Will Networking Help Me Find that Perfect Job — or ANY Job?
Will networking help me find that perfect job — or ANY job? The answer is "Yes." Now you are going to ask what I mean by "networking" and do you have to go online and open Twitter and LinkedIn accounts.
There are all types of networking, some online, some in person. Did you see the movie or read Loretta Lynn's book, The Coal Miner's Daughter? It describes how she and her husband drove from town to town, visiting all the radio stations they could and persuading the DJs to play her first recording and interview her on the radio. This was a form of "networking." Her song became a hit and Loretta Lynn, singer and composer, became a star, starting at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.
Just talking to friends, people at social events and parties, the person next to you in a line-up, the clerks where you shop or bank–all of this is networking. Let people know you are job hunting. Tell them the type of job you are looking for.
A friend of mine knew I was looking for a job in a library, heard about an opening and told me about it. I applied and was hired. Another friend got to know the manager at her bank. The manager liked her and when a position became available, suggested she apply. She has been working at the bank a couple of years now.
Take courses and attend seminars related to the work you are interested in.
Talk to people you meet there. Ask if they are working in that field and what they can'tell you about it. You might find it is not exactly what you expected or wanted–or that you need more training before applying. Join groups or associations. People working in the field often hear about openings before they are advertised, giving you the opportunity to be "in the right place at the right time." They can also give you tips and suggestions to help you succeed in finding the right job.
The online social media, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and others work similarly. They are tools you can use to "get the word out" that you are looking for a job. They also have online groups in various fields. You can join several groups in fields you are interested in, make connections with people online, ask about the work, what to expect, and get tips and suggestions, and hear about job openings. I get emails from LinkedIn and Twitter, suggesting groups for me to join, groups of people with similar interests to mine.
Here are some other books you can look at:
3 thoughts on “Will Networking Help Me Find that Perfect Job — or ANY Job?”
Linda,
Great and informative post! I am a Certified Professional Resume Writer, and often times I have to explain to clients that a good resume is only half of the job-searching battle. Networking is becoming increasingly important in today’s job market, including both social networking and traditional in-person methods as you have described.
In addition to your suggestions, I suggest getting some business cards made which contain your contact information and a link to your LinkedIn profile. Usually you can find free or cheap business cards online. Often times people will forget your name, or lose your number, so providing them something with your information can go a long way in obtaining new employment.
Keep up the informative posting!
Thank you for your comments and suggestions, Drew. They sound like good ones and will be helpful.
Linda
This is true because I even posted my business on the internet. I am looking for some workers for my business. It is just imperative for the searchers to be careful which site they should go to. Not everything you see on the internet is true and existing.