family, coworkers, colleagues, and acquaintances. Make sure to also include association members, church friends, people you volunteer with, and your children’s friends’ parents, coaches, and teachers on your contact list. Keep aware of opportune moments to mention you are looking for work, start with those in similar industry or field so they can keep their ears open and maybe make a few calls to others who can make a few calls to others – and so on – and so on - and so on…
Be honest with those who you don’t usually socialize with to let them know you’re interested in talking with them about your search for the perfect job. Invite them out for coffee or lunch, email if it is more convenient for them and explain what you are looking for and what you have to offer. This is when career tools such as an Online Resume come in handy. You can give them your card and write the web address of you resume on the back so they can easily pass along the site to other interested parties who can immediately see your qualifications and have your contact information waiting.
REFERRALS - My personal favorites are referrals. Working in a service oriented profession; every referral to me feels like a compliment or award. It means someone liked my work enough to tell others about it and positively pass my name on when someone is looking for assistance writing a resume or preparing for their job search or interview. Referrals like all networking, work like the “Amway Pyramid” it just keeps expanding and reaching further to more potential clients. The happier my clients are the more they will pass my name to others looking for help so I keep that in mind with every client or potential client I speak with.
In terms of looking for a job, referrals can be the strongest and fastest way to an interview. Contacts can do the selling of your qualifications for you and the employer will assume you can provide a high quality of work. So talk with your contacts and let them know you would appreciate them passing on your name to others. Keeping in touch with contacts using a newsletter, emails, phone calls or personal notes keep your name and service in their thoughts.
ONLINE NETWORKING – The newest form of networking is done by utilizing websites specifically designed to promote networking such as http://www.linkedin.com/, http://www.ryze.com/ or http://www.xing.com/. These are a great way of getting in touch with professionals you are interested in working with or for. There are smaller networks for individual industries such as http://www.nursegroups.com/ or http://www.teachersnetwork.org/. On sites like http://www.linkedin.com/ and http://www.craigslist.com/ you can even include your resume for employers to view. More social networking sites are gaining professional use such as http://www.myspace.com/ and http://www.classmates.com/. All these sites are free, easy to use and worth your time to cut and paste your resume or parts of it for viewers to see.
Remember that networking is an ongoing process, one that should be worked on daily. You will need to build a rapport with your contacts and make sure you reciprocate assistance when you can. Keep records or some type of spreadsheet to monitor contact visits, effectives and responsiveness, and any notes or tips gained from these contacts.
CONTACTING ALL THOSE YOU KNOW - The probably most obvious form of networking is done by going through your entire address book and business card collection. Set up an organized routine of systematically working through your list; communicating with friends, family, coworkers, colleagues, and acquaintances. Make sure to also include association members, church friends, people you volunteer with, and your children’s friends’ parents, coaches, and teachers on your contact list. Keep aware of opportune moments to mention you are looking for work, start with those in similar industry or field so they can keep their ears open and maybe make a few calls to others who can make a few calls to others – and so on – and so on - and so on…
Be honest with those who you don’t usually socialize with to let them know you’re interested in talking with them about your search for the perfect job. Invite them out for coffee or lunch, email if it is more convenient for them and explain what you are looking for and what you have to offer. This is when career tools such as an Online Resume come in handy. You can give them your card and write the web address of you resume on the back so they can easily pass along the site to other interested parties who can immediately see your qualifications and have your contact information waiting.
REFERRALS - My personal favorites are referrals. Working in a service oriented profession; every referral to me feels like a compliment or award. It means someone liked my work enough to tell others about it and positively pass my name on when someone is looking for assistance writing a resume or preparing for their job search or interview. Referrals like all networking, work like the “Amway Pyramid” it just keeps expanding and reaching further to more potential clients. The happier my clients are the more they will pass my name to others looking for help so I keep that in mind with every client or potential client I speak with.
In terms of looking for a job, referrals can be the strongest and fastest way to an interview. Contacts can do the selling of your qualifications for you and the employer will assume you can provide a high quality of work. So talk with your contacts and let them know you would appreciate them passing on your name to others. Keeping in touch with contacts using a newsletter, emails, phone calls or personal notes keep your name and service in their thoughts.
ONLINE NETWORKING – The newest form of networking is done by utilizing websites specifically designed to promote networking such as http://www.linkedin.com/, http://www.ryze.com/ or http://www.xing.com/. These are a great way of getting in touch with professionals you are interested in working with or for. There are smaller networks for individual industries such as http://www.nursegroups.com/ or http://www.teachersnetwork.org/. On sites like http://www.linkedin.com/ and http://www.craigslist.com/ you can even include your resume for employers to view. More social networking sites are gaining professional use such as http://www.myspace.com/ and http://www.classmates.com/. All these sites are free, easy to use and worth your time to cut and paste your resume or parts of it for viewers to see.
Remember that networking is an ongoing process, one that should be worked on daily. You will need to build a rapport with your contacts and make sure you reciprocate assistance when you can. Keep records or some type of spreadsheet to monitor contact visits, effectives and responsiveness, and any notes or tips gained from these contacts.
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