Terrific Google Map of networking groups in DFW from Career Search Network. There has to be one near you. One or two good ones are all you'll need. Don't know if it's available for other cities, but worth looking into.
Showing posts with label contacts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label contacts. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Using Twitter
I've done a couple of presentations now on the use of Twitter as a job-searching tool, and in both cases, when I asked the groups about using Twitter, I got blank stares (ok, a few people blinked).
Twitter is a "micro-blog" tool/site on which you can network (the magic word for job hunters) with people at companies you have an interest in and actually search (like Google) for job openings. People usually tell me they just don't get it and don't see any use for something like Twitter. Of course I agree with them when someone tweets about waiting in a doctor's office or sitting on their couch.
A very mind-stretching article on the use of Twitter (and why it will grow in importance) is at http://zikkir.com/it/12274, "10 Ways Twitter Will Change American Business" by Renato Leon | 22 September 2009. I thought I was informed, and I was surprised by a comment in his blog entry:
"Outdoor ads are used almost everywhere in the world because of their simplicity and the relatively low cost of creating them. Current estimates are that global outdoor-advertising sales will be a $30 billion business this year. One of the great weaknesses of older ad media, like outdoor-billboard marketing and newspaper display, is that results have been nearly impossible to quantify effectively. Twitter will change that."
Think of the applications of "instant blogging:" instant feedback on TV shows, ads, anything!
Twitter is a "micro-blog" tool/site on which you can network (the magic word for job hunters) with people at companies you have an interest in and actually search (like Google) for job openings. People usually tell me they just don't get it and don't see any use for something like Twitter. Of course I agree with them when someone tweets about waiting in a doctor's office or sitting on their couch.
A very mind-stretching article on the use of Twitter (and why it will grow in importance) is at http://zikkir.com/it/12274, "10 Ways Twitter Will Change American Business" by Renato Leon | 22 September 2009. I thought I was informed, and I was surprised by a comment in his blog entry:
"Outdoor ads are used almost everywhere in the world because of their simplicity and the relatively low cost of creating them. Current estimates are that global outdoor-advertising sales will be a $30 billion business this year. One of the great weaknesses of older ad media, like outdoor-billboard marketing and newspaper display, is that results have been nearly impossible to quantify effectively. Twitter will change that."
Think of the applications of "instant blogging:" instant feedback on TV shows, ads, anything!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Presenting Again!
Will be presenting at Dallas ASTD's monthly meeting, either this month or next. Job hunting using social media is the topic, as was at ASQ.
If you are job hunting today, there are so many tools available for you to connect to others and research contacts and companies that it makes me wonder how I lived pre-Internet.
Although, as anyone who reads this regularly knows---NOTHING is a substitute for NETWORKING!
If you are job hunting today, there are so many tools available for you to connect to others and research contacts and companies that it makes me wonder how I lived pre-Internet.
Although, as anyone who reads this regularly knows---NOTHING is a substitute for NETWORKING!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Great Networking Advice!
Wanted to pass this on from the HR Group of CareerConnection in Dallas (Thanks, Carole! http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/HRCMG/message/2213)
1. *Keep in mind that networking is about being genuine* and authentic, building trust and relationships, and seeing how you can help others.
2. *Be fully present*. Be fully engaged and fully aware of the people you interact with. You can break this down into smaller, somewhat mechanical pieces -- listen well, respond promptly, maintain eye contact, etc.
3. *Come Early and Stay Late* Inexperienced networkers come to meetings late and leave as soon as the speaker has finished. The best opportunities for networking are before the start of the formal program and immediately after the program.
4. *Hold volunteer positions* in organizations. This is a great way to stay visible and give back to groups that have helped you.
5. *Ask open-ended questions* in networking conversations. This means questions that ask who, what, where, when, and how as opposed to those that can be answered with a simple yes or no. This form of questioning opens up the discussion and shows listeners that you are interested in them.
6. *Become known as a powerful resource for others*. When you are known as a strong resource, people remember to turn to you for suggestions, ideas, names of other people, etc. This keeps you visible to them.
7. *Have a clear understanding of what you do* and why, for whom, and what makes your doing it special or different from others doing the same thing. In order to get referrals, you must first have a clear understanding of what you do that you can easily articulate to others.
8. *Be able to articulate what you are looking for* and how others may help you. Too often people in conversations ask, "How may I help you?" and no immediate answer comes to mind.
9. *Follow through quickly and efficiently* on referrals you are given. When people give you referrals, your actions are a reflection on them. Respect and honor that and your referrals will grow.
10. *Give before you get. *Pro-actively giving may seem like a cost, and it may require you to be a little extra patient as well, but in the end, the reciprocal support I receive, simply by offering to help people who aren't asking for it, is overwhelming. It builds tremendous loyalty and respect.
_____________________
If you're read only one or two of my posts, you know how important I consider networking. This is a very concise summary of the major tenets of the corporate networking game.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Another Manic Monday
Just thinking what this week will entail -- job hunting, starting a part-time instructor job....yeah, that'll be about 80 hours worth of work : )
How many job hunters really put in a full day's work into job hunting (8 hours a day)? It's unbelieveable that anyone would send in a few resumes to jobs on job boards and call that job hunting, yet I know it happens. Without starting a part-time job later today, I would have a minimum of 50 hours of job hunting work a week, and that's a conservative estimate.
I've just spent a few weeks (that's right, WEEKS) making sure my marketing materials are "just right"---or at least ready to be tested---so that when I go hit my best contacts, I'll look like I have everything together and am articulate about who I am and for what I am looking. For those of you who've been forced out (retirement not withstanding), please take the time to process your feelings first (could be a couple of days or weeks), get your marketing materials together (resume, business cards, "elevator" speeches, etc.) and THEN hit your best contacts. Too many times, people go to the best contacts they know of/find first, and are unpolished and look unorganized. These people may want to help you, but if you can't succinctly articulate what you've done and are looking for, chances are they'll walk away not knowing of any way to help you, even if they'd like to.
More on contacts later. Time to get ready to go to the new part-time job.
How many job hunters really put in a full day's work into job hunting (8 hours a day)? It's unbelieveable that anyone would send in a few resumes to jobs on job boards and call that job hunting, yet I know it happens. Without starting a part-time job later today, I would have a minimum of 50 hours of job hunting work a week, and that's a conservative estimate.
I've just spent a few weeks (that's right, WEEKS) making sure my marketing materials are "just right"---or at least ready to be tested---so that when I go hit my best contacts, I'll look like I have everything together and am articulate about who I am and for what I am looking. For those of you who've been forced out (retirement not withstanding), please take the time to process your feelings first (could be a couple of days or weeks), get your marketing materials together (resume, business cards, "elevator" speeches, etc.) and THEN hit your best contacts. Too many times, people go to the best contacts they know of/find first, and are unpolished and look unorganized. These people may want to help you, but if you can't succinctly articulate what you've done and are looking for, chances are they'll walk away not knowing of any way to help you, even if they'd like to.
More on contacts later. Time to get ready to go to the new part-time job.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)