CVs and Interviews

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.

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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

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If you are a jobseeker and want to know why you should use linkedin review – Why linkedin is important for jobseekers!!

Linkedin and other social media tools seem to be all the buzz at the minute. Personally I use Linkedin as it’s an online toy for big boys. I hear more positive feedback from jobseekers about Linkedin. I actually got my first piece of professional business last week from my Linkedin activity – A small outplacement project.

So why should jobseekers use linkedin – here are some quick points!!

1. Networking is the key to successful job hunting in a tight market – forget about those reactive job hunting strategies. Networking is king!!

2. Most jobseekers are not comfortable with real world networking so Linkedin offers a softer alternative – networking without the physical contact. I believe it is equally as effective and you can even take your networking into real world once the connection is made.

3. Online networking is proactive and helps you access the hidden job market. You can keep moving unlike the frustrations of reactive recruitment. Networking can help you make things happen rather than sitting about looking at the web waiting for some company or agency to post a job.
5. You are creating an online CV. If you create a profile on Linkedin you are creating a CV or as close to it as I have seen. It is simple and straightforward to do.

6. Many organisations are training recruiters how to source candidates through linkedin. If you are not there you won’t be found. Help recruiters find you and create a profile today!!

7. You are creating a network for life – most people only think about networking when they are seeking a new job. Once they secure a job then forget about all those valuable contacts. Linkedin keeps them safe.

There are many more reasons to join Linkedin – for more information about how to land your job today contact career coach.

I had an interesting conversation with a jobseeker yesterday. They were struggling in the job market to get a new job and had turned to myself for help and guidance. This individual had identified interview coaching as the key area to address in order to bring a change of fortune. After a 20 minute chat it was clear that the CV was the problem. The jobseeker was not having it – head in the sand. There are two points from this situation

1. Managing your job hunting

If you manage your job hunting effectively you should quite clearly see what is working and what is not. A little black book will record all your activity. It acts as an important feedback tool but is also professional and a valuable source of information for future job hunting. If the above individual had have taken such advice they would clearly see that they were finding jobs and applying for jobs and this is where the process stops. They were not actually getting interviews so how could this be the problem.

2. What worked in a good job market may not work in a tough market.

So why did this individual fight against my findings. “No my CV is fine – it successfully landed me my last 2 jobs.” Sorry but your CV is c**p. It worked previously because there was no competition, employers were desperate and they could not afford to let little detail like a poor CV stand in the way. This market is different – there are fewer jobs, more competition so jobseekers must be clinical in approach. Your CV must stand out in the crowd of paper on an employers desk.

How do you ensure your CV will work? CV SERVICE IRELAND

Even though I try to get a testimonial from as many clients as possible I do not always hear about the results of my work. For example I write a CV and the owner goes of applying for jobs – they always like what they get but does it work. I help them with interview techniques and coaching and they go to interview but I don’t always get feedback on how things went. I do get an email out of the blue sometimes ….. read below.

Hi Paul

I hope you are well? Im happy to be getting in touch again with some good news.

I received a place on the Higher Diploma in Arts for Art and Design Teachers in Crawford College of Art and Design, Cork.

This is the course I was aiming to get a place on throughout the year. I could not have done it without your invaluable help, support and knowledge. I approached the interview with full confidence in my own abilities and you proved a great source of inspiration.

I would like to thank you wholeheartedly, as this has meant a great deal to me and my future. Keep up the good work!

Many Kind Regards,

Deirdre M

If you need help with interview techniques – info@measurability.ie