Work, success, and meaning at every stage of your career
Many people are stuck in place by circumstances and trying to find a job that will make them whole, bring them back to where they were in their last position. That, of course, should be the long-term plan. But your short-term plan could be to find work to replace the safety net (unemployment compensation) income you are receiving.
If you’re planning to relocate to another city, your jobs search complexity increases by a factor of five: distance, time, cost, market intelligence and the challenge of building a network long distance.
I’ve written before about mistakes people make when networking, so it’s only fair that I also write about people who get it right. One of the best things you can do when asking for help in your job search (or any venture) is to reconnect with the person who helped you. Recently, someone I connected got it right, and I hope that jobseekers can benefit.
We all have stressful days when everything seems to go wrong. Advance preparation can keep a bad day from becoming a disaster.
“Networking is often given a bad reputation because some people use the concept in a way that is inconsiderate, inappropriate, unprofessional, or just shortsighted.” Yup – that about covers it.
Networking is about deep connections, but it’s also about wide ones. Gladwell estimates that most of the benefit you get from your network does not come from strong connections (former bosses, personal friends, etc.) but from what he terms “weak ties.”
Think about all the information that comes across your desk in a given week. Instead of using things up and throwing them away, take the value that is there for you and think ‘Who else would be interested in this information?’
Brad Raney spoke to the WorkSource Professional Network on September 23. He is the author of “Improve Your VOWELS, Improve Your Career! The A,E,I,O,U’s of Finding Your Perfect Job!”
Even if you’re an extrovert, the term “networking” can make you anxious. It may be hard for you to meet new people or reconnect with those you haven’t seen for a while. If you’re unemployed, your confidence may be low; you may hate the idea of being in the position of asking for help instead of being able to offer it.
One of the most important networking skills you can acquire is the ability to make people feel appreciated. It’s an art form that doesn’t come easily to some people, but, like most social skills, it can be learned.
