Career Advice – Job Hunting Strategies – Networking
Career Advice – Job Hunting Strategies – Networking
The buzz word with most career experts at present is “networking”. Most will tell you that this is the key to landing a job in a tough market place but very few will tell you how. There is a skill with effective networking. If this is the solution to successful job hunting in Ireland in 2009 why do so many jobseekers no embrace this?
Many job seekers are lazy. They target the low hanging fruit or easy accessed jobs. The ones you will find in the newspapers, the online job boards and with the recruitment agencies. You see networking takes a bit of effort. It involves trying to make thinks happen as opposed to sitting waiting for things to happen.
Many jobseekers are afraid. Networking is moving from our comfort zone. There are many who find engaging with strangers (and even family and friends) quite difficult. I guess it is the fear of the unknown or the fear of rejection that holds them back.
Many jobseekers don’t know where to start or how to do it. Networking is a skill that can be learned and like most new skills I will start with the easier options to try and hone my skills before moving into more difficult scenarios. Alternatively you can jump of the cliff and build your wings on the way down.
Why I like Networking as a Job Search strategy?
Apart from being effective and accessing the hidden job pool it keeps jobseekers active. The biggest problem with job hunting in a tough market is the “silence”. By this I mean when nothing is happening. There are no jobs in the papers, there are the same jobs online and recruiters won’t return emails or phone calls. You see networking and other proactive approaches keep you moving, gaining contacts, valuable advice, valuable information and with the key role of eventually landing a job.
What strategy works best?
The telecoms providers used to say it’s good to talk however today many of us do not. We communicate through other mediums like email, text and other online tools. Again the buzz is around online social media networking. There are many possible channels but my preference is LinkedIn. There are also tools like twitter and facebook. Online networking is easier than face to face. Many jobseekers I work with find it less daunting.
One last option ……
I was asked to join a network the other day on LinkedIn and thought it was a novel idea and quite fun. The network is called “10 minutes street network”. Read a description of the networking event and it certainly does not sound as daunting as going into a room full of strangers.
You have heard of “speed networking” well here comes “street networking” at a street (Grafton St) near you!
Take to Grafton St and make great new contacts in a really fun and relaxed way in just 10 minutes.
Lots of fun, these innovative and dynamic “street networking” events will be staged each month in different venues: Art Galleries; Museums; Theatres and Parks (weather permitting) that will provide a sophisticated but welcoming environment to make new contacts.
To discover where these events are to be staged, you have to ditch the suit, hit the street and get yourself to the top of Grafton Street at the entrance to St. Stephen’s Green.
Need help with your CV or Need help with InterviewTechniques Preparation?
This article is about – Career, Advice, Coaching, Ireland, Support, Irish, Coach, Job Hunting in Ireland, Finding a Job In Ireland, Linkedin, Social Media Networking, Networking
Tags: Advice, Career, Coach, Coaching, Finding a Job In Ireland, Ireland, Irish, Job Hunting in Ireland, Linkedin, networking, Social Media Networking, Support
July 30th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
The reason most job seekers have difficulty networking into the Hidden Job Market is because they lack relationship building skills AND they are stuck in what I call a “task focus” mindset. This is the employment mentality that says “here’s what I can do, hire me and pay me and I’ll do it”. This doesn’t cut it anymore.
The successful job seeker today has a “problem-solution” mindset. He sees himself as a solution to a set of problems and knows exactly the kind of problems he is good at solving.
This allows him to approach companies not officially hiring but ones that have real problems, then present himself not as a job seeker, but as a ‘solution’. When you’re able to do this, believe me, they will listen!
As soon as a key decision maker finds out about you, they circumvent the HR department and do whatever it takes to find the money to hire you. Over 60% of all the jobs are filled through this method.
The good news is that you can learn how to transform your job search strategy and achieve these incredible results. When you learn this, you will be in the minority and have little to no competition for these hidden opportunities.
To learn how to do this, email me at support@breakthroughcoaching.cc and be sure to read my article “How to tap into the hidden job market with social media” at http://bit.ly/15et6.
September 10th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
Buy:Retin-A.Prednisolone.Zyban.100% Pure Okinawan Coral Calcium.Petcam (Metacam) Oral Suspension.Nexium.Zovirax.Valtrex.Prevacid.Actos.Accutane.Synthroid.Human Growth Hormone.Lumigan.Arimidex.Mega Hoodia….