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#JobSearch : 6 Common Traps To Avoid At Networking Events. These are Unspoken Rules–Faux Pas you Must Avoid. Great Read!

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Networking events are the watering holes of the professional world. They’re where connections are made, opportunities are discovered, careers are shaped, and free snacks are had. However, just like any social gathering, there are unspoken rules–faux pas that can turn a potential career elevator into a free-fall.

To avoid stepping on it, consider the following six tips.

1. Don’t Oversell Yourself

No offense, but you’re not that great. And even if you are, people don’t want to hear it at a networking event. Resist the urge to transform into a walking, talking infomercial. Yes, you’re amazing at what you do, but relentless self-promotion can be off-putting. It’s like being at a party where someone keeps shoving their homemade guacamole in your face–it might be the best guac in the world, but let people come to it naturally. There is, after all, a lot of guacamole in the world. Instead, focus on building genuine connections. Networking is a marathon, not a sprint.

 

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Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – Aug23 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.2 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

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Question: Searching for ‘the Best Daily Career Search Articles/Blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type (Jobsearch, Resume, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

2. Avoid the ‘Me, Myself, and I’ Monologue

If your conversation sounds more like a monologue, you’re doing it wrong. Domineering the conversation like a talk show host gone rogue means you’re probably not listening. Remember, it’s a dialogue, not a soliloquy. Be curious about others. Ask questions, show interest in their work, and let the conversation flow naturally. Think of it as a tennis match, not a solo chess game.

3. Don’t Be a Business Card Ninja

Handing out business cards like you’re dealing a deck of cards in Vegas is a no-no. Everyone’s online, so a physical card is…kinda humiliating. The goal is to create meaningful connections, not hit a quota. Quality trumps quantity. It’s better to leave the event with a few meaningful contacts than a pocket full of cards from people whose faces you can’t recall. Distribute your business card when a genuine connection is made, not as an opening move.

4. Steer Clear of Controversial Topics

This one should be obvious, but it’s astonishing how often it’s overlooked. Avoid controversial topics like politics, religion, or personal gossip (unless it’s, like, really good gossip, about someone you know they hate). You’re not on a debate team, and this isn’t the time to showcase your strong opinions on the latest political drama. Stick to safe, neutral topics. Think of it as a dinner with the in-laws–play it safe (and avoid it if possible).

5. Don’t Underestimate Anyone

Treating someone as unimportant because they don’t seem like a high-flyer is a huge mistake. Also, it’s rude. Everyone has something to offer, and you never know who might be instrumental in your career down the line. Networking karma is real. Treat everyone with respect and interest – the intern today could be the CEO tomorrow. Remember, it’s a small world, and you’re likely to run into the same people again.

6. Avoid Being Glued To Your Phone

In a world where our phones are like extensions of our bodies, this is tough. But being glued to your screen at a networking event is a no-no. Be present. Engage with the people around you. Your emails can wait – the opportunity to make a meaningful connection might not.

Networking events are unique platforms for professional growth and opportunity. However, they require a certain finesse. Remember, the goal of networking is to build relationships, not just to add names to your contact list. So, the next time you find yourself at one of these events, be genuine, be respectful, and most importantly, be yourself. After all, the best connections are the ones that are authentically made.

Forbes.com | February 14, 2024 | Ginny Hogan

#JobSearch : How To Network. for People Who Don’t Like The Idea Of Networking. As an Introvert, Here are a Few Approaches that Work.

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I’ve never been comfortable with the notion of networking, at least in the conventional sense of the word. I’m an introvert, and I haven’t been able to figure out the art of moving in and out of conversations during, say, the cocktail hour at a conference. I’d much rather have a long discussion with one person, and so my default strategy is to spot another introvert and approach them.

But it is important to build a network, of course. Your career path, after all, is going to be determined as much by the people you know as the work you do, especially if you’re ambitious. “When you talk about getting to the most senior levels, it’s less about the work and more about the network and your impact and how you market and brand what you’re working on,” said Mary Elizabeth Porray, global deputy vice chair for client technology for EY, the consulting firm. “So make sure that you’re focusing 50 percent on what you know and 50 percent on who you know.”

If you’re a fellow introvert, or the idea of networking feels transactional, then here are a few approaches that have worked well for me over the years.

60-Second Research

In my line of work, I meet a lot of new people, mostly on video calls. I always make it a habit of taking a minute before the call starts to check the person’s LinkedIn profile and social-media feeds. I’m looking for things we have in common. Maybe they spent a few years working in journalism early in their career. Or perhaps they’re from Canada originally, like me. Or perhaps they went to school in New Orleans, where I live now.

Those points of shared interest or background help create instant connections. Best of all is that they feel authentic, rather than forced. I do this with pretty much everyone I’m about to meet in a business context, and I’m always puzzled as to why more people don’t do the same. The return on investment of that 60-second search is huge.

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Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – Aug23 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.2 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

New- FSC LinkedIn Newsletter– Daily articles/blogs on Today’s Job Market & Seach. Subscribe Today!

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fsc-linkedin-network-7081658661743308800

Connect with us on LinkedIn (under Chris G. Laughter) : https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-g-laughter-b46389198/

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs  @

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Searching for ‘the Best Daily Career Search Articles/Blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type (Jobsearch, Resume, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

Work On Something Together

To me, the best way to build a lasting relationship with someone is to work on something with them, rather than just sharing a coffee, drink or meal. For example, companies are always forming committees to work on some new initiative. Raise your hand. Show colleagues what you can do, make an impression, and be reliable. Treat it as if you were auditioning for a new job. Impress people and they may think of you when an opening comes up.

More companies are starting internal gig platforms so that workers can move around and build new skills. Take advantage of them and build your reputation as a reliable team player. And look outside, as well. Industry associations offer great opportunities to build connections. Or join a nonprofit. Don’t feel like you have time? Remember that work tends to expand into the time you have to do it, so those other meetings can act like forcing functions to get you to work smarter and in a more focused way on your day job.

“Play In Traffic”

I first heard that memorable phrase—“play in traffic”—from Joseph Plumeri, who was CEO of Willis Group HoldingsWSH -0.6%, an insurance brokerage, when I interviewed him. “Everything that I have done started because I went out and I played in traffic and something happened,” Plumeri told me. “It means that if you push yourself out there and you see people and do things and participate and get involved, something happens.”

And that doesn’t mean that you should say yes to everything. Figure out a useful framework for what you sign up for and what you turn down, because “no” is an important word to add to your vocabulary. For me, the simple filter has always been, is this directionally in line with where I want to go? If it would broaden my skills as a journalist (earlier in my career) or if I would learn more about leadership (the current chapter of my career), my default was and is to say yes. I figured I’d learn something new and perhaps expand my network, and I’ve now got enough years under my belt to see the benefit of playing in traffic.

 

Forbes.com | January 31, 2024 | Adam Bryant

#JobSearch : 4 Thoughtful Questions To Ask When Networking. Question- Do You Know How to Network for a Job?

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The most thoughtful questions to ask when networking are tailored to the person you’re talking to, as well as the issue you’re discussing. If the issue at hand is that you’re looking for a job, ideally you have researched the general career path for your target line of work, so your questions uncover new insights or nuances not easily available to the general public (i.e., what an employer really wants) — this can help you advance your job application. If the person you’re talking to is someone at a target employer, ideally you have researched the company and/or job opening enough so your questions uncover specific hiring priorities — this can be a deciding factor in the job interview process.

That said, sometimes you don’t have advance preparation time to do any tailoring – for example, if you’re meeting someone for the first time at a conference or other professional event. In that case, tailor as much as you can, and keep in mind some untailored but still helpful questions that can work in many situations. Here are four thoughtful questions to ask when networking:

1 – What brings you to this event?

This is a friendly and easy way to open a conversation with a stranger, but importantly, this question zeroes in on your new contact’s priorities. The best networking is focused on the other person, so understanding what they’re looking for can help you help them. You might be able to make introductions for them to others at the event, or in your follow-up post-event you might share a helpful article or make meaningful recommendations because you know what they’re working on.

 

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Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – Aug23 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.2 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

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Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs  @

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Question: Searching for ‘the Best Daily Career Search Articles/Blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type (Jobsearch, Resume, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

2 – How did you become [ROLE] or enter [INDUSTRY]?

Usually people introduce themselves by talking about where they work and what they do, or it might even be on their name tag (e.g., accountant at EY). Asking about their origin story is a friendly way to learn more about their background without sounding like you’re interrogating them. How did you get into accounting? Have you always been an accountant? Have you worked at EY your entire career?

People love to talk about themselves and wax nostalgic about their early days, so it’s a fun question for your new contact. For you, it’s an opportunity to learn about their background and gauge how you want to tailor the conversation and follow-up going forward. If there’s overlap between their career path and what you are targeting, you may want to schedule further conversation post-event to ask more questions later (you never want to monopolize someone’s time at an event where there are others they may want to meet). If there doesn’t seem to be an obvious collaboration opportunity, you can focus on making more of a social connection for now (this is still valuable since you never know who or what people know, and your overall network is critical to tapping the hidden job market).

3 – What do you love most about working in [ROLE or INDUSTRY]?

In addition to or instead of asking about someone’s origin story (question 2), you can ask what they love most about being an accountant, working in the accounting industry or working at EY specifically. This is a positively framed question, which encourages your new contact stays to keep a happy state of mind. It’s also an open-ended question (not a closed, Yes or No choice), which encourages your new contact to say as little or as much as they’d like.

As you hear your new contact talk about what they love about their work, listen for what parts of their job overlap with what you want to do – this might be an opportunity to collaborate, or an area where they can share helpful insights with you. If you don’t see any overlap, hearing what your new contact is interested in and passionate about will at least help you deepen the social connection.

4 – What do you know now that you wished you knew when you started?

This question encourages reflection about one’s career, and answers can go in a lot of different directions, giving you more information and time to figure out how to tailor the conversation and subsequent follow up. Some people answer it by talking about key skills and expertise that have served them well. If their career overlaps your professional objectives, this gives you insight into what you might prioritize. Even if your new contact is in a very different line of work, there may be some general pearls of wisdom that could apply to you, or at least you’ll glean some insights for your accounting friends!

Some people talk about critical choices along the way – why they decided to join EY, stay in accounting or pivot to accounting (if they initially did something else). You might learn something about the industry at large or different companies in that market. Even if your new contact is in a different line of work than you, hearing about different companies and industries is helpful to your overall understanding of the job market.

Thoughtful questions focus on learning about the other person

The best networking is tailored, and genuine networking relationships are built over time (here’s a checklist to see if your networking is paying off). Therefore, the most thoughtful questions when meeting people are the ones that enable you to learn enough about your new contacts so you can tailor your follow-up in a meaningful way (e.g., make relevant recommendations, share helpful information). Knowing more about your new contacts also allows you to prioritize which ones you’ll focus on for your job search right now v. general relationships you can nurture over time for your overall professional network.

 

Forbes.com | January 8, 2024 | Caroline Ceniza-Levine

 

#JobSearch : 5 Hacks For Holiday Networking, Especially For Those Who Hate It. The Holidays Are the Best Time for Networking. Great REad!

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Yes, the holidays are a time of joy, peace and well wishes, but they can also bring stress particularly in and around the workplace. In addition to completing performance reviews and other year end activities, there are tons of social events and holiday celebrations as well. While this avalanche of quasi-coerced socialization along with pressing year-end requests can feel stressful, CEO and Founder of the executive networking and professional development group Athena Alliance, Coco Brown reminds us that this time truly offers a unique and valuable opportunity to take steps to position ourselves for stronger relationships and enhanced success in the new year.

“The holidays are the best time for networking since people are in a relaxed and festive mood, feeling more generous and sociable than normal,” explains Coco Brown. “Learning how to leverage personal connections, especially with people you don’t know that well, can help job seekers bring their careers to the next level.”

Break out of your bubble

While it may feel safer and easier to rely on your own inner circle, Brown warns against making that classic mistake. Instead, she suggests taking advantage of opportunities to spend time with people you wouldn’t normally connect with. “Often we lean into our closest friends or colleagues when we’re trying to network into a new job opportunity, but research suggests that doing the opposite can actually be hugely beneficial,” she explains. “The term for this is ‘the strength of weak ties,’ and taking advantage of our weaker social connections can be hugely advantageous when we’re looking to find our next job opportunity.”

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

Article continued …

Share your gratitude – and your goal

As the year winds down, most professionals naturally begin reflecting on their goals. It’s a great time to take stock of where you are compared to where you want to be—to ask yourself if you’re really on the right track or just spinning your wheels. Brown suggests using this time to actively connect with professionals who are now where you strive to be.

“They’ve been in your shoes, are often willing to help, and have the network in place that made it happen for them,” she says. “Ask questions to learn from their journey, then clearly articulate your goal and make the ask. Do they have any tips or insights they learned on their journey? Do they have any connections who may move the needle for you? Do they know of any open opportunities that may be a fit?” Don’t be afraid to seize the opportunity to gain critical insight from those who have successfully blazed the path you’re seeking.

Know your value and lead with it

Brown reminds us to approach the holidays with a mindset shift, focusing on our unique value and leaning into that during networking interactions. “This isn’t arrogance, it’s knowing what you bring to the table and having confidence in your ability to execute it,” she explains. “Think of your value proposition like an elevator pitch… you should be able to convey it in 60 to 90 seconds: it should sound practiced yet natural, like something you can easily slip into a conversation between sips of egg nog. Be prepared with stories that speak to your leadership and how you’ve shaped the companies you’ve worked at.” It’s nice towards the end of the year to not just reflect on what you’ve accomplished but also who you’ve become and how you’ve grown. Take this time to become more comfortable amplifying the unique talents and abilities that you bring to any opportunity.

Think about what you can do for others

While it can be tempting to approach networking situations with a focus on what you can gain, it’s often more effective long term to also consider what you can give. The most reliable relationships tend to be reciprocal ones so spend some time thinking about how you might be able to be a resource or support system for others. “I guarantee that by focusing on how you can help those around you advance their careers or find their next job opportunities, you will be repaid tenfold,” she insists. “Plant the seeds of generosity in those around you and then sit back and watch them grow.”

Refresh your resume and LinkedIn profile

Thankfully, December usually brings some downtime as well. Things tend to be quieter since so many colleagues are on vacation, and there tend to be fewer meetings and deliverables so it can be a great time to focus on some of those “important, but not urgent” tasks that tend to get pushed aside during more hectic times. Brown suggests using this time to update your resume and LinkedIn profile. “Take a fresh look at your resume and your LinkedIn profile with your future goals in mind,” she suggests. “Spend some time connecting with new people on LinkedIn who work in industries that you’re interested in, even if they’re not industries you have firsthand experience in. Think creatively about how the experience you do have can lend itself well to the experiences you want and weave that into your resume.”

While the holidays can be stressful, the last few weeks of the year can offer a healthy opportunity to reflect, recharge and reconnect. Networking is so much more than showing up at an event. Use these tips to broaden and deepen your professional network and hit the ground running in 2023.

 

Forbes.com | December 9, 2022 | Dana Brownlee

 

#BestofFSCBlog : Top Networking Tips For Job Seekers: Essential Do’s And Don’ts . Tip #1: Stop Shying Way from Networking. A MUst REad!

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One of the most important career activities that both new and seasoned professionals need to focus on today to accelerate their success is networking. But as we continue to move more fully to a digital world, there’s a great deal of confusion and misinformation about how to network effectively, particularly for folks just starting out but also for mid-career professionals who are unsure how to leverage top networking platforms such as LinkedIn in the best way.

In a typical year, I hear from hundreds of professionals globally asking questions about the specific steps they should take to reach out to strangers they’d like to connect with, as well as the best ways to build supportive, influential relationships that will help them land ideal roles, gain access to top organizations, achieve advancement and promotions, and get the info they need to steer clear of toxic workplaces. And in my work on LinkedIn, I personally experience every week people reaching out in an off-putting manner, burning bridges that could have been highly instrumental for them.

To explore this topic in greater depth, I recently joined Andrew Seaman, Senior Editor for Job Search and Careers for LinkedIn News, to discuss “Networking for Job Seekers: Building a Support Community To Help,” and here’s what we shared.

Below is my take on the most essential networking tipsthat will help you reach new mentors, sponsors and “ambassadors” who can open powerful doors to elevate you and your work:

Tip #1: Stop shying away from networking. Understand why networking is essential if you want to build a truly rewarding career that will grow as you grow  

But you need inspiring and influential people in your corner to help you land and assess potential jobs and continually evolve throughout your career. As one of my top mentors for the past decade,Judy Robinett—bestselling author of How to Be a Power Connector and Crack the Funding Code—teaches, to elevate our careers and professional endeavors, we have to “get in the right room” and not focus only on connecting with people who are our current level. And according to Ivan Misner—Founder of BNI.com, the world’s largest business network organization and who CNN called “The Father of Modern Networking,” we have to network “up” with our business idols to achieve the advancement we long for.

You simply cannot build an amazing, rewarding career without people in your corner who can help, advise and guide you, whatever professional stage you’re in.

A supportive network helps you1) identify great new jobs of interest, 2) vet companies and cultures, 3) connect with people already working at your ideal organization or in your desired field, 4) show you that you’re worthy of bigger possibilities than you originally considered, and 5) present yourself in a more confident and compelling manner.

Unfortunately, thousands of people resist networking for a number of key reasons. First, they shun it because they feel it’s somehow deeply challenging or even “unsavory” and “awkward.” And introverts can often perceive networking to be in stark contrast with their preferred personal style.

But there are ways to engage in networking without it feeling intimidating and difficult. Matthew Pollard, author of the bestselling new book The Introvert’s Edge to Networking, and an introvert himself, shares exactly how this can be accomplished, in our recent Finding Brave podcast interview.

Another mindset that helps shift people’s reluctance to networking is recognizing that the rules of engagement online are the exact same as those you apply in your personal life and in your in-person social situations. You should apply the same rules of etiquette and graciousness—and of being of service first and putting yourself in the other person’s shoes—when you’re attempting to connect with strangers online as you would meeting a new group of people in person.

What I’ve found helpful is to view LinkedIn as the “big cocktail party in the sky” where we can choose to meet the most inspiring people in the world who are doing great things that motivate us. So why wouldn’t we want to push ourselves to stretch out of our comfort zone and connect with these people who are making a huge positive impact in the world in the way we long to?

Another key thing to note regarding networking is that professionals who are unhappy in their work often stay isolated for years, not building the very relationships they need outside of their current organization, to help free themselves from those unsatisfying situations.

Many unfulfilled and disengaged professionals feel they don’t know how to talk about themselves or their achievements and talents in compelling and positive ways, so they remain hiding and stuck, often for years.

This challenge is, in fact, what my research has uncovered as one of the 7 most damaging power gaps that 98% of professional women (and 90% of the men I’ve studied) face today that block them from reaching their highest, most rewarding potential. This “hiding” behavior is what I refer to as Power Gap #4: Isolating From Influential Support, and according to my latest survey, 71% of professional women globally are experiencing this gap today. Further, when I ask unhappy professionals who their role models are, the most common answer is, “I don’t have any role models.” When we don’t have role models, we are holding ourselves back from key information and shining examples of new ways to operate and contribute professionally.

This has to change if you want to land ideal roles that excite and stretch you. You have to know what you’re great at, understand the great value you bring, and why hiring managers should employ you over someone else. And networking will help tremendously with that. You need to get more comfortable articulating in writing and verbally sharing information about your talents, contributions and areas of special achievement, on LinkedIn, on your resume, and in your interviews and conversations, if you wish to move forward in your career and your professional life.

Finally, it’s vitally important to remember that this next job won’t be your last job. To continue to grow and thrive throughout the long arch of your career and have the freedom and choice to make the moves you want to, you need a robust community of mentors, sponsors and ambassadors to open doors you can’t open by yourself and avoid the error of staying too long in a dead-end role or organization.

 

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Question: Want the ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, LLc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of corporate partners in the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment !

 

Article continued …

 

Tip #2: Make full use of LinkedIn and other networking platforms to build mutually-beneficial relationships that will help you

I’ve seen in working with professionals that “how you do LinkedIn is how you do your career.” In reviewing scores of LinkedIn profiles a day, I can tell in 5 minutes more about how you’re operating in your professional life than you probably know yourself.

Take steps this week to power up how you’re operating in your work as well as how you’re presenting yourself online about your work. Are you demonstrating that you are engaged, committed, excited about your work, a thought leader, a contributor, an inspiring manager, one who is making a difference?

As a start, make a list of the top 50 people in your career who have been the most helpful, and make a connection, and share how they’ve positively impacted you. Endorse and recommend them on LinkedIn. Engage in a “random act of kindness” every week and offer an unsolicited and generous endorsement.

Follow 50 top thought leaders and influencers in your field (or in the field you wish to enter) and share their posts and updates, with a detailed comment as to why their work inspires you. And always tag them in your shares. Be of service to them by amplifying their messages to your community.

Up level your profileand make sure you’re making full use of all the features available on LinkedIn, including:

  1. A beautiful, engaging banner image that represents you and what you care about most
  2. Attractive headshot with a face-forward, smiling image
  3. Compelling headline that follows this formula: What you do (functionally), who you do it for, and for what key outcomes
  4. Summary – articulate your top skills (use the best relevant keywords for your job and field), key contributions and the ways you’ve moved the needle in your area of expertise and what you’re most passionate about in the work you do
  5. The powerful outcomes you’ve generated in the jobs you’ve held—don’t just list “tasks” you’ve done. Share the key outcomes you’ve contributed to that have made a difference at your organization that other employers would want as well
  6. Skills for endorsement— select a robust, large list of skills (from the selections that LinkedIn provides) that you possess so others can endorse you for those skills
  7. Follow key groups and organizations that reflect your keen interests

 

Tip #3: Some key Do’s and Don’ts for job seekers wanting to network powerfully

Top Don’ts

  • Don’t reach out to a total stranger and ask for a favor immediately. Build a connection first and do that by being of generous service.
  • Don’t pitch someone hard right after you’ve connected with them. No one wants to be hawked, ever. You’ll burn bridges forever.
  • Don’t use canned language—be unique, creative and authentic.
  • Don’t ask a stranger whom you’ve just connected with to recommend you for a particular job, or introduce you to the hiring manager. People won’t put their own necks on the line for someone they don’t know at all.
  • Don’t ask a stranger if you can “pick their brain.” Recognize that many of the folks you’re asking information from make their living offering this type of consulting. And have empathy for how crushingly busy many of these people’s work-lives are.

 

Top Do’s:

  • DO make a list of 50 people you’d like to connect with, and be of service in some way (share their content and add your thought leadership, etc.)
  • DO join organizations, societies, groups in the field of your choice and be active in them—answer questions, offer thoughtful discussion points, etc.
  • DO remember to connect with a wide array of folks in and outside your field whom you like and admire. Demonstrate your potential to them by being of service through sharing their work.
  • DO write recommendations for those people who’ve had a positive impact on you, and also endorse them for key skills.
  • On LinkedIn, DO make your headline more than your job title. You’re more than any one job. Share a comprehensive over-arching statement of who you are as a professional over the trajectory of your career.

 

Tip #4: Be someone who is easy to help. 

Overall, the key message here is don’t be lazy or passive in your process of finding and vetting jobs that will help you thrive in your career. Do your part fully to build professional success and to embark on an exciting new chapter.

Here’s how:

  • Develop an ideal job description of what you want to do next, with all the criteria, qualifications, areas of expertise, etc. of a job you’d love to assume, and share that widely with your mentors.
  • If you don’t have all the qualifications for the job you want, take steps to close those power and skill gaps. Take a class, earn a certification, volunteer, intern, etc. to build those skills.
  • Remember to go for a job even you only have 50-60% of the qualifications, not 100%. Research has shown that often men will go for jobs when they only have 60% of the listed qualifications, but women tend to go only for roles where they have 100% of the qualifications. Don’t make that mistake. Go for stretch roles. Jobs are often created and shaped for the right candidate.
  • Make a list of 20 organizations that you’d love to work for, and find within your existing connections (people you’ve already built a relationship with) someone who might know of an individual who works there that you could speak to.
  • Do your due diligence—read about your desired organizations on salary.com, glassdoor.com, LinkedIn, etc. to get a real feel for what’s behind the scenes (work culture, style, diversity, etc.).

 

Tip #5: Finally, understand that success in your job search and career is inextricably linked to how you feel about yourself internally and how you talk about yourself externally.

It’s essential to understand and communicate the core value you deliver, and the positive impact you can make in a new organization.

If you lack confidence, self-worth, and a clear assessment of what you offer, and you need to develop a stronger ability to communicate what you bring to the table and how you stand out from the competition, then get some outside help. Close your power gaps, and take brave action today to stretch beyond where you believe you are.

Once you do, doors will open and your potential will soar.

 

Author:  Kathy Caprino, M.A. is a career and leadership coach, speaker, educator, and author of The Most Powerful You: 7 Bravery-Boosting Paths to Career Bliss. She helps professionals build their most rewarding careers through her Career & Leadership Breakthrough programs, Finding Brave podcast, and her new Most Powerful You course.

Forbes.com | September 2, 2021

#BestofFSCBlog : #JobSearch -The 8 Best Online Tools For Your Job Hunt In 2021. A MUst REad!

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I’ve always been a lover of history. I think the past offers something beautiful and mysterious, a connection to those who came before us and their ways. I sometimes catch myself daydreaming about what things were like many years ago. And as a career coach, I inevitably drift over to wondering what it must have been like to look for a job in the past.

Many things about the job hunt haven’t actually changed much with modern technology. Networking and developing your skills have always been integral to finding the right job. Networking, after all, is just a version of cooperation or helping one another out. These types of social supports date back to ancient times to when the stakes were much higher than a salary negotiation. Many experts believe that our social structures have not changed all that much since we were living in small communities as hunter-gatherers, fighting for survival. Networking is part of that survival process, and the desire to connect is hardwired inside all of us.

But obviously new technology has afforded job seekers infinitely more potential to optimize their searches and find the perfect job. While a select number of remote jobs posted in 2020 were location-specific, 80% were available to workers in any location.

I’m sure we’re all grateful that we don’t have to circle classified ads anymore. But what are the best tech tools at your disposal for finding the perfect job?

Here are 8 of the best online tools to help in your job search. 

1) LinkedIn

This is almost such a no-brainer that I didn’t include it. But then I had a thought: how many job seekers are really utilizing LinkedIn to its fullest? LinkedIn offers some amazing features that may not be known to most users.

For a lot of people, LinkedIn is kind of a weekly check-in type of site. You might log on, scroll a bit, give a quick “like” to your middle school friend who got promoted, check your messages, do a casual job search, then migrate over to something more stimulating, like a Buzzfeed listicle or the latest celeb gossip.

If that sounds a bit like how you’ve been using LinkedIn, it’s time to step your game up.

To start, did you know that you can add media to the “Featured” section of your profile? Creators, I’m looking at you. Maybe you’ve done a killer brand video, or you want to share a reel of media appearances you have made. Or perhaps a photo from a keynote you made at a conference.

All of these will make an impact and boost your LinkedIn profile up from being a dusty online billboard of your resume, to a compelling advertisement for your skills and accomplishments.

Having trouble uploading a video because it’s too long? You’re in luck, there’s a work-around for that.

Are you wishing there was a way to combine your networking connections from LinkedIn with your other work contacts? Did you know that you can export your LinkedIn connections as a spreadsheet?

Most people who are doing job searches on LinkedIn just plug in relevant keywords and locations. But the search features on LinkedIn have much more to offer. You can save searches and set up alerts for relevant postings.

If you feel that searching for jobs on LinkedIn is turning up results that are too general, don’t match your specific skills and desires or don’t relate to your connections, you can utilize the LinkedIn advanced search features to filter for much more precise searches for listings.

Even if you treat LinkedIn as your first and last stop in your job search journey, it is worth spending a little more time on the site to really get comfortable with the ins and outs. It can truly be your most valuable online tool.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

2) Glassdoor

Glassdoor is another immensely valuable asset to anyone in the job search, and I absolutely loved my recent interview with their CEO right here. This tool is especially useful when researching potential jobs and employers, or when entering into the interview stage and considering offers with a certain company.

If you are unfamiliar, Glassdoor is a database for jobs listings and applications, as well as a portal where current and former employees can anonymously rate their experience in working for a certain company across many metrics, and provide information like salary and potential interview questions. Through analysis of this data, Glassdoor creates ratings and metrics on specific companies.

If you are interested in the company culture, revenue or size of a potential employer, or you are looking for an inside perspective on what it’s like to work for a certain company, Glassdoor should be your first stop.

In recent months, Glassdoor has also risen to the challenge of addressing the very pressing issue of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. With new products and features, Glassdoor has begun allowing users to share demographic information and rate a company based on its handle of issues of diversity within the workplace.

This is such an essential issue, and Glassdoor is a leader in creating greater transparency and accountability when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion in the job search and in the world of work.

Large influencers like Glassdoor have the power to change workplace culture, and establish new norms in society. It is fun to see them caring about these big issues and taking action!

3) Jobscan Resume Scanner

If you’re reading this article, I have a feeling you’re someone who has put a lot of time into your resume. But did you know that often, when you’re applying for a job, your resume may not even make it to a real person?

This is because many recruiters and hiring managers are utilizing an application track system (or ATS). In my recent book You Turn, I actually refer to applicant tracking systems in a header called “Applicant Tracking Hell”—and there’s a reason for this! Navigating the ATS is challenging, and knowing your resume may never even encounter a human being is disheartening. As a matter of fact, data shows that up to 75% of resumes never make it to a hiring manager.

You may have done a great job of highlighting your professional experience on your resume, but you’re just using the wrong words or formatting. This is where Jobscan comes in. Jobscan uses algorithms and AI to scan your resume and compare it to a specific job listing, giving you feedback on how to best tweak your resume to work well with an ATS.

Here are some things that you might find out have been preventing your resume from getting through the ATS filters:

  • Descriptions of your work experience do not match up to the job descriptions.  Even if you are super qualified, if your resume doesn’t match up with keywords in the job description, you could be preemptively disqualifying yourself. I tell job seekers in my online courses to make sure they sprinkle terminology from job descriptions as though it’s fairy dust throughout their resume. Sprinkle away!
  • You’re not using standard formatting. While clever and inventive ways of formatting your resume may show off your aesthetic acuity, and your creativity with design, they may also prevent your resume from making the ATS cut. Non-standard formatting can confuse the AI, and lead to your resume being processed incorrectly, or not at all.
  • Too much flowery language. You may think that using headings like “Selected Professional Engagements” and “Secondary School and Collegiate Alma Mater” makes you sound smart. But, I hate to break it to you, complicated and word descriptions are not working in your favor when it comes to ATS. Stick with standard headings that will ensure that the ATS processes your resume correctly. Think: “Work Experience” and “Education.”

Trust me, Jobscan ATS will definitely give you a better shot at acing your resume for a specific job description. They even provide excellent resume templates for various careers and roles.

4) Slik email finder

Slik is an amazing AI-based service that was originally designed for those working in sales as a tool to find leads and connect with prospective clients. Slik has become a major asset for many sales professionals, including those on sales teams from Dropbox, DocuSign and Slack. And if the major players in tech-based work solutions are using it, you know it must be good!

Slik offers a range of data-finding services, but one that I’ve found particularly helpful, and is certain to be an asset for you in your network, is their email finder tools.

Gosh, I just love a quick little email finder. I must be a career coach, huh?

Slik allows you to search emails and other data sourced from LinkedIn profiles. You can save searches and compile data. This information can be extremely valuable if you are a salesperson, but also fantastic for anyone who is hoping to connect with a specific person or department while doing exploratory networking or in the hopes of sending a letter of interest.

5) Shapr

One of the hardest things about networking is that you never really know if someone you are reaching out to will be happy to connect, or if they’re truly interested in making the connection and lending a hand in your career journey.

Shapr is an amazing social networking app that takes the guesswork out of networking. It’s designed to connect professionals and help users network in their field with others that are excited and willing to connect.

What makes it so valuable for networking is that all of its users are opting in with the intention of meeting new connections and sharing their ideas and insights. So no more wondering if the person on the other side of the LinkedIn chat is rolling their eyes and exhaling deeply. On Shapr, everyone is there for the same reason: they are excited to network.

Shapr works kind of like some of the major dating apps. Don’t get too excited, this one is for professional connections only! You create a profile that highlights your interests, skills, location and relevant information about your career. You can browse other profiles or search for people that match specific criteria.

From there, a connection is made in a way that will be quite familiar to a lot of folks. You swipe on profiles that you are interested in connecting with. If there is mutual interest, you have a match! From there, you can chat with your new connection, and see if a great professional relationship blossoms.

Shapr is a fresh and modern take on networking, and an excellent way to bolster your professional network.

6) JobSeer

Are you tired of pouring through page after page of jobs that are close to what you want and qualified for, but just not quite right? Well, Jobseer will help you pinpoint the right jobs for you, cut through the wrong ones and stand out from the pack. And, bonus: they help you easily get access to people’s email address!

JobSeer is a free Extension app for Google Chrome that is compatible with most of the popular online job boards. The beauty of Jobseer is that it uses AI to streamline your online job search.

Once you’ve created an account, you can input information into your Jobseer profile that will help you find jobs that are a good match. The first step is your resume. You can upload your resume, or even multiple resumes, that will be scanned by Jobseeker for relevant skills, experiences and qualifications, and compared to relevant job listings to help you find the perfect fit.

Your resume will be utilized in a customized “smart search.” You select job titles that are relevant to your search, and input your skills to help with the specificity of your job search. Jobseer also recommends skills that are matched with the job titles you are searching. You also select other parameters such as location, experience level and job type.

All that sounds pretty standard, but once you start searching, you’ll see the magic of Jobseer.  For each job you select, Jobseer will give you a customized score based on how well you fit the job description. Additionally, you can look at which skills are aligned with the job description, and areas in which you do not fit qualifications.

The information you gather from Jobseer will be relevant not only to help you find job listings that are a great match, but also in tweaking your resume to fit specific job descriptions.

As if that wasn’t enough for incredible features, Jobseer also gives you insightful information about the job and company, including insights on the companies’ size and revenue, as well as a projected base salary for the role that you are exploring.

Jobseer also offers you access to five free email addresses per day, attached to their insights on the job listings, which will allow you to reach out to recruiters and even employees that you already have a connection to.

Check out this quick video to see how Jobseer works, and I’m pretty sure you’ll be quickly adding it to your browser. It will definitely level up your job search game and help you optimize your chances of matching with the right job.

7) Idealist.org

These days, it feels more important than ever to be working for a company whose values reflect your own. If you’re someone who is hoping to work within the nonprofit sector, or to find a mission-driven job, Idealist is a great place to direct your search.

Idealist is a nonprofit organization founded in 1995 with the goal of connecting individuals to jobs and careers at nonprofit organizations that focus on charity work and social impact.

Their site functions much like other job boards, however, all of the listings they post are from verified nonprofit organizations. You can search for listings based on keywords or get more granular with specific metrics about what types or listings you are interested in.

Idealist also offers resources for those who are hoping to level up their career goals within the social impact space with a higher degree. They have resources for those exploring graduate school, with information to help candidates navigate the application and selection process, and details of programs to assist individuals in finding graduate schools that fit their interests and aspirations.

Idealist is also a great site to visit if you are not necessarily looking for a new job, but want to get more involved in community work or contribute to a cause. They also have many listings for volunteer opportunities, with many options to meet you where you are in your desire to commit time and energy to volunteering. You can even find remote or virtual volunteer work.

Idealist also helps connect users to mutual aid networks. While you might have been hearing this term a lot more over the last 12 months, the spirit of mutual aid goes way, way back. In a sense, it’s about neighbor helping neighbor. There are many different types of mutual aid networks, but this is the common thread: they are spaces for people to connect and share resources. You might financially contribute to a fund in order to support those with need or who have been affected by a crisis, or you can find information on how and where to make helpful donations. Given the challenges of the past year, we would all be served by lending a helping hand to one another.

8) Google

I saved the most obvious one for last. In fact, Google is so obvious, that I think its features are often overlooked in the job search.

To start off, when you enter the job market, you have to be aware of how you appear on a search engine. You should expect that a hiring manager will look you up online, especially your social media. Data shows that 70% of employers use social media to screen candidates. Coming across badly online can really hurt your job prospects, with 54% of hiring mangers admitting that they eliminated a candidate based on their social media presence.

But if you think plugging your name in the Google search bar, like we’ve all done more times than we’d like to admit, is enough, you had better think again.

To start with, you should log out of your Google accounts, and go into “incognito mode,” or a similar private browsing option on your preferred web browser. Google saves your search data, and will give you a specifically tailored Google search based on your past searches and location. You want to see what a stranger would see if they put your name into google.

According to online presence management specialists at ReputationDefender.com, you should Google yourself once a month—that way you can keep track of your online presence, and if something should appear that reflects you in a less than positive light, you can get on it quickly.

Beyond keeping track of how you appear online, Google can actually be a great asset for staying organized and on top of your job search. Google Jobs is actually a super functional job platform that allows you to search for jobs, save specific listings and searches and even set alerts based on job criteria. Google Jobs aggregates listings from most other job platforms, making it the best of all worlds.

However you choose to go about your job search, I hope this brings you up to date on the latest resources to help you put your best foot forward in the brave new world of online job hunting. Dive on in, and happy hunting!

 

Forbes.com | February 9. 2021 | Ashley Stahl

 

#BestofFSCBlog : 5 Ways To Update/Change Your LinkedIn Profile For A Career Change. Holiday Season is Prime Time for Networking! MUst REad!

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If you hope the new year brings a new career, you’ll want to promote your background in a way that translates to your new target field. Your LinkedIn profile is a powerful tool to reposition yourself for a new industry, role or both. LinkedIn is public and searchable, so not only prospective employers and recruiters might view it, but also potential connections who can offer information, leads or other support.

LinkedIn is a social network, and we’re still in holiday season – prime time for networking! Therefore, updating these five aspects of your LinkedIn profile so that it supports your career change should be a priority:

1 – Rewrite the Headline for your new target industry and/or role

If you don’t customize the phrase that appears right below your name, it can default to your current title and company. That’s sufficient if you want to continue working in the same industry and role. However, if you aspire to change careers, you don’t want your old industry and/or role to be the first thing potential connections and employers see. (Your headline may be the only thing employers, recruiters and other potential connections see if you appear in search results, and people decide not to click since your headline isn’t relevant.)

For example, let’s say you are currently a marketing manager at a bank, but you want to do marketing for a media company. You could change your headline to include your marketing expertise overall – e.g., Marketing Manager | Partnerships | Direct Mail | E-commerce. This takes the focus away from banking, which isn’t relevant, and highlights your marketing expertise, which still fits.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

 

2 – Highlight new activities in the About section

Similarly, when you summarize your background in the About section, open with the most relevant and substantive qualifications for your new field, even if your experience in previous industries or roles is lengthier. You want to catch the reader’s attention early, since they may not read everything, or even if they do, once they see you in the old industry or role, they won’t see you as a potential fit for something new.

For example, you might have 20 years of experience at the bank, but you could still open with your enthusiasm for the latest media trends. If you are working at all in your new industry (even if it’s a side consulting project or volunteer work), highlight that first. If you have certifications or are an active member of a relevant professional association, that can also legitimize your interest in the new field. If instead you open with a laundry list of your old experience, expertise and skills, by the time they get to the new stuff, they will see you as a newbie and therefore a hiring risk.

3 – Showcase your new expertise in your Activity

In addition to the About section, your Activity – e.g., posts you write, comments on other posts, videos or presentations you attach – can be tailored to the new career and showcase your expertise. Being active in your new field is also a good way to make and expand your network in that field. An insider may take note of your insights and make introductions for you to others.

For example, you could summarize insights from books or courses you are taking to learn about your new field. If you conduct informational interviews (and you should), you could highlight key takeaways from these meetings. You don’t need to produce content from scratch – you could follow executives in your target function or dream companies and comment on what they post.

4 – Include substantive consulting, part-time or volunteer work in Experience

The work experience you include in the Experience section doesn’t need to be paid or your primary job, as long as it’s substantive. Yes, you could also put volunteer work in the Volunteer section, but then it might be overlooked. Your goal is to catch the reader’s attention early before they have formed an opinion about you as being too deeply embedded in your old career.

This also includes how you organize the description about your current job — if some aspects of your job are more relevant to your new career than others, highlight these first. For example, a client of mine made a career change from financial services to education. It seems like a big pivot given she had decades in her original industry. However, in her last job, even though the bulk of it was financial, she also had some mentoring and training activities which she listed first.

5 – Speak to your new audience with relevant keywords

Whether it’s your headline, summary, activity, experience or other section, review what you include and how you describe it from the perspective of your new target field. Avoid jargon that only applies to niche areas. Generalize your skills so that multiple industries can see your value.

For example, I had a client in the transportation industry switch out references to passengers for customers. Another client in healthcare switched out patients for clients. A seemingly small change does make your profile more welcoming.

Put your LinkedIn URL in your email signature so your entire network has your updated information

Of course having an updated, career change-friendly profile is meaningless if no one sees it. Putting your LinkedIn URL into your email signature (your personal one, not your current work!) is an inobtrusive way of attaching your background to every correspondence. While it’s presumptuous to send people a resume (and people who don’t know you well may not open an email with an attachment), posting a URL gives access to the same information but more subtly.

As a career changer, most of your network will likely be in your old career rather than your new target, so your existing connections may not know all your adventures in your new career. Pointing them to your profile in each and everh email is an ongoing reminder of what you do and how much you’re working towards something new.

 

Forbes.com – December 30, 2020 – Caroline Ceniza-Levine

#JobSearch : A New LinkedIn Study Shows Job Seekers Are Not Helping Their Own Cause: Here’s What You Need To Do To Get Noticed. A MUst REAd for ALL!

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LinkedIn recently conducted a survey of 2,000 U.S. professionals, zeroing in on the actions of professionals who have been unemployed since the start of the pandemic. LinkedIn’s research, published by Andrew Seaman, senior editor of Job Search and Careers at LinkedIn News, indicated that people “have not been actively networking while being unemployed—even though most say it’s vital for a successful job search. ”

The reason for the lack of networking may be attributed, in part, to the misperceived shame and embarrassment associated with losing a job, as the study shows that “84% believe there is a stigma associated with being unemployed.”

According to the findings, networking is viewed as an unpleasant, uncomfortable and awkward necessity of the job search process, as “less than half of survey respondents (42%) say they’ve reached out to existing connections and only 39% say they’ve asked people in their networks, such as friends and former colleagues, for introductions to other people.” When it comes time to reach out to people outside of their core communities, “only about a third (35%) have been making their own introductions to new connections.” 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

As traditional methods of the job hunt have been curtailed due to the virus outbreak, such as grabbing a cup of coffee with someone, having an in-person, informal interview or attending a face-to-face networking event, gaining attention online has become paramount. It was somewhat surprising to learn that “only half of the survey respondents say they’ve even posted on social media about being unemployed or looking for a job.”

Their rationale for not branding and marketing themselves on social media is because they “don’t feel comfortable sharing publicly that they’re out of work.” Some respondents reported that they “felt too ashamed or embarrassed,” others thought “it wouldn’t be helpful.” They may also suffer from impostor syndrome, possess an inherent bias toward recruiters or have self-confidence issues.

Almost half (46%) of the people in the survey said they have “lied about being out of work,” while 51% have “avoided a social event because of the way they feel about being out of work.” Sadly, “24% said they felt embarrassed, 23% felt uneasy and 15% felt ashamed” of being out of work. The feelings of the out-of-work respondents run counter to finding that “the vast majority (96%) would hire a candidate who was laid off due to Covid-19.”

When you’re downsized, it’s natural to feel a twinge of embarrassment and some shame—even when it’s not your fault. Personal identities are intertwined with our jobs and careers. When you’re out of work, many people feel a loss of prestige and status. So, they keep the job loss to themselves. It’s completely normal to feel this way—temporarily. You may need some time to grieve and process what has happened. However, you must then pick yourself up, brush yourself off and take action.

Keep in mind that if you’re in this situation, you’re not alone. The Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the job market. Over 60 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits since the start of the virus outbreak. Unemployment hit an all-time high. The real numbers are probably larger than the official government data, as people who’ve finished collecting benefits just fall off the radar of statistics. The data also neglects to include people that unwillingly retired, as they weren’t able to find meaningful employment, those who are significantly underemployed relative to their experience, pushed into the gig economy (due to no other options) or they begrudgingly took lower-end roles to get health insurance.

Recruiters, corporate talent acquisition, human resources professionals and hiring managers understand that this is an unprecedented time. They most likely know or have family members in a similar spot. However, job seekers who have shared their feelings of inadequacy—tied to temporarily being out of work—may have experienced or heard of colleagues that were treated shabbily in their job searches. In past job markets, particularly when things were hot, there were always corporate managers that looked askance at candidates that were in between positions. They’d grill the applicant, “Why did they choose you for firing and not someone else?” The clear inference was that there must have been something wrong with the person, like they didn’t do their job properly, couldn’t work well with others or there is a deep, dark secret surrounding their separation from the payroll.

No one can blame you for being in between jobs, as it is so prevalent right now. There’s no stigma attached anymore. Any rational person, when they learn of your situation, would say that they completely understand and most likely will share similar stories about a bunch of people they know who are going through the same thing.

With this in mind, there’s no longer a need to go it alone. Be open about your goal of finding a new job. Let people know that you’re in the job market and what specifically you want to do next. If no one knows that you’re on the job hunt, they won’t reach out to you with opportunities.

Think of your job search as a group effort. Enlist as many people as you could think of, including family, friends, college alumni, former co-workers, business associates, kids you grew up with, members of organizations you belong to and people you met at various functions. If they don’t have any solid leads, politely and persistently ask them to point you to someone that they know who may get you in front of the right person.

Strategically align with folks on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram that can contribute toward building a mutually benefiting network. These people should include potential hiring managers, human resources and talent acquisition professionals at the companies you’d like to work with. Find top-tier recruiters who are known experts in your field. Seek out peers at other companies within your niche. This way, the right types of relevant people will get to know you, as they see your postings and keep you in mind when jobs become available.

The best way to start branding yourself is by commenting, sharing, writing posts and articles on LinkedIn. The content should focus on your area of expertise, as you have a lot of knowledge to impart. You can start slowly by liking and addressing the postings of others. Find leaders in your field with large followings. Get involved in their conversations to amplify your own voice. Keep in mind that the questions you answer and your responses should burnish your brand. It’s fine to write about the emotions, challenges and pressure you’re dealing with in your job search. By openly expressing yourself, people will get to know you as a real person. If you want to take it to the next level, create videos. You can discuss matters relevant to your field. In addition to LinkedIn, also pay attention to other social media platforms that are relevant to your profession.

Set a schedule to contribute on a consistent basis. If you only post once in a while, you’ll get lost. Post regularly, so people get to know you and become interested in what you have to say next. You’ll start building an audience by continually marketing yourself. People will feel like they know you and will gladly help you out with job leads.

Aggressively reach out to recruiters and human resources professionals at companies you desire to work for. Contact anyone you know that could offer a lead. This is not the time to be shy. Even if you’re an introvert, push yourself to seek out assistance. If you’re uncomfortable initiating a phone or video call, send an email or contact them on social media platforms. The worst thing that could happen is that they don’t get back to you. The best thing is that you’ll find a great new job through a kind referral.

There are a number of online video meetups for job seekers to replace the pre-Covid-19, in-person networking events. Join them, participate and make yourself known. This will help build up another level of network—on top of what you already have. If you’re feeling brave, ask people who may be of assistance with your search to hop on a quick video call.

Even armed with this advice, I understand that it may not be easy for you. Start small and build from there. Your self-confidence will steadily increase. You’ll feel much better about yourself once you take control of your search. People will sense your new passion. Before you know it, they will start sharing job opportunities with you!

 

Forbes.com | November 1, 2020 | Jack Kelly 

#JobSearch : Your Networking Conversation Script In 5 Steps. Follow These 5 Steps and you’ll Be a Networking Call Pro in No Time.

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Most of my clients cringe at the word “networking.” Networking can feel like an impersonal exchange of pleasantries at best, and an uncomfortable ask for a favor at worst.

But, remember:

1) Most people love talking about themselves. Never feel guilty asking for a conversation. Your job will be to ask a lot of thoughtful questions and listen. The receiver will most likely be pleased to oblige.

2) In general, people enjoy providing value to others. People like helping others. You’re not going to force someone to jump on a Zoom call with you unless they want to.

Even knowing these two powerful facts, having a step-by-step process for the actual networking conversation itself can be helpful.

Here’s your go-to 5-step script for your next networking conversation:

1. If you asked for the conversation, take control up front.

Uncertainty at the beginning of a call can be awkward. After an initial exchange of pleasantries simply say: “Thank you so much for jumping on the phone to talk with me today. Perhaps first it would be helpful to give you a brief background on myself and the context for this call. Then, I’d love to hear a little bit more about your background and how you ended up at [X company] and then, time permitting, it would be great to ask you some questions at the end. How does that sound?”

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

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2. Have your spiel down pat, and no more than 45 seconds.

Write down and prepare your 30-45 second narrative (or as I like to call it, your “spiel.”) Do not leave this part of the conversation up to chance, because you may talk for longer than is appropriate. Your spiel should briefly explain your professional past, (where you’ve been) current state (where you are), and future goals (where you want to go).

3. Ask specific and thoughtful questions you can’t get from the website.

Don’t ask basic questions that you simply could have googled. Make your questions personal. Going Places, a female-founded company that helps individuals navigate the job search says to use the following question structure, time permitting:

  • Two questions about the person. (How was your experience in sales different from [Company X] to [Company Y]? I saw you published a book 5 years ago. That’s awesome. How is that doing? What was the process like getting it published?)
  • One question about the company. (What’s the company culture like on your team?)
  • One question about the industry. (I saw that you’re blocking political ads on the platform. Was that something everyone feels positively about internally?)

4. Make an ask… tactfully.

At the end of the call, a person may ask what they can do for you. Even if the person doesn’t ask that question, though, don’t let that deter you. According to Going Places, “Ask your ask! And make sure it does not require extra work for [the person you’re asking]. Whether it’s a referral or advice, you need to understand the follow-up steps required and plan ahead of time. (Example: if you want an e-introduction to another person within the company, draft the email for them! Then, the most the person should have to do is forward that email.)” I tell my clients: Make your ask SEA: Simple and Easily Accomplished.

5. You should walk away with 3 nouns: people, places, or things.

Your goal should be to leave the conversation with three takeaways. Keep in mind, these can be resources like books or articles to read, other individuals to speak to, other companies to look into, or a new phrase, idea or technology you hadn’t heard of. I’m a believer in the “tree-branch effect” of networking: if each conversation leads you to three nouns, and then each of those nouns leads you to three more nouns, you’ll amplify your effect.

Follow these 5 steps and you’ll be a networking call pro in no time. And, don’t forget your thank you note!

Forbes.com | October 1, 2020 | Julia Wuench

#JobSearch : How To Create A Networking Pitch In Three Easy Steps. Great Read for All!

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Even with social distancing and the cancellation of large group events, every professional still needs a networking pitch. First of all, there are video meetings and virtual summits, where you may need to go around the screen and introduce yourself.

Secondly, a friend could still offer to refer you to someone by email and ask you for a few lines about yourself to include – that’s networking in writing!

Finally, if you come across a LinkedIn profile that interests you and you want to connect to that person, you should write a note with your invite, and that’s yet another opportunity to introduce yourself.

The best networking pitch introduces you in a concise and compelling way. However, capturing your personality and highlighting the best of your background, all while not rambling on for too long is difficult. In previous posts, I have shared suggestions for creating your networking pitch if you have a lot of experience to cover or if you are in a career change and want to talk about yourself differently or if you are unemployed.

In general, you can create an effective networking pitch in three easy steps:

Step 1 – Pick something about your professional background to establish credibility

You don’t have time to include a summary of your resume or even the chronology. Besides, that’s boring. Instead, focus on a specific professional accomplishment that puts you at the right level (e.g., if you’re in management, don’t mention an individual contributor role). Pick something that is relevant to where you want to work. For example, you could mention:

1.     Your current company and role. This is not necessarily your title, if your title is generic (e.g., VP, Director) or full of jargon (e.g., names a department no one outside your company would recognize)

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2.     What you are working on, learning or researching. If you are in-between jobs or consulting but looking to go in-house, you still want to focus on being active, rather than saying you’re unemployed or in transition. Remember too that even though you are working on your job search, you don’t want to mention that – instead talk about the companies you’re researching or things you’re hearing about the market

3.     Industry expertise or other specialized knowledge. Rather than a role, you talk about your overall industry of other expertise, including how many years you’ve been in this area or a cutting-edge fact that leaves no doubt that you’re current in your field

4.     The arc of your career – e.g., several employers, industries or roles. This is useful if you’re in-between roles but want to highlight that you have existing experience. Even if you’re currently employed, you may decide that your overall experience is more interesting than anyone role

5.     Types of clients you serve and the results you achieve. Many jobs, especially as you get more senior, have multiple responsibilities, but by talking about who you serve and what the results are, you hone in on the value you deliver, rather than how you do it or what your day-to-day is like

6.     Sample recent project or client story. By drilling down to one example, you showcase your expertise and experience while also telling a story. If you have a particularly interesting before/ after the result to share or a hero’s journey, this could be a good way to package your credibility

Try all six of these formats, and choose the most powerful ones, or keep them all and rotate them depending on who you’re talking to and what you want to highlight.

Step 2 – Include something personal to build rapport

You don’t just want to include professional details in your pitch because it’s boring. Everyone focuses on the professional, and you need to stand out to be remembered. Including something personal also helps a genuine relationship to build, and the pitch is just the start of what is hopefully a long-term genuine relationship. Some personal tidbits that are still appropriate for professional networking include:

1.     How you became interested in your line of work. This is a natural transition from establishing your credibility – you’re not only knowledgeable but enthusiastic!

2.     Life story – e.g., where you grew up, where you went to school, earlier career if different from now

3.     Passion or hobby – these should be pursuits that you invest in, not just dabble in because the superficial effort doesn’t make a memorable impression

4.     Community or non-profit involvement – if you have any leadership experience, that adds to your professional credibility as well

5.     Recent book you read, trip you took or event you attended – similar to the passion or hobby, this isn’t just about being well-rounded but also being interesting and dedicated, so pick accordingly

6.     Connection to the person you are talking to or circumstances that put you together – if you’re attending a virtual summit on AI, and your work isn’t obviously related to AI, then you could talk about what prompted you to attend

Step 3 – End with a call to action for yourself that lets the other person know your immediate priorities

Your call to action is where you state what you’re focused on in the near term. For example:

1.     Career step you are working on – if you’re in finance, you might mention you’re studying for the CFA and looking forward to more complex analyses (if that’s your ideal career move)

2.     The area you are researching or idea you’re considering – if you’re a career changer and your background is very different from what you want to do, specifying your new target career as a research subject for you lets the other person know you’re moving into something else

3.     Ideal project

4.     Ideal client

5.     Ideal role

Having a call to action is critical so the other person knows exactly what your focus is, and if they want to help you, they know exactly how they can help. At the same time, make sure that the call to action is what you are doing yourself and not a question you pose to the other person, or worse, an outright request. Your introduction should never include a request – it’s too early and will seem presumptuous.

A multidimensional pitch is best because it reflects the multidimensional you

Using all three steps to develop your networking pitch ensures that your pitch is as multidimensional as you are. It also establishes credibility, rapport, and the next steps, all of which give the other person enough information that if they want to continue with the relationship in a meaningful way they can. (Of course, you should always take the initiative to follow up in case the other person is terrible about following up, as many people are.)

 

Author:  Caroline Ceniza-Levine  Senior Contributor  Careers

Career Change Expert and Author of “Jump Ship: 10 Steps To Starting A New Career”
Forbes.com | April 27, 2020