Professional Networking - Your Ticket To Finding Job Opportunities

By Author: Tai Roylance
Total Articles: 299
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Granted, the search for a job can be quite frustrating, especially when you’re already unemployed. With so many jobs being cut and competition increasing, it is easy to feel lost and want to give up all together. Posting resumes to online job boards won’t usually capture the attention of your best opportunities plus many job openings are not posted publicly. There is an alternative however and it is available to all who know how to take advantage of it
In case you were wondering, it’s estimated that 70% of all jobs are filled through word of mouth now! That should not be that surprising when you consider the comfort associated with a good referral. Ever had a friend or colleague refer a plumber, a Realtor, or even a good restaurant? Aside from a few personal details, it’s really no different than when it comes to business. People are still people even when it comes to important positions of authority like hiring managers or executives. You should be encouraged when you take into consideration your skills, qualifications and ability to make friends.
Networking is not that complicated and should be looked ...
... as simply building new relationships. Considering all of the people you already know, like family, friends, neighbors, business associates, co-workers, etc. you should not stress too much. These relationships were probably created with little effort and natural flow. Because it’s the most comfortable place to start your job search, we suggest starting here with your job search. Also, don’t be afraid or nervous about asking your network of people for help or “putting the word out there” that you’re looking for a certain position. It is very important to remember to be specific about what you are looking for as well as any other non-negotiable details. This will help people to point you in the right direction meaning you work more efficiently than if you were to ask, “Do you know of any job openings?” or “Is your company hiring?” Use examples of the type of job and type of company you would like to work for – help them to help you.
We have found through our experience that you often create an abundance of options by using the saturation technique. This means using multiple methods to reach the best sources of job leads. Using your personal network of family, friends and associates as described above and you will expand your contact base exponentially. You can increase the possibilities by attending networking events too. More and more people are looking for work at business events like this. You might want to consider creating a personal business card with your ideal but realistic job title on it – the Japanese have been doing this forever. You will probably want to clearly describe your skills, abilities, and qualifications here too – it just saves time.
As you meet people in your chosen field, be sure to follow up with them by thanking them for their insight and possibly continuing the conversation with informal informational interviews. It may surprise you how many people are willing to give you the low down about your industry which can often lead to an opportunity and develop a new relationship which may lead to a job too. Stay in contact them regularly and even offer to buy them lunch or coffee just to strengthen the connection.
Organizing your network can be done using an excel spreadsheet to keep track of your opportunities – there are many online tools for managing this as well, like Linked In or Plax. Remember being persistent can many times overcome the initial resistance you could encounter so be consistent in your approach but be sincere too – these people don’t have to do this. In a short period of time, you will probably have multiple employment opportunities for you to consider.
We also suggest joining BizNik for networking events, it is considered one of the best ways to make new contacts – they sponsor online and in-person events near you. Twitter can be a good source for meeting new people and making connections online, especially during a job search.
If you would like help preparing yourself more for the opportunities you create from networking with others let us know by visiting us at CarpeDiemResumes.com – we can take that first impression and make you shine even brighter.
Here the author tairoylance says a. Job opportunities and Interview questions for more information, please http://www.carpediemresumes.com/