By Neil Patrick
One of the facts I return to again and again is that the job hunting process no longer works in the way it used to. If you don’t know this already, I can tell you that right now around 80% of jobs are never advertised. And the way to get into this sector of the market is through effective networking.
But it’s about working smarter, not harder. Part of this involves powering up your network and Linkedin profile so this works better for you. And I’ve posted a lot of tips here about this (if you want to find all of these, just type ‘Linkedin’ into the search box top right).
But you shouldn’t just rely on this alone. Networking into you next job isn’t about going to countless events and giving out your business card to as many people as you can. It’s about targeting the RIGHT people and the right organisations.
Put another way, it’s Ready, Aim, Fire, not Fire, Fire and Fire again!
Too many people think that effective networking is about self promotion and meeting as many people as you can. Wrong. It’s actually much more like detective work. So use your forensic and research skills to uncover WHO you should be talking to and find the right way to get to them. And that’s often by indirect routes.
Research them on Linkedin. Learn everything you can about their business and it’s challenges. Find out which Linkedin Groups they are in. See who may be in their network that may be in yours. See if they are on Twitter.
Do not find them and then lamely tell them that you are looking for a job. Connect with them and engage on topics that they are interested in. Be inventive. If they post about a topic on Linkedin, use it as an opportunity to bring yourself to their attention, by sharing your knowledge. And if you don’t have any, go and find some. It doesn’t matter how you got the information. It’s not about you, it’s about them and bringing yourself to their attention in a way which doesn’t ask anything of them. This is called ‘paying it forward’.
I have hired dozens of people in this way. Not because they applied for a job vacancy, but because they did their homework and reached out effectively to me. When I discovered people in this way, the chances are that I would pass the information to the relevant line manager, asking them to check the person out. And you could be sure that at the very least that we’d discuss that resume and quite probably invite the person for an interview. Not because we had a vacancy, but because the person had shown me they had something we needed.
This film from NYU will give you a lot more ideas to about how you can get creative in penetrating this market. No more lukewarm coffees and awkward chats with total strangers in hotel lobbies will be needed either!
I have been looking for a job for a while now. Now in my experience too many people a lot of emphasis on Linkedin. Linkedin is only effective if people want to network and keep in touch. Many people don't know how to use it just collect connections. One guy boasts of have 3500+ connections. I often contribute to discussion and even start discussions on Linkedin. I am discovering that they are many dodgy people on there offering fraudulent services etc. Like anything where people can promote themselves without any checks one most proceed with cautious. I always use Linkedin to do my homework about a person but not everyone is on Linkedin.
ReplyDeleteHi Vivienne,
DeleteThanks so much for sharing your experiences of LinkedIn here.
I agree with your points. I think like any tool, Linkedin can only be as good as the skill of it's user. Ironically some of the most influential people in the world still have a very limited presence on social media including Linkedin.
But this is steadily changing as more and more people realize it isn't optional, it's essential if they are not to get left behind.
It's inevitable I think that with a completely public and open platform there are always going to be some noisy self promoters, simple number junkies, or worse, fraudulent people to be found. But thankfully they are a minority and hence at worst a minor irritant rather than a big problem.
So as you say, treat it with simple common sense and discernment and harness it to achieve your goals in as creative and personal a way as you can. It's power is only limited by your own imagination and creativity.
I look forward to hearing more of your experiences :-)
Kind regards
Neil
I like how you wrote "Fire, Fire, and Fire Again." No, I don't mean I like the idea.I just like how you wrote it. Well, you know what I mean.
ReplyDelete-d
Thank you very much Diana. Yes I know what you mean. Happy too that your usual eloquence has gone on a well-deserved holiday. ;-)
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