Help For Corporate Road Kill
We're All In This Together ;-)
Networking
Get the word out, “I’m looking for a job”. You are going to be surprised when you tell people you were laid-off how many of them were also laid-off. They are going to have stories. Stories that will help, depress you and make you wonder what you are going to do. But most are going to be helpful. I was walking through the skyway a few days after I was laid-off and ran into an acquaintance. The next day he sent me a job posting. I had a Business Card with my home contact information to give him. You never know where help or a job lead is going to come materialize. Here is a start for learning about connecting and staying in touch with others.
Everyone talks about the importance of networking. Stay in touch with your former colleagues. While it may hurt to say “I was laid off” let you family and friends know you are looking for work. You never know where a job lead is going to come from. And, you will be surprised how many other people have been unemployed and have helpful information.
Why do I want to network?
- Obviously, to find a job
- Get the word out “I need a job!”
- Building contacts and relationships
- Find out about jobs that have not been posted and the hard to find jobs. Everyone has found the jobs on the popular websites
- Do informational interviews, find out more about a particular company, industry, and get the word out that you are in the job market.
How are you getting interviews?
- Cold calling, sending out a letter, dropping in can lead to an interview about 2% of the time. There are some advantages to dropping in to an office and meeting the receptionist. This can tell you a lot about the company.
- Web surfing: delivers about 8% - 10% of job leads. There are a lot of people searching the web for the same job leads. Check specific company websites for jobs.
- Search firms: will find jobs for people in about 10% - 12% of cases. Remember search firms charge employers a fee. Does the company want to spend that money? Possibly, good search firms help qualify potential employees. This can save the company money in the long run.
- Want ads in newspapers and other sources lead to interviews about 5% - 8% of the time. Everyone looking for a job is also checking their local paper. See if specific industries you are interested in publish a journal that may also have job want ads.
- Networking leads to interviews around 60% - 85% of the time. Think about jobs you have gotten or ask friends for their story. Networking has a domino effect.
Develop a network plan!
- Start with a list of people to contact, prioritize your list and put down all the contact information. You may want to use the contact manager in your email.
- Figure out how you are going to track your networking efforts. Maybe you are great with creating spreadsheets.
- Create a weekly network plan. Again, a spreadsheet might be the best method for you.
- Work on a phone script. See Making Phone Calls
- Create a letter and email template you can use for making contacts. Introduce yourself, the purpose of the letter/email, a short paragraph of your skills, what you will do in following up and thank them.
Network Opportunities
- Professional organizations: attend meetings, keep up your membership
- Join Toastmasters - "Become the Speaker and Leader You Want to Be"
- Call friends for lunch or happy hour
- Use eNetworking one source is Linked In. This source is a networking database.
Actually Talking to Someone
Okay, so you’ve met someone who might be able to help you find a job or even offer an interview. What do you say? This is where that script is going to come in handy.
- Introduce yourself and hook them into a conversation. Looking for a job is an interesting place to start. Most people want to help. Build a rapport. You may find you can help them as much as they can help you.
- Convey your job background. Don’t just give a list, what did you do at your job? What problems did you solve and how? Keep it short, like a minute or two. Let them ask you questions. This is a conversation.
- Keep bring the conversation back to them. Ask questions.
- Where are you going in your career? Tell them your future interests.
- Keep returning the conversation back to them. Questions help develop a conversation and keep it interesting.
Obviously, you are going to change this little conversation/speech depending on whom you are talking to. You do not want the speech to be memorized; you want to keep it fresh. Practice your “speech” say it out loud, make it sound natural and enjoy giving it.
Sitting down and having a Networking Meeting
A network meeting may be a company informational interview. It may be a meeting a friend setup. These meetings should be short, no longer than 20 minutes.
- Establish rapport with whom you are meeting. Take a minute to introduce your self and learn a bit about them.
- Tell them the purpose of your meeting, an agenda
- Ask leading questions? Practice some questions before the meeting, but also think on your feet.
- One of the things you are looking for is referrals. Be willing to ask to be introduction if appropriate.
- Share the company list you are contacting during the meeting.
- Reciprocate with networking partner. Look for ways to help them out.
- When the meeting is drawing to an end, summarize the key points, confirm what your next steps will be and what they said they were going to do, follow up with an email to remind your contact of actions to be taken by both of you and thank them.
So, network, you never know when you’ll get a free lunch or drink at happy hour.
The 4 Networking Questions -
Job Networking Tips -
Jobs – Networking To Find A Job - advice, books, service
Art of Career and Job-Search Networking -
Jig Saw -
Business Networking - A networking site
Make yourself a business card. Carry your cards with you at all times and hand them out. Put all your contact information on the card. You can go to an office supply store and purchase blank cards and print them on your printer. This gives you the most flexibility to tailor your card for different situations. You can go to a printer and have cards created. Or you can surf to Vista Print and get “free” cards, but you will pay for shipping and the cards will have Vistaprint.com on the back. They may also try to sell you other supplies. However you get your cards always carry them with you, clip them to your resumes and include them in snail mail correspondence. Give cards to everyone.
Making Phone Calls
If you see a job posting, call and find out who is doing the interviewing so you can personalize your cover letter.
If you call to follow-up on a resume you sent in, but you have not heard anything prepare a script. Make your script friendly, short and to the point. Ask for an interview.
If you call to follow-up on a networking meeting or an interview, prepare a script. When you get voice mail, be brief. When leaving your phone number write it down as you say it. Everyone hates fast numbers that they have to press repeat to write down. Make it easy. Keep voice messages to 30 seconds. If you do not hear anything after leaving a message, don’t keep calling and leaving messages. You can call and see if you get the person, but no more than a couple messages in a week. Monday mornings are not a good time to call. People are getting into the office and facing the week. Friday afternoons are not great either. People are trying to get out of the office. If you talk to the person’s assistant, ask when a good time is to call. Practice your script out loud. Even better is to record it and listen. How does your tone sound? Do you sound friendly and professional? Is your message too long? When you leave a voice message, say “I will try you again towards the end of the week.” This takes the pressure off a busy person. Talk to your friends that have gone through job searches and find out what has worked for them.
When you find a job, follow up with everyone and let them know you have a new job, give them your contact information and thank them. Even after you have found a job, keep in touch with your network.
Personal Marketing Plan
You are your own product; service, asset, brand and you are marketing yourself. Your marketing plan is your roadmap, organizing tool and sales and marketing scheme. You need to start with your personal vision. Ask yourself “who am I?” This question will help you identify what skills do you have to offer an employer. What are your areas of expertise? Next ask, “What do I want?” In your next job what do you want that job to offer you in your career and just as importantly, your life? While you figure out what you want, think about the work/life balance. Answering these two important questions is gong to help you develop a focused direction for your job search and what you want when you receive an offer. Your marketing plan should identify what makes you; your skills, your experience unique so that you can demonstrate why you are the best for a job and what makes you stand out or what differentiates you from other candidates. You are going to find that having your personal marketing plan in hand that it helps you are every step in networking.
Your marketing plan will in a lot of ways look like your resume. But you will use it differently in your job search. At the top of your marketing plan put you Contact Information in the same format as you did on your resume.
Next list at least three major Job Functions e.g. Business Manager or Director of Marketing or Human Resources Specialist. Do these look like job titles? They may actually be job titles if they target a job function.
Under each job function list your skills or Areas of Expertise in columns. What skills were necessary in each of you job functions? Under Business Manager you might list: budget strategy and management, account supervision, and monthly account analysis. Your expertise should demonstrate your assets that a potential employer would want to know and consider.
The next section is your Profile. This section is bullet points of your accomplishments and demonstrates your skills. You might list as the Marketing Manager you oversaw a 10 million dollar budget; you increased sales by 27% over three years; you have a BA in Marketing and a minor in Business Administration.
Next list your Employment. This is simple list of the companies you have worked, if you want to also include the years of employment that is fine.
Your Personal Vision Statement is next. This is where summarize your employment goals and what you want. Again, bullet point your vision, e.g. Management position; Marketing or Public Relations firm; Small entrepreneurial company; commute less than 30 minutes; flexible schedule. This is where you consider that important work/life balance question.
And finally, list the Target Companies or Organizations that you want to consider when sending out your resume. Once you have done your research you will be able to be specific. Make the list nice and long. This will give your network friends an idea of where you would like to work. You never know who knows who that works at...
Now that you have done all this work, how are you going to use your personal marketing plan? The plan should help you focus on where you are going and answer some of those questions that have been rattling around in your head. Your plan is going to prepare you for networking. Read it over. Now consider that speech you give when someone finds out you are looking for work or when you have a networking meeting. You may choose to give your networking contacts a copy of your marketing plan. Carefully consider whom you give your marketing plan to. A networking meeting may turn into an interview. Do you want a potential employer to know a “flexible schedule” is one of your personal vision points? Or would you rather ask about opportunities to telecommute or start your workday early. Your plan will help you prepare for interviews and how to answer some of the tough questions. Your marketing plan will also help you evaluate job offers. Does the position match up with your personal vision, your work/life balance?
Everyone talks about the importance of networking. Stay in touch with your former colleagues. While it may hurt to say “I was laid off” let you family and friends know you are looking for work. You never know where a job lead is going to come from. And, you will be surprised how many other people have been unemployed and have helpful information.
Why do I want to network?
- Obviously, to find a job
- Get the word out “I need a job!”
- Building contacts and relationships
- Find out about jobs that have not been posted and the hard to find jobs. Everyone has found the jobs on the popular websites
- Do informational interviews, find out more about a particular company, industry, and get the word out that you are in the job market.
How are you getting interviews?
- Cold calling, sending out a letter, dropping in can lead to an interview about 2% of the time. There are some advantages to dropping in to an office and meeting the receptionist. This can tell you a lot about the company.
- Web surfing: delivers about 8% - 10% of job leads. There are a lot of people searching the web for the same job leads. Check specific company websites for jobs.
- Search firms: will find jobs for people in about 10% - 12% of cases. Remember search firms charge employers a fee. Does the company want to spend that money? Possibly, good search firms help qualify potential employees. This can save the company money in the long run.
- Want ads in newspapers and other sources lead to interviews about 5% - 8% of the time. Everyone looking for a job is also checking their local paper. See if specific industries you are interested in publish a journal that may also have job want ads.
- Networking leads to interviews around 60% - 85% of the time. Think about jobs you have gotten or ask friends for their story. Networking has a domino effect.
Develop a network plan!
- Start with a list of people to contact, prioritize your list and put down all the contact information. You may want to use the contact manager in your email.
- Figure out how you are going to track your networking efforts. Maybe you are great with creating spreadsheets.
- Create a weekly network plan. Again, a spreadsheet might be the best method for you.
- Work on a phone script. See Making Phone Calls
- Create a letter and email template you can use for making contacts. Introduce yourself, the purpose of the letter/email, a short paragraph of your skills, what you will do in following up and thank them.
Network Opportunities
- Professional organizations: attend meetings, keep up your membership
- Join Toastmasters - "Become the Speaker and Leader You Want to Be"
- Call friends for lunch or happy hour
- Use eNetworking one source is Linked In. This source is a networking database.
Actually Talking to Someone
Okay, so you’ve met someone who might be able to help you find a job or even offer an interview. What do you say? This is where that script is going to come in handy.
- Introduce yourself and hook them into a conversation. Looking for a job is an interesting place to start. Most people want to help. Build a rapport. You may find you can help them as much as they can help you.
- Convey your job background. Don’t just give a list, what did you do at your job? What problems did you solve and how? Keep it short, like a minute or two. Let them ask you questions. This is a conversation.
- Keep bring the conversation back to them. Ask questions.
- Where are you going in your career? Tell them your future interests.
- Keep returning the conversation back to them. Questions help develop a conversation and keep it interesting.
Obviously, you are going to change this little conversation/speech depending on whom you are talking to. You do not want the speech to be memorized; you want to keep it fresh. Practice your “speech” say it out loud, make it sound natural and enjoy giving it.
Sitting down and having a Networking Meeting
A network meeting may be a company informational interview. It may be a meeting a friend setup. These meetings should be short, no longer than 20 minutes.
- Establish rapport with whom you are meeting. Take a minute to introduce your self and learn a bit about them.
- Tell them the purpose of your meeting, an agenda
- Ask leading questions? Practice some questions before the meeting, but also think on your feet.
- One of the things you are looking for is referrals. Be willing to ask to be introduction if appropriate.
- Share the company list you are contacting during the meeting.
- Reciprocate with networking partner. Look for ways to help them out.
- When the meeting is drawing to an end, summarize the key points, confirm what your next steps will be and what they said they were going to do, follow up with an email to remind your contact of actions to be taken by both of you and thank them.
So, network, you never know when you’ll get a free lunch or drink at happy hour.
The 4 Networking Questions -
Job Networking Tips -
Jobs – Networking To Find A Job - advice, books, service
Art of Career and Job-Search Networking -
Jig Saw -
Business Networking - A networking site
Make yourself a business card. Carry your cards with you at all times and hand them out. Put all your contact information on the card. You can go to an office supply store and purchase blank cards and print them on your printer. This gives you the most flexibility to tailor your card for different situations. You can go to a printer and have cards created. Or you can surf to Vista Print and get “free” cards, but you will pay for shipping and the cards will have Vistaprint.com on the back. They may also try to sell you other supplies. However you get your cards always carry them with you, clip them to your resumes and include them in snail mail correspondence. Give cards to everyone.
Making Phone Calls
If you see a job posting, call and find out who is doing the interviewing so you can personalize your cover letter.
If you call to follow-up on a resume you sent in, but you have not heard anything prepare a script. Make your script friendly, short and to the point. Ask for an interview.
If you call to follow-up on a networking meeting or an interview, prepare a script. When you get voice mail, be brief. When leaving your phone number write it down as you say it. Everyone hates fast numbers that they have to press repeat to write down. Make it easy. Keep voice messages to 30 seconds. If you do not hear anything after leaving a message, don’t keep calling and leaving messages. You can call and see if you get the person, but no more than a couple messages in a week. Monday mornings are not a good time to call. People are getting into the office and facing the week. Friday afternoons are not great either. People are trying to get out of the office. If you talk to the person’s assistant, ask when a good time is to call. Practice your script out loud. Even better is to record it and listen. How does your tone sound? Do you sound friendly and professional? Is your message too long? When you leave a voice message, say “I will try you again towards the end of the week.” This takes the pressure off a busy person. Talk to your friends that have gone through job searches and find out what has worked for them.
When you find a job, follow up with everyone and let them know you have a new job, give them your contact information and thank them. Even after you have found a job, keep in touch with your network.
Personal Marketing Plan
You are your own product; service, asset, brand and you are marketing yourself. Your marketing plan is your roadmap, organizing tool and sales and marketing scheme. You need to start with your personal vision. Ask yourself “who am I?” This question will help you identify what skills do you have to offer an employer. What are your areas of expertise? Next ask, “What do I want?” In your next job what do you want that job to offer you in your career and just as importantly, your life? While you figure out what you want, think about the work/life balance. Answering these two important questions is gong to help you develop a focused direction for your job search and what you want when you receive an offer. Your marketing plan should identify what makes you; your skills, your experience unique so that you can demonstrate why you are the best for a job and what makes you stand out or what differentiates you from other candidates. You are going to find that having your personal marketing plan in hand that it helps you are every step in networking.
Your marketing plan will in a lot of ways look like your resume. But you will use it differently in your job search. At the top of your marketing plan put you Contact Information in the same format as you did on your resume.
Next list at least three major Job Functions e.g. Business Manager or Director of Marketing or Human Resources Specialist. Do these look like job titles? They may actually be job titles if they target a job function.
Under each job function list your skills or Areas of Expertise in columns. What skills were necessary in each of you job functions? Under Business Manager you might list: budget strategy and management, account supervision, and monthly account analysis. Your expertise should demonstrate your assets that a potential employer would want to know and consider.
The next section is your Profile. This section is bullet points of your accomplishments and demonstrates your skills. You might list as the Marketing Manager you oversaw a 10 million dollar budget; you increased sales by 27% over three years; you have a BA in Marketing and a minor in Business Administration.
Next list your Employment. This is simple list of the companies you have worked, if you want to also include the years of employment that is fine.
Your Personal Vision Statement is next. This is where summarize your employment goals and what you want. Again, bullet point your vision, e.g. Management position; Marketing or Public Relations firm; Small entrepreneurial company; commute less than 30 minutes; flexible schedule. This is where you consider that important work/life balance question.
And finally, list the Target Companies or Organizations that you want to consider when sending out your resume. Once you have done your research you will be able to be specific. Make the list nice and long. This will give your network friends an idea of where you would like to work. You never know who knows who that works at...
Now that you have done all this work, how are you going to use your personal marketing plan? The plan should help you focus on where you are going and answer some of those questions that have been rattling around in your head. Your plan is going to prepare you for networking. Read it over. Now consider that speech you give when someone finds out you are looking for work or when you have a networking meeting. You may choose to give your networking contacts a copy of your marketing plan. Carefully consider whom you give your marketing plan to. A networking meeting may turn into an interview. Do you want a potential employer to know a “flexible schedule” is one of your personal vision points? Or would you rather ask about opportunities to telecommute or start your workday early. Your plan will help you prepare for interviews and how to answer some of the tough questions. Your marketing plan will also help you evaluate job offers. Does the position match up with your personal vision, your work/life balance?
