chapter 3 pursue the right jobs

Chapter 3

Pursue the Right Jobs

Learning ObjectivesWhen you complete the instruction in this chapter, you will be trained to:

♦ Differentiate between proactive and reactive career development behaviors.

♦ Identify new job hunt methods.

♦ Create and maintain a Top 10 contact list.

♦ Create a flexible networking script.

♦ Develop your own elevator speech.

♦ Come up with rough ideas for a business card.

♦ Identify decision-makers and develop a script to approach a decision-maker about a posted opening.

♦ Identify outside recruiting and staffing agencies in your community.

♦ Create a broad job hunt strategy and refine it to create a detailed job hunt action plan.

♦ Practice professional communication to make a positive impression.

Introduction“Find a job you like and you add five days to every week.” 1

— H. Jackson Brown, Jr., best-selling author

Now that you’ve narrowed your focus and feel confident about the career you want to pursue, it’s time to look at how to find the right job in that career … and do so in a proactive manner.

When you approach your job hunt or career transition in a proactive way, by networking, informational interviewing and tapping the hidden job market, you’ll feel less stressed and pressured. If you’re a student, you can handle your transition into the working world in a proactive way as well. You can start laying the groundwork for your job hunt well before you graduate or finish your education.

This chapter gives you pointers for getting a head start on your job hunt. It might feel like a lot to focus on—conducting a job hunt while you’re employed or in school. However, in the end, you’ll come out ahead, equipped to successfully survive future transitions.

GE200 Career Development Strategies

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Spotlight on Job HuntsEveryone approaches their job hunt differently and some strategies are better than others. Let’s look at the approaches Rachel and Sharon take to see which strategy is more effective.

First we’ll look at Rachel, someone who’s adopted a very proactive job hunt strategy.

Rachel worked hard to secure her position as a supervisor of customer service at a bank. She did all the right things: networked with people she knew, attended meetings for a local financial services association and conducted informational interviews with people in the field. She’s enjoying her new position with her new employer and feels more settled after her first year. She’s thinking about taking on additional challenges and responsibilities and has her eye on moving into a management role in customer service at a regional level.

The first thing Rachel decides to do is learn more about what’s involved in a management job at the regional level. That way she can start gaining the skills she will need. Her manager suggests she lead a committee, and Rachel jumps at the chance, knowing this kind of challenging role will give her some great management experience.

Next, Rachel continues building strong relationships with the people she works with, as well as her vendors and customers. She recognizes that they may be aware of positions or opportunities in regional management. Rachel begins to feel comfortable talking to some of these people about her career goal. They’re all excited and supportive and tell her they’ll let her know whenever they learn about openings or new positions.

Eventually, the right job comes open, Rachel hears about it and, armed with her enhanced skills and confidence, interviews for the position and gets it!

Now let’s look at someone who’s been very reactive with her job hunt strategy.

Sharon’s been in school for two years finishing a Bachelor’s degree that she started years ago but never completed. She’s been going to school full time and is now nearing the end of her program. She’s quite excited about graduating, but a little worried too.

You see, Sharon decided to pass on job hunt classes and never attended any job fairs or visited the career services center. She figured she’d tackle her job hunt after she graduated. Unfortunately, it became clear to her as her graduation neared, that many of her classmates already had jobs lined up and she didn’t. Why? Because her classmates had worked on their resumes, attended job fairs, talked to their professors and contacted local employers … and Sharon hadn’t.

When Sharon graduated it took longer than she expected to find a job because she hadn’t laid any of the groundwork for her job hunt—no contacts, no networking and no resume. She had to start from scratch, but no longer had the easy access to resources she’d had in school. Eventually, she did find work in her field and was very happy to be employed. However, she now realizes that the next time she searches for employment, she won’t wait until the last moment when she needs it.

Rachel and Sharon had different career goals and circumstances, but the biggest difference between them was how they went about their job hunt. Rachel was proactive and Sharon was reactive. We want to make sure you take the proactive approach. It’s more effective and much less stressful.


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The Job HuntWhether you’re currently employed or unemployed, you should always be thinking about your next career move. In today’s world it’s common to change careers multiple times during your lifetime, and you need to be flexible and proactive to handle those changes. Whether it’s organizational changes, buyouts, mergers and acquisitions or a dramatic change in your interest level, you never really know how long you’ll be at a job.

That’s why it’s a good idea to think about your next step on the career ladder even when you are employed. True, no employer likes you looking for a job instead of doing your work. What you want to do is convey the idea to those around you that you’re open to change and possibilities and always seeking ways to grow. This could mean taking on a new project or new responsibilities, working with new people or moving to a new position within the company. It’s perfectly acceptable to move into new positions frequently, as long as the positions provide increasing responsibility and areas of growth for you, and you’ve maintained a good reputation while moving from one position to another.

Proactive ApproachLooking for your next job while you’re employed is a proactive approach—one where you act in advance and work toward achieving a goal and overcoming anticipated challenges. With a proactive approach you plan for the future and lay the groundwork for future changes or goals. This means that you don’t just put your nose to the grindstone and focus solely on your current job tasks. Instead, you continue many of the activities you learned about in the last chapters: networking, volunteering and informational interviewing.

“The most important thing is when you do something proactive to help yourself. You feel better mentally and emotionally.”2

—Teri Garr, actress

One of the biggest mistakes people make when they find a job is this: they breathe a huge sigh of relief and then no longer attend professional meetings, keep their ears open for job leads or pay any attention to the local business climate. Just because you’re employed, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t network and make people aware of your presence in the community and your career aspirations.

Students often make the same mistake. They assume their sole focus should be on school, courses and grades and they forget all about the outside world. Just because you’re in school, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t network within your community.

Reactive ApproachMost people look for a job in a reactive way—they start looking for work as soon as they lose their job. Let’s look at a typically reactive job hunter.

Billy worked for a local medical supply company and for months saw the signs that the company was being bought out by a large national company. The local company wasn’t sure until the last stage of the buyout whether existing employees would be kept on board or not.

Billy could have started his job hunt when he first saw the signs. Instead, he ignored the whole situation, dragged his feet and waited until he got the official word that all local employees would lose their jobs. He became extremely anxious once the reality of unemployment set in. He felt completely unprepared for change and started desperately applying for any position that he was remotely qualified for. Then he took the first one offered to him.


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It was a good position but didn’t really meet his salary needs or match his skill set. He was happy to be employed only three weeks after his layoff, but he deeply regretted not taking the necessary steps months ago to find something more rewarding.

Of course, sometimes we’re caught unaware and find ourselves looking for jobs when we didn’t plan to. That’s all right; even unexpected job hunts can be conducted proactively if you follow the methods in this chapter.

Job Hunt MethodsPreviously, you learned about a variety of methods to help you identify the career you really want and the company where you want to work. Well, guess what? You can use those same methods in your job hunt to get leads, find job openings, learn more about employers and gain new skills.

This section presents some new methods for you to try, and then reviews the “old” methods you encountered.

You probably won’t use every method in this section, but it’s a good idea to use a balanced, well-rounded approach to your job hunt and not rely on only one or two techniques that you’re comfortable with. Challenge yourself and experiment with a couple new methods. You’ll be glad you did!

Job Hunt WorkshopsJob hunt workshops are a great place to brush up on your job hunt skills AND network with others. Instructors at job hunt workshops are knowledgeable about the job market and may have some helpful tips for your specific needs. To find out about these workshops, contact your local Workforce Center, any local career counselor, the community college or your library. These workshops are usually free or low cost.

Job FairsYour local newspaper provides announcements or ads about upcoming job fairs. There are several types of job fairs:

♦ Industry-specific: Employers from specific industries, such as health care or IT, come together to present their hiring needs.

♦ Population-specific: These fairs target a certain audience, such as recent graduates or older workers.

♦ Large employer: These fairs are put on by a specific employer that is expanding or opening up a new location and has extensive hiring needs.

♦ General: These are fairs where a variety of companies and industries are represented.

Do NOT go to a job fair before you do some basic research: find out which companies are attending, what kind of jobs they have open and get some general information about the companies that interest you. You’ll be more effective at the job fair with the information you gain from your research.

Before you arrive at the fair, make sure you know which companies you want to visit. Dress in a professional manner and bring several copies of your resume. Be prepared with a 30-second elevator speech (more about that later) and have some questions prepared for each employer— questions you feel will give you the information you need to make an informed decision about that employer.


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Many employers provide application forms and explain how to apply for their openings. This means you may have to fill in some information by hand—so practice your handwriting or printing ahead of time so that it’s legible. Most of us are so used to typing on the keyboard, we’ve forgotten how to write (or spell)!

When you leave a company booth, take the business card of the person you spoke with and jot something on the back of the card about the individual. You can then follow up with them after the fair.

Note: A job fair is also useful if you’ve already applied for a position with the employer. You can use the job fair as an opportunity to re-introduce yourself, let the representative know you submitted an application and find out about its status.

Online Networking GroupsDid you know that social networking has reached the business community? Now you can connect with people in your field and learn about employers through professional online networking groups, such as Linked In (http://www.linkedin.com/).

When you join Linked In, you enter your professional and educational profile, and then invite people to join your network via a simple e-mail invitation. Once they’ve joined your network, you have access to all the people in their network. You can get in touch with people you’ve never met through the contacts you have … and the contacts they have. Linked In even has its own job search tool. This is a great tool for locating experienced people who can open doors for you in the job market.

Trade Shows and ConferencesWhatever industry or field you pursue, it will probably have a professional association that puts on an annual conference or trade show. Professionals from around the country or the world, gather at these events to exchange ideas and best practices. Often there will be an exhibit hall where companies display their products and services. There’s usually a calendar of seminars and classes, as well. Locate the national professional association (or its local chapter in your community) to inquire about upcoming regional or national conferences. These are excellent opportunities for networking!

Online Job BanksOnline job banks are a tremendous resource for job seekers. Some are all encompassing, such as www.monster.com or www.careerbuilder.com. Others are industry-specific, such as www.dice.com. And then there are online job search engines that scan ALL the online job banks for you, such as www.indeed.com or www.job-search-engine.com/.

The Riley Guide has a comprehensive list of job bank Web sites at www.rileyguide.com/multiple.html.

Local Professional HangoutsBet you never considered a coffee house or restaurant as a job hunt tool. Think about it—where do people who do the kind of work you want to do or work for the employer you want to work for hang out? There’s probably a few places they congregate before work, at lunch or after work. Find out where they hang out and do the same. Sure, you’ll have to buy a cup of coffee or a snack, but it’s worth it when you think about the conversations you’ll overhear and the company culture you’ll observe!


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Old FavoritesDon’t forget your “old favorites”—job hunt methods from the previous chapter. Here is a short list to jog your memory:

♦ Networking and informational interviewing

♦ Workforce center

♦ Employment support groups

♦ Local newspapers

♦ Trade journals

♦ Professional organizations

♦ Employer research

♦ Direct contact with employers

♦ Non-profit meetings

♦ Faith-based organizations

♦ Fitness centers

♦ College alumni events

Of all these methods, networking is by far the most useful, so let’s take a look at how to incorporate networking into your job hunt.

Use Networking in Your Job HuntExperts say that 80 percent of all jobs are obtained through networking. That’s because networking brings you face to face with people “in the know”—people who are aware of unadvertised jobs or upcoming staffing needs. Also, most employers prefer to hire someone they know personally or someone who has been referred to them.

Your goal is to build a vast network of people that eventually leads you to an employer who needs your skills and has an open position that’s a match for you. During a job hunt, networking gives you a chance to let others know of your availability. As your network grows, so does the news that you’re available and seeking employment.

Build Your Network Contact ListIf you’ve been networking all along as part of your career exploration, networking during your job hunt should not be a problem. The easiest way to start your job hunt is to write down the names of all the people you know. Don’t worry if you don’t know them well, just jot down their name, job title and how you now them (for example, “former supervisor at ABC Accounting” or “daughter’s classmate’s parent”).

“In life it wasn’t what you know, but who you know.”3

— Rick Barry, professional basketball player (retired)


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Ideas for Building Your Contact List

♦ Current and former co-workers

♦ Current and former supervisors or managers

♦ Outside vendors from current or former jobs

♦ Current and previous customers

♦ Personal friends, parents, siblings and relatives

♦ Neighbors and friends of family

♦ Current and previous friends from school

♦ Friends from sports and hobbies

♦ Employment counselors and recruiters

♦ Professional service providers, such as a doctor, lawyer, banker, insurance agent, accountant, postman and mechanic

♦ Personal service providers such as hairstylists, barbers and personal trainers

♦ Teachers and community leaders

♦ Members of your church, club or professional organization

♦ Volunteering contacts and alumni

This is your initial job hunt contact list. Now it’s time to narrow down the names to your “Top 10 List”:

1. Identify Your Top 10 List: Identify the Top 10 people who you think would be the most helpful to you in your current situation. These are people who have experience in the field you are pursuing or know people who do … or simply know lots of people and would be happy to assist you.

2. Get Information: Gather complete contact information for each person: name, job title, place of employment, phone number, e-mail and address.

3. Make Contact: Contact the people on your Top 10 list by e-mail, phone or letter. Let them know you’re in the midst of a job hunt and briefly summarize your goals. Ask them if they’d be willing to sit down with you or speak with you on the phone for a few minutes to share any ideas they might have about your goals. Your objective is to arrange a one-on-one meeting where you can tell them about the type of work you’re looking for and ask them for advice, tips or suggestions. If you have trouble making the initial contact, follow the phone script in the “Using a Networking Script” section. As you talk, make sure to: • Ask for help: During your initial conversation by phone, e-mail or mail, provide the names of

companies you’re interested in, job titles you’re seeking and the types of people you’d like to connect with. Let your contact know what you need and how she can help you.

• Make an appointment: Ask your contact for a date and time to meet—for coffee or lunch (your treat), at her office or for a phone meeting. Let her know you’d like to generate ideas and are not asking her for a job.

4. Hold a Meeting: Thank your contact for agreeing to meet and let her know you’ll meet only for the agreed-upon amount of time. Restate the purpose of your meeting and what you hope to accomplish. For example, “As I mentioned during our phone call, I’m exploring opportunities in the financial services field and would like to hear where you see growth areas.”

5. End the Meeting: Be prepared with questions and always ask: “Who else would you recommend I talk to?” Then ask how you might help your contact and make sure to follow through.

6. After the Meeting: Follow up with your referrals. Thank your contact and keep her in the loop regarding your career progress. As always, it’s best to send a handwritten personal thank-you note.


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Use a Networking ScriptWhen you contact people during the networking process, there are a few main points you’ll want to be sure to touch on. First, do they know anyone else who could help you? Also, do they know any organizations that may employ people with your skills? It’s good to ask if you can use their name when you contact the people they referred you to. Always ask how you can help them, too. Networking is a two-way street.

To help you touch on the points, here are a couple of networking scripts you can customize for your own personality and use. Take time to write your own script and practice it before you call someone. Note: When you practice, try talking in front of a mirror as you smile. The smile will actually come through over the phone!

Here is a script for contacting someone in your network who works for a company that could possibly use your skill set:

Action Script

1. Introduce yourself and make a connection.

“Hi Bill! This is Amy Smith. We worked together at ABC Company a few years ago. Remember me? How’s your new job treating you?”

2. State the situation. “ABC’s been cutting back and laid off ten people including myself last month. It was a real shock, but I’m ready to find some new opportunities.”

3. Ask for assistance. “Anyway, the reason I’m calling is to find out if I can talk to you in the next week or so to learn more about the company you work for, and to brainstorm ideas for my job hunt.”

4. Be prepared. Bill might want to talk to you right away or he might not have time. Be ready to jot down notes. Be respectful of his time.

(If he can talk to you right now)

“You’ve got time to talk right now? Great!

So, why don’t you tell me a bit about your company and their hiring practices. If you’ve got any ideas for my job hunt, I’d love to hear them. And if you can think of anyone else for me to talk to, let me know.”

(if he can talk to you later)

So, what day and time is good? Do you want to meet at your work or somewhere else? I’d be happy to take you out for coffee and we could talk there.”

(make sure to confirm the date, time, location and directions)

5. Follow up if Bill mentioned any possibilities for hiring.

“Bill, you mentioned a few possibilities for openings. Can I call you tomorrow when you’re at work to confirm that information? When would be a good time for me to call?”


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Here is a script for contacting a referral from someone in your network. In this case, your friend Beth suggested you call a former co-worker of hers, Tom, who knows a lot about the field you are interested in:

Action Script

1. Introduce yourself and make a connection.

“Hi Tom. My name is Amy Smith. A mutual friend of ours, Beth, suggested that I call you. I believe you and Beth used to work together at XYZ Company.”

2. State the situation. “Beth suggested that I call you because I’ve been in banking for the past five years and I’m exploring new career opportunities. She thought you might be willing to provide me with some advice and helpful information.”

3. Be prepared for some resistance.

Tom might say something like: “I can’t imagine how my advice would help you and I really don’t know of any job openings right now.”

You respond: “Beth said you’re quite knowledgeable about companies in the field and the kinds of qualifications and experience they’re looking for in employees. That kind of information would really help me understand if I’m suited for this field.”

Tom: “Yes, of course. I’ve learned a lot about the industry through the years and could probably give you some pointers.”

4. Set up a time to meet. “So, what day and time is good? Do you want to meet at your work or somewhere else? I’d be happy to take you out for coffee and we could talk there.”

(make sure to confirm the date, time, location and directions)

5. Follow up if Tom mentioned any possibilities for hiring.

“Tom, you mentioned a few possibilities for openings. Can I call you tomorrow when you’re at work to confirm that information? When would be a good time for me to call?”

Use Your Networking Contacts to Validate JobsYou’ll probably continue to review the classifieds, trade publications and online job postings as you hunt for jobs. However, if you see a job that you’re particularly interested in, use your networking skills before you submit your resume or application. Ask the people you know if they’re familiar with this particular employer. Find out if they know anyone who works for the employer. Once you have a real contact in the company, you can learn more about the employer (What exactly do they do? What is their core business? What challenges are they currently having? What is the culture like?) You may even be able to identify the contact person (the hiring manager for the position you’re interested in, a human resources manager or a key person in the department where the opening is located).

When you call the contact person, introduce yourself and state that you were referred by a mutual acquaintance. Ask for a few minutes of her time. Tell her you’re interested in applying for the position you saw posted and you’d like to learn more about the organization and the nature of the position. The contact person might ask you more about your background and experience, so be prepared with a brief introduction, a summary of your career and reasons why you’re qualified for this particular position. Hopefully she’ll offer to let the hiring manager know the two of you spoke. That way the hiring manager can keep an eye out for your resume. After your conversation, drop this person a thank-you note.

After your conversation with the contact person, you should have more insight about the company’s mission, goals and purpose of this particular position. Use the information to customize your cover letter and resume to meet the employer’s specific needs. We’ll discuss resume preparation and cover letters later.


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Your Personal IntroductionWhen you network, it’s a good idea to have in mind what you want to say to people you want to meet. It’s just as important to have something in writing. That’s where an elevator speech and business card comes into play.

Elevator SpeechWhen you’re networking, it’s crucial to have an elevator speech prepared that you can recite in a minute or less. This is a short personal introduction. Why is it called an “elevator speech”? That’s easy—imagine you’re in career transition and decide to attend an industry trade show for a field you’re interested in. During the show, you visit many booths, attend seminars, talk to many people and finally identify several companies you’d love to work for.

Now imagine it’s the end of a long day, and you step into the elevator of the hotel to return to your room. Another person joins you in the elevator, and you notice he’s wearing a trade show badge just like you. The gentleman nods and says “hello,” and you do the same. You exchange a few words about the show, and then he asks, “So, what do you do?” If this gentleman works for one of the companies you’re interested in, what do you say? You probably have about 30 seconds to clearly introduce yourself and state the kind of opportunity you’re looking for—the length of time it takes to get to your floor. And that’s your elevator speech!

There are countless success stories of job seekers who used an effective elevator speech after meeting the right person at the right time. The opportunities to use your elevator speech are limitless—at a luncheon meeting, in a classroom or at a sports event. You never know who you’ll meet, so be prepared. Every interaction is a possible networking opportunity and you don’t want to be caught off guard and stumble over your words.

It’s a good idea to prepare several different elevator speeches of different lengths, for different situations. Here are a few sample scripts, along with the key points they cover. Feel free to use any of these for your own elevator speech.

Basic Elevator Speech

Key Points:

• Name• Field• Interest

Script:

“Hi, my name is ___________. I’m in the _____________ field and I’m interested in ___________________.”

Fill in the last blank with your current career aspiration. For example, maybe you want to stay within your field and move up into a position of different responsibilities or maybe you want to move into a different career.


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Intermediate Elevator Speech

Key Points:

• Name• Experience• Interests• Results• Assistance needed

Script:

“Hi, my name is __________. I have over ______________ years of experience in _____________. What I particularly enjoy doing is _____________________. As a result, I have been able to ____________________. Are you aware of any ________________?”

Advanced Elevator Speech

Key Points:

• Name• Experience• Recent position• Interests• Assistance needed

Script:

“Hi, my name is ___________. I’ve been working in sales management for the past 12 years. My most recent position was as regional sales manager for a nationwide chain of computer retail stores where I increased our sales by 50%. I’m exploring new opportunities in business development in the retail industry with a focus on companies that are known for exceptional customer service. It would be helpful to me if you have any ideas about organizations that fit this description.”

Graduate’s Elevator Speech

Key Points:

• Name• Graduation date• Degree• Interests

Script:

“Hi, my name is ___________. I will be graduating/I just graduated from ____________________ with a degree in _____________________. I’m interested in _____________________.”


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Regardless of the script you use, your elevator speech must meet these criteria to be effective:

♦ Clear: Don’t use buzzwords, jargon or industry-specific terminology. Don’t leave any room for confusion.

♦ Succinct: Use short, easy to understand statements. Don’t get overly wordy. When in doubt, keep your introduction short and simple.

♦ Specific: Don’t use broad, generic words in your introduction. Be very specific about what you’re looking for and what you can offer. The more specific you are, the more likely people can think of concrete ideas and resources for you.

♦ Unique: Communicate something different or unique about your background, what you have to offer or what you’re looking for. This will make you more memorable.

When you finish your elevator speech, make sure to exchange business cards. At this point, you may be asking, “But I don’t have a job yet, why do I need business cards?” Well, business cards aren’t just for employed people, as you’ll soon find out!

Business CardsBusiness cards are highly effective tools during your job hunt, even if you’re a student or currently unemployed. Think of these cards as personal introduction cards, kind of like the calling cards people used back in the Victorian days to introduce themselves to one another.

Business cards are handy when you’re networking because resumes aren’t always appropriate to hand out and can be difficult to carry around. Business cards are easy to carry and easy to hand out. Let’s look at how you might use such cards.

Suppose you’re in the midst of your job hunt and you attend a neighborhood BBQ. You’re chatting with Jim, a neighbor you haven’t seen in a while, and he asks what you’ve been up to. Here’s the perfect opportunity to practice your elevator speech and share the transition you’re in and the work you’re seeking. You give your elevator speech, your neighbor listens and then he says, “Hey, I have a good buddy who works for a company that does exactly what you’re describing!” Now what do you do?

At this point you have a few options. You could ask Jim to ask his buddy to call you, but that’s not the most desirable option because it takes you out of the driver’s seat while you wait for his buddy to call … and he may never call. You could ask Jim to call you tomorrow with his buddy’s contact information. Again, not the best option because you have to rely on Jim to follow up. Or, you could grab a napkin from the table, write your contact information on it and give it to Jim. That’s certainly a better option, but chances are high the napkin will get thrown out.

What’s the best option? Give Jim your professional business card with your relevant contact information (including a brief phrase that says what you do), and tell him you’ll follow up with him tomorrow to get the information about his buddy. At least Jim knows how to get in touch with you!


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When you give someone a business card, they’ll probably hold on to it. After all, it’s standard business practice to exchange business cards in professional and personal settings. When you hand out or collect business cards, consider making a small note on the back to jog your memory about the situation. Most professionals put the business cards they collect into a rolodex, binder or folder. Some enter the information into a database so they can quickly locate the person’s contact information when needed. Some people even have small desktop scanners just for scanning in the information from a business card.

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Your business card is a personal introduction and a reminder of who you are and what you do.

Design Your Business CardsThere are several ways to acquire your own business cards. If you’d like someone to design your cards, you can go find a business card designer. Or, you can always visit your local print shop or office supply store and purchase cards fairly inexpensively. Just make sure you know the information you want to put on the card.

If you do plan to create the cards yourself, here are some important design tips:

1. Content: Avoid printing anything too cute or trendy on your card—you’ll look unprofessional. Do NOT include slang words, jargon or off-color references. This will irritate or offend people who read your business card.

2. Layout: Remember to keep the design clean and simple. Use standard fonts that are 10 points in size or greater so that people can easily read your card. Stay with traditional colors for your ink and paper. It’s best to use darker ink on a light background for ease of reading. Note: If you’re interested in a job in a creative field, you can be a bit more creative, but remember that fonts still need to be 10 point or greater and text should be darker than the background so people can read your card.

3. Printing: If you print your own cards, use the highest print quality setting and paper possible.

4. Contact Information: Include your full name, the best phone number for people to reach you and your e-mail address. You can also include your physical address if you like, but most people will contact you electronically or by phone. Make sure the phone number you provide has a professional and clear outgoing voice message that clearly identifies you by name. Also make sure your e-mail address is simple and professional.

5. Tagline: Create a short tagline (a phrase that sums you up) or a quick summary of qualifications or accomplishments. A short phrase or a few bulleted points usually work well on the front of your card.

Here are some example taglines: • “10 years of management experience in national computer retail business.” • “Well known for employee training and coaching to build a productive team.”


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Here are some example bulleted points: • HVAC Office Engineer • Project Coordinator • Commercial Sales • BS, Construction Management

Tip!Less is more on a business card—especially since you have very little room and need to keep your type size at least 10 point for readability. Remember, what you put on your card shouldn’t tell them everything; it should just jog people’s memory or whet their appetite to learn more about you.

With business cards in hand, networking becomes a lot easier. Make a game of seeing how many business cards you can pass out in a week! Keep some cards with you at all times—in your wallet, your car, and your jacket or coat pockets. Every “chance meeting” during the day is an opportunity for one more person to learn about you and your job hunt.

It’s also a good idea to give some cards to a few friends, family members or key people in your network. That way, they’re prepared to hand out a card when they meet someone who might be a lead for you.

Target the Decision-makerAssume your networking and your business cards have worked their magic. Now what? Your next challenge is to submit a resume or application—but who should you send it to? Human Resources? Someone in the department that’s hiring? Someone else?

Small companies with less than 50 people often do not have an on-staff human resources person. Instead, an office manager or general manager handles their hiring needs. Larger companies probably have an entire human resources department that collects resumes and applications for job postings. However, they may pass the resumes to the department that has the open position. From there, a specific person or a small group of people screen the resumes and applications for important criteria that relates to the position. Ultimately, who needs to see the resume to make a decision?

It’s important to identify the actual decision-maker for the job opening. By doing so, you can tailor your cover letter, resume or application to the right individual. Once you’ve submitted your information, you have a real, live decision-maker (not just an “HR representative”) to follow up with. Of course, reaching the decision-maker can be challenging because this person is probably a very busy manager and may not see it as a priority to return your call. However, if you’ve done your homework and can mention a referral from someone in your network, the decision-maker will be more likely to return your call.

Once you get the decision-maker on the phone, be prepared to introduce yourself and succinctly ask your follow-up questions. You might want to ask questions such as:

♦ “I submitted my resume on February 1 and I’m calling to see if I have passed your initial screening.” (Assume that they received it and that you are qualified.)

♦ “Can you share with me your hiring process? What are your next steps?” “When can I expect to hear from your hiring team for an interview?”


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♦ “Who will be conducting the interviews?”

♦ “How can I learn more about the responsibilities or nature of this job in addition to what was included in the job posting?”

While you talk on the phone, please remember the decision-maker may be in a hurry and only able to spend a few minutes with you. Be respectful of their time and thank them.

Sometimes it can be difficult to get to the decision-maker because of gatekeepers who “protect” those decision-makers. However, there are effective ways to deal with diligent gatekeepers.

Deal with GatekeepersA gatekeeper is someone who controls or monitors access to someone else. In the business world, the gatekeeper is usually an administrative staff member who screens calls and e-mails to someone of importance, such as a manager, director or executive.

Communicating effectively with the gatekeeper or administrative assistant increases your chances of talking directly to the decision-maker you’re trying to contact. Their job is to screen every caller and protect their manager’s time by not passing anyone through who might be a distraction or a low priority. When you communicate with an administrative assistant, immediately introduce yourself and identify the individual who referred you. If the administrative assistant knows this individual, you have a better chance of opening a line of communication. Let the administrative assistant know you’re looking for just five minutes of the manager’s time to obtain some resources. Then ask when the manager might be available.

If you continue having trouble getting past the gatekeeper, you might try talking to other people who could provide you with the decision-maker’s direct phone number or e-mail address. In fact, you might even send a fax to their attention. Or, you can do what Will Smith’s character does in the movie, The Pursuit of Happyness—you can stand outside the office building where the decision-maker works, wait for them to exit the building and find some reason to have a conversation with them. (In the movie, Will Smith’s character shares a taxi with the senior-level manager, just so he can have a few minutes to talk to and impress this individual.)

However, sometimes the decision-maker doesn’t even work within the company because the company uses an outside agency for recruiting and hiring. That’s why you should consider talking to outside staffing agencies and recruiters as part of your job hunt.

Outside AgenciesMore and more, employers outsource their hiring operations to staffing agencies or recruiters that handle the entire process from advertising and recruiting to screening, interviewing and hiring. When you talk to employers during your networking, find out if they use staffing agencies. If so, for what kinds of positions? Do they use recruiters? If so, for what types of positions?


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Job Placement AgenciesJob placement or staffing agencies have a growing role in the business world. Many employers find it cost-effective to use staffing agencies for their temporary or contract work needs. This is common in the manufacturing world. For example, a manufacturer might have a large order of widgets to build. Instead of hiring new full-time employees to meet the demand and then laying them off, the manufacturer turns to an agency to hire employees on a temporary basis. These employees are not guaranteed long-term or permanent work. In fact, they’re technically employees of the staffing agency, not the hiring company. This means the staffing agency pays the payroll taxes and other costs associated with hiring the new employees.

Employers sometimes use staffing agencies when one of their employees goes on an extended leave of absence or a vacation and the employers need to fill the position with a qualified person. Employers also like using staffing agencies to “try out” an employee before bringing them on board permanently. It’s beneficial to you, the job seeker, to be a temporary worker because you can experiment with different types of jobs and work environments to see what you prefer. Sometimes, the temporary positions you fill turn into permanent ones.

Most staffing agencies advertise the jobs they’re trying to fill through the classifieds or their own Web sites. Contact these agencies directly to find out about job openings and how to apply. You may need to fill out an online application or take a couple different computerized tests to gauge your skill level for the job advertised.

Once you establish a relationship with a representative from a staffing agency, keep in touch—call weekly to find out what new jobs might have come available. If you land a job with them, remember, you work for the staffing agency and the staffing agency works for the employer. This means that the agency bills the employer an hourly rate for the employee (you) and then turns around and pays the employee a lesser amount (also you). Once you’ve worked for an agency, the agency representative will have a much better idea of your skills and abilities and will be better equipped to consider you for future temporary job openings.

RecruitersSome companies use staffing agencies to help them with hiring. Others use recruiters. There are two different types of recruiters: retained and contingency.

Retained recruiters are people hired by a company to find quality job candidates. Some retained recruiters are independent consultants hired by companies to recruit upper management or senior level executives. They generally concentrate on placing professionals with salaries of $75,000 or more. The company or employer pays them a fee for their services, usually a percentage of the professional’s salary.

Retained recruiters can also be employees within a company, usually in the human resources department. Larger companies typically have their own recruiters on staff to handle their large volume of hiring needs. These recruiters often travel to colleges and speak with graduates trying to recruit people with the appropriate college education.

Contingency recruiters usually focus on a broader range of job seekers and are paid by the employer only AFTER their recruit is successfully hired. These recruiters are also known as “placement agencies.”

Some recruiters specialize in a certain field or industry. You might find recruiters who work only with high level engineers in the medical field or only with senior marketing professionals. These recruiters are not limited to a geographical region, but rather to a specific industry.


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But don’t count on a recruiter or placement agency to “find you a job.” After all, only 10 to 20 percent of job seekers obtain employment through a recruiter or placement agency. Keep in mind that recruiters and placement agencies work for employers, not for you—they earn their fee from the employer. If YOU contact a recruiter, she’ll be interested in you only if you meet her exact hiring needs at this precise moment for a specific employer. If a recruiter contacts you directly, she probably has a job opening that she’s trying to fill. In this case, the recruiter can advise you on how to approach and interview with the employer. Working with a recruiter can be very valuable once you’ve established a relationship.

Create a Job Hunt StrategyAt this point, you probably know your strengths and understand what you have to offer an employer. You’ve built up your network and have a pretty good idea of employers in the area, including staffing agencies. And hopefully, you feel comfortable giving your elevator speech and handing out business cards to strangers.

Now it’s time to create a job hunt strategy. A job hunt strategy is an overall approach to achieve your specific job goal. Your job hunt strategy should include all the different activities necessary to accomplish your goal. For example, if your goal is to receive an entry-level accounting job with a public accounting firm, your job hunt strategy is probably quite different from someone who wants to work as a human resources professional in a large hi-tech company. Each activity in your strategy should align with your ultimate goal.

Your job hunt strategy might include any of the following types of activities:

♦ Talk to people in my network.

♦ Schedule informational interviews.

♦ Attend professional organization meetings.

♦ Prepare several versions of my resume (more on this later).

♦ Prepare several cover letters (more on this later).

♦ Prepare business cards.

♦ Follow up with everyone who provides me with job leads or valuable resources.

♦ Attend job hunt group.

♦ Research employers that match my needs.

♦ Continually review and fine-tune my career goals.

♦ Uncover job leads through networking and using online search engines.

It’s easy for job seekers to get overwhelmed with their job hunt when they have no strategy. That’s why it’s helpful to think of your job hunt strategy as a compass, pointing you in the right direction of your job goal each day. And if you’re currently looking for a job, don’t think of yourself as unemployed. Instead, think of yourself as carrying out a well-designed marketing strategy to sell your skills and experience to a prospective employer.

Next, you’re going to take your strategy and create a specific action plan.


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The Job Hunt Action PlanAs mentioned in Chapter 4, an action plan provides you with specific steps to take and when to take them so that you can successfully achieve your goal of securing a job in your field of interest. Now that you’re familiar with the methods for finding job openings, you can select the steps that will be most effective for you. Do so based on your community, the resources available and your strengths and preferences.

Your action plan involves taking your basic job strategy and refining it until you have a detailed list of tasks assigned to a calendar.

Review Job Hunt Strategy ActivitiesStart by looking at the list of general activities in your job hunt strategy. Think about the activities that would work best for you. Be selective and choose the ones that will help you to get to your goal.

Determine FrequencySecond, go back through the list, break down the activities into specific tasks and determine how often you need to perform them: daily, weekly, monthly? Be realistic about what you can accomplish, given your personal life and commitments. But also know that your job hunt is your highest priority and treat it as your job.

For example, here are specific tasks that can be done at the beginning of your job hunt, then daily, weekly, monthly and ongoing:

Initially

1. Register for job hunt services with your local employment center.

2. Develop a “master resume” (to be discussed in greater detail later).

3. Develop a reference sheet (to be discussed in greater detail later).

4. Develop a cover letter template that can be tailored to a specific job (to be discussed in greater detail later).

5. Research your occupation to make sure you have the needed skills.

Daily

1. Make contacts to expand your network.

2. Send out cover letters and resumes.

3. Follow up on calls made in previous weeks.

4. Follow up on resumes sent in previous weeks.

5. Follow up on job leads from your network.

6. Send thank-you notes as needed.


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Weekly

1. Review jobs found on online job banks.

2. Research employers of interest.

3. Review jobs listed in the newspapers.

4. Research jobs found on employer’s Web sites.

5. Target your resume and cover letter toward your identified companies.

6. Set up and attend informational interviews with employers and people of interest.

7. Participate in networking groups/events.

Monthly

1. Review trade and professional journals.

2. Review local business newspapers, magazines and journals.

3. Talk with your references and network with them.

On-going/As needed

1. Attend job search training and support meetings.

2. Update your resume and cover letter.

3. Attend job fairs and career fairs.

4. Prepare for interviews.

5. Interview with employers for jobs.

Create a CalendarNow that you have a list of tasks and the frequency you plan to do them, create a calendar just for job search purposes. A calendar in “a week-at-a-glance” format will probably work best. Review your list of tasks and plug each task into the appropriate date and time. This requires that you’ve done enough research in advance to know, for example, which professional association meetings occur on which days and at what time. It also means you need to decide what specific times and days to do general job search activities, such as reviewing the online job banks and revising your resume.


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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

7 am

8 am

9 am Make phone calls

Make phone calls

Make phone calls

Make phone calls

Make phone calls

10 am

11 am

12 pm Attend Women’s Business Group

1 pm

2 pm

3 pm

4 pm

5 pm Attend Job Seekers Group

6 pm

7 pm

8 pm

9 pm

Implement Your Action PlanNow that you have a calendar with scheduled tasks and events, it’s time to carry out your action plan. As you implement your plan, you might find that certain tasks are easy, while others are more difficult. Or you might find that certain tasks take longer than you think. Keep track of your observations and make adjustments to your action plan and calendar on a regular basis. It’s perfectly acceptable to revise your action plan as long as the revisions are in line with your goals.

If you discover there are certain tasks you never get around to, re-evaluate the purpose of those tasks to determine it they are truly important to your goal. If they aren’t, remove them from your calendar and don’t worry about them. However, if they are important, you need to figure out why you’re not doing them and how to make them happen. For example, suppose you notice that you aren’t making time to schedule one-on-one networking appointments. You’re very aware that networking is vital to your career goal, but you keep putting off making these appointments. Well, some people find new or unfamiliar tasks risky or scary. Is that how you feel about networking? If that’s the case, you need to break down networking into smaller tasks that don’t feel so scary and move forward with them. The important thing is to get started! In addition, you might need the support or encouragement from friends, family or a support group to keep you on track when things get tough.

As you carry out your action plan, make sure to acknowledge all the great things you ARE accomplishing. Even though the ultimate success is getting a job offer, it’s vital to keep track of all your mini-successes along the way. Each and every step will take you to your final victory—a job!


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Tools for SuccessYou wouldn’t head out on a backpacking trip unprepared—you’d gather the necessary supplies and take them with you. The same goes for your job hunt. There are certain tools and supplies you need to ensure you’re organized, efficient and productive with your time, and professional in your interactions and communications with others.

“No business can succeed in any great degree without being properly organized.”4

— James Cash Penney, department store founder

Here is a list of those tools and supplies. Evaluate them and decide which will meet your needs and goals. Then check them off as you acquire them.

♦ Rolodex or some means of organizing business cards.

♦ Database or file to store contact information and notes of the people you meet.

♦ Calendar (manual or electronic) to schedule appointments with yourself and others.

♦ 3-ring binder(s) to organize the research that you gather about employers, industries, occupations and the jobs that you apply for.

♦ Electronic file system for your resumes, cover letters and other communications (for example, thank-you letters, networking letters and follow up letters).

♦ File folder for any job-related expenses you incur. Some might be tax deductible, so consult your tax preparer to find out.

♦ Voice mail/answering machine.

♦ Business cards.

♦ Briefcase or tote bag.

♦ Leather binder to carry your resumes.

♦ Business card holder for your purse or bag.

♦ White board or note pad to make notes to yourself or keep track of your job leads.

♦ Bulletin board to post noteworthy items.

♦ Access to fax and copy machine.

♦ E-mail account perhaps just for your job hunt (this is the e-mail address you include on your business card and resume).

♦ Supply of envelopes, paper and stamps.

Tip!Don’t worry! You don’t need ALL these items to start your job hunt—you’ll acquire them over time. Just use this list to get organized and help you take your job hunt seriously.


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As you head out on the job hunt, armed with your supplies, you’ll find yourself doing certain things on a regular basis: communicating with people by phone or e-mail, setting appointments and participating in interviews. It’s important that you conduct these important activities in a professional and courteous manner.

First ImpressionsDuring your job hunt, the first impression you leave with anyone could make or break you. Courteous and professional communication is a major component of leaving a positive first impression. The Golden Rule should guide your behavior—treat others as you wish to be treated. We all want to feel respected, including busy professionals you connect with during your job hunt.

You need to respect the demands on your audience, especially their time constraints. Things that are high priority to you, such as getting a return call about a job interview, are not necessarily high priority for them.

It’s only natural to feel nervous when communicating with people you don’t know. You can reduce that nervousness by being prepared. Identify the goal of your conversation, the major points you’d like to make and the outcome you desire. This will help you get focused. Then be prepared with your introduction or elevator speech. Finally, try to anticipate questions you might get and think through some possible responses.

Of course, once you’re actually talking to the person, you may feel compelled to try to impress them with all your abilities and skills to show you’re qualified. Resist this compulsion and try not to dominate the conversation—you want to let the other person speak as well. Remember to listen as well as talk and don’t forget to pay attention to nonverbal cues, such as gestures, body language and voice tone. These cues help you get a better sense of how your audience is receiving your message. For example, crossed arms might indicate someone is defensive and you need to lighten your tone. Glazed eyes could indicate your audience is getting bored and you need to interject some humor or a personal anecdote. And tapping feet say you’re running out of time and need to get to the point.

Once you’ve said what you need to say, as professionally and courteously as possible, it’s important to close with a heartfelt thank you. Expressing thanks at the end of an interaction makes a lasting positive impression. Following up with a handwritten thank-you note makes an even greater impression because it’s such a rare event in today’s busy world of electronic communications. Find a simple but professional thank-you note and include your business card when you send it. People will hold on to the physical thank-you note and may even post it in their office; whereas, they would probably delete your “thank-you” e-mail as soon as they read it!

After a job interview, send a note to each person who interviewed you or address the note to the entire group. If a hiring team interviews five different people and only one person sends a thank-you note, who do you think they’ll remember? When you send a thank-you note, it’s also a good opportunity to send an article or some information that might interest the recipient. For example, maybe one of your interviewers mentioned she liked to cook in her personal time. You could include a recipe or book suggestion with your thank-you note. Little gestures like this go a long way in creating a positive impression.

“It’s the first impression that will either open the door or close it. It’s that important, so don’t mess it up.” 5

— Nicholas Sparks, best-selling author


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Here are some tips to make sure you leave a positive first impression.

Communication Tips for SuccessBuild rapport and connection. Engage in a little “small talk” at the beginning of your networking conversation before diving into the career-oriented questions you’ve prepared. Be naturally curious and ask questions like, “Did you have a busy day?” or “How was your weekend?”

Be genuine in your spoken and written communication with others. People will see through you if you’re not honest or not being yourself. Sometimes it’s hard to feel like yourself when you’re nervous during a job interview or when meeting new people. A series of slow, deep breaths can calm you and help settle your nerves.

Remember to smile. During interactions with professionals, you may find yourself so focused on what you want to communicate that you forget to relax and smile. A smile can go a long way toward maintaining a friendly interaction.

Appointment SettingAnother part of your job hunt includes meetings and appointments with employers and people in your network—to share information, conduct informational interviews and formally interview for a job. You’ll have more success with appointment setting if you can be specific about the days and times that work best for you. Go ahead and suggest a day and time you’re available for a meeting; this makes the planning much easier for the person on the receiving end. If your date and time doesn’t work for them, they’ll suggest an alternative and eventually you’ll settle on a mutually agreeable date and time.

Some people like using e-mail to set dates and times for meetings because their electronic calendar is tied to their e-mail. However, if you send an e-mail to someone and don’t get a response within a week, send a follow-up e-mail with details of your meeting time and date. Remember, it’s easy for busy people to overlook e-mails during a hectic workday. Don’t take it personally. Once you confirm your meeting date and time, send a reminder a few days before your scheduled appointment—everyone appreciates a friendly reminder when they have so many things on their plate. The reminder should indicate the date and time, spell out your intention (what you hope to learn or accomplish) and how long you’d like to meet. Always provide a cell phone number or other contact number in case they need to call you at the last minute. And don’t forget to describe yourself (and have them do the same) if you’re meeting somewhere and have never seen one another before.

Before you meet anyone by phone or in person, do your homework. Don’t waste someone’s time by not being prepared—that’s one sure way to leave a bad first impression! Do your research on the employer, occupation or industry. Take some notes in advance of the points you want to communicate about yourself and write down the important questions you want to ask. You might also consider gathering information about yourself, such as a resume or portfolio (both of which are covered in later chapters), and e-mailing them ahead of time or bringing them with you to your meeting.

In-person MeetingIf your meeting takes place in person in a coffee shop or a restaurant, try to get there early. Stand up, greet the person with a warm smile and reach out your hand to shake theirs. As you speak with them, note their body language and make sure you’re on track in terms of your intent, their reactions and the time remaining for the meeting. Smile occasionally to show you’re happy to be having the meeting. And of course, remember to thank them at the end.


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In a formal job interview, the person conducting the interview will often let you know how much time the interview will take. Keep this in mind as you respond to questions. Don’t let yourself get carried away with one or two questions and not have enough time to thoroughly answer the others. And remember to stay focused and be succinct. Your audience can always ask you for more details.

Phone MeetingIf your meeting takes place on the phone, make sure you’re talking on a good quality telephone or that your cell phone has good reception. Sit in a quiet spot without any background noise. You won’t have the advantage of seeing your audience to note body language so you’ll have to be very focused on listening.

Be aware of your voice tone and volume. You might even ask the person on the receiving end if they can hear you well enough. This is very important if you are talking to a group of people who are sitting around a speaker phone. And don’t forget to smile! That’s right, a smile comes through your voice, over the phone. The person on the receiving end can sense you’re pleased to be talking to them.

Some employers conduct interviews over the phone, so it’s important to get comfortable talking to strangers on the phone.

Use Voice MailIf you decide to communicate by phone, you may find it’s rare for the individual to actually pick up the phone. Most likely, you’ll get voice mail when you try to contact them. However, you might have better luck reaching the person if you call first thing in the morning or after 5 p.m. These are times when people are more likely to answer the phone because it’s before or after the peak business day.

If you call and get voice mail, you can choose not to leave a message and continue to call back until the person actually answers. Be aware though, that many offices have caller identification, so if the person you’re trying to reach is in the office but not picking up the phone, they’ll continue to see your phone number on the display.

When you do get voice mail and decide to leave a message, make it short and to the point. State your name, the person referring you and the purpose of your call. Indicate that you’d like to speak with them briefly. Then give them specific times when you are available over the next couple of days. Repeat your phone number slowly at the end of your message.

If you do not get a return call after a week, try again. The person you’re attempting to reach may be out of town. It’s best to always give the recipient of your call the benefit of the doubt—don’t assume they’re not calling because they don’t want to talk to you. Perhaps they haven’t returned your message because they’ve been in meetings for several days or in a conference. Or maybe they’ve been ill. You never know.

If they’re in the office, but don’t return your call, it’s probably because you’re not a high priority. To get yourself bumped up on their priority list, you could leave a message saying that you have something important or of interest to share with them. If you use this approach, make sure you actually have something pertinent to share. Maybe it’s a resource (a class or a book) that will help them; maybe you know a mutual acquaintance and you can share some relevant news about them. Do NOT use this approach to manipulate someone into calling you back. You must genuinely have something of interest or importance to share! Otherwise, simply continue to call and leave a professional and upbeat message. Eventually, the squeaky wheel will get the grease and you’ll get a call back. Note: If all else fails, you could shift to another means of communication and use e-mail, fax or direct mail.

If you make a lot of phone calls and set a lot of appointments, it’s important to track your progress. Are you getting through to people? Are they calling you back? Are you having any difficulties getting in touch with people?


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Keep Track of Open and Closed DoorsAs you attempt to contact key people, keep in mind that there’s a fine line between being professionally persistent and being a nag. Know that you can’t control the priorities and perceptions of others. You can’t help it if what’s important to you isn’t important to them.

If you don’t hear back from someone after three voice mails, e-mails or direct mail attempts, it’s probably time to walk away. Interestingly, you may discover that when you stop trying to reach one individual and focus on someone else, the first person will actually call you. Sometimes it just comes down to timing and you can’t control when it’s a good time for someone to contact you.

Occasionally, your contacts will resist your efforts to meet them with statements such as, “I don’t have time to meet with you” or “I can’t help you.” This may be a sign that they have a lot on their plates and can’t commit to another task. Reassure them that you understand they’re very busy with a lot of demands and let them know you respect their ability to say “no.” Do NOT push the issue. Instead, invite them to contact you down the road when they have time and let them know how YOU could be of value to them. Always keep the door open. After all, a “no” sometimes means “not now.”

It’s probably obvious by now that you’ll need some sort of organizational tool to keep track of all the contacts you’re making, the results and your follow-ups. Each person you talk to might lead you to another person or another course of action. You’ll also want to track when to follow up with your contacts and thank them, update them or pass on helpful information. You can do this in a number of formats: a list, a table, a spreadsheet or a database.

Regardless of the format, the basic information you need to track is listed in Table 3-1. The first row provides generic information and the second row gives you examples.

Table 3-1: Keeping Track of Contacts

Contact Info Referred by First Contact Follow-Up Actions Comments

Name, TitleCompanyExpertiseE-mailPhoneWeb siteAddress

Name of Referral

DateHow Contacted

DateAction and results

Notes on person

Maria Rosa, Technical WriterInfoDexTechnical, marketing and educational [email protected](000)555-1212www.infodex.com2001 Odyssey WayAnytown, MO ZIP

James Olivera, InfoDex

09-01-2006PhoneSeemed happy to chat and interested in an info. interview

09-02-2006Sent thank- you/confirmation e-mail09-07-2006TO DO: Hold info. interview at Happy Café downtown

When you network, it may feel like you’re looking for a needle in a haystack. But keep focused on your goals and you’re certain to find not one, but several golden needles in the haystack!


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Practice!Throughout this chapter you’ve heard us say that it’s normal to feel nervous during the networking process. That’s because people tend to worry about rejection and what others think of them. The truth is that we all imagine the worst when trying something new like networking. In reality, the worst rarely happens, and most people think well of us. The more you network, the less nervous you’ll feel, until eventually you lose the few butterflies in your stomach and feel greatly excited!

Just remember that networking during a job hunt is a great chance to learn new people skills—how to connect with others, how to build rapport and how to find commonality—which are all important skills in your daily life. In reality, networking is absolutely essential to finding a job, keeping a job and growing a thriving career.

If you’re nervous about networking, try practicing with people you know. Let them know in advance that networking is crucial to the success of your job hunt. Ask them if they could spend a little time with you to fine-tune your networking skills. Let them know you want to practice asking and responding to questions, just like you would in a networking meeting. When you practice with people you know, you’ll comfortably make small talk about people and things you have in common. You’ll need to find a way to naturally transition between your comfortable small talk and your statement of purpose for the conversation—your career transition and job hunt needs. Then start asking questions and listening to their responses. At the end ask your friends for feedback: Did you communicate clearly? Did you get your needs across effectively? Did you communicate your strengths and abilities succinctly?

Shy folks often find that their voices get softer and higher pitched when they’re nervous. They may also speak faster. So, if you’re more on the shy side, practice speaking with a strong and confident voice—“speak up and slow down.”

Your presentation and your communication style makes an impression on others because it reflects how you value yourself. You want people to walk away thinking you’re a confident and capable person who is very courageous and smart by reaching out and networking.

SummaryThis chapter really dove into the nitty-gritty of your job hunt. You should now be ready to take a proactive approach to finding a job, armed with your Top 10 contact list, elevator speech, business cards and various organizational tools.

As you continue networking, you’ll find the tips we provided will come in handy when it comes to introducing yourself (in-person, by phone or by e-mail), leaving messages, following up and tracking your contacts.

All in all, you’re now set to leave a very positive impression wherever you go!

Endnotes1 Brown, H. Jackson, Jr. “H. Jackson Brown, Jr. Quotes.” BrainyQuote. BrainyMedia.com. 26 August 2007. <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/

quotes/h/hjacksonb100747.html>.2 Garr, Teri. “Teri Garr Quotes.” BrainyQuote. BrainyMedia.com. 26 August 2007. <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/t/teri_garr.html>.3 Barry, Rick. “Rick Barry Quotes.” BrainyQuote. BrainyMedia.com. 26 August 2007. <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/r/rick_barry.

html>.4 Penney, James Cash. “James Cash Penny Quotes.” BrainyQuote. BrainyMedia.com. 26 August 2007. <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/

quotes/j/jamescashp226502.html>.5 Sparks, Nicholas. “Nicholas Sparks Quotes.” BrainyQuote. BrainyMedia.com. 26 August 2007. <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/n/

nicholassp196028.html>.

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