Reaching out – A Best Practice of Networkers
October 2, 2009
One of the things I try to maintain is “reaching out” to my friends, and colleagues. It is something that is not just a great tool for business, it is a requirement to maintain relationships in this high tech – high diversity – far spread society!
Some of the folks who “reach out” to me, do so in the form of forwarding massively long emails (long because everyone else has forwarded them, and not bothered to cut out the long addressee list)… but still, I recognize that it is the fact that the person thought of me that is the important portion of that. Side note: This is a source for spammers to scrape addresses – so one should strip out the addresses and footers/signatures when forwarding if you can, and you think of it. And when forwarding, it can also be construed as spam, so be careful.
Others use the various services that allow you to forward an article from a site, to share… or let’s you clip an article which can be shared with followers like socialmedian.
Still others actually do it in “snail mail” – sending me articles of interest. I admit that I still enjoy receiving actual hard copy paper mail…. LOL.
I tend to do all three and love the ability to share online articles – both to my Facebook Page and to individuals I think might be interested. The key is to let people know you are thinking of them, know them well enough to know that the item is of interest or entertaining to them, and opens the door to further communication. (There is also an article on the WhoDoYouKnowAt blog about this today…not bad.)
I even love the connectivity of Twitter! It is a great way to reach out into the vast beyond and see what you get back! Follow me on Twitter by clicking here.
Whatever way you “reach out” do it with relevance and value, and you will find that the connections become of increasing value to you! You never know what opportunities, information, or entertainment will come your way simply because you thought of someone and let them know.
To PMP or not to PMP
August 13, 2009
Project Management Certification – some companies swear by it, others are happy to see “equivalent” experience. Which is the right course? It depends on you…it is never a bad thing to have an industry certification – it shows that the uniform standards which are accepted by professionals in your field, have been satisfied. It also will generally command a higher salary. And PM Certification requires a certain number of “field hours” as well, showing practical application of the tenets as well as demonstrating the ability to learn them in a classroom setting.
So why wouldn’t you get PM certification? If you are close to retirement; have amazing credentials in project management complete with ROI and your particular value added figures; or if you are in a job ladder that will promote you there anyway – you may decide not to pursue the certification. Just remember that the PM certification could be the deciding factor if you are in competition for a position. Ultimately – the decision is up to you.
Business Networking Survey
August 6, 2009
Shouting out to all the folks who use online networking tools…can we get your feedback on this short survey:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dG1QQmJmY2VQNlp1a3RUT0E5ZWpxeHc6MA..
Thanks!!
Another day in Tech Paradise
August 6, 2009
Twitter….down again…. Facebook also seems to be having server issues.
Oh no – its the end of the world as we know it… or maybe it is just another Thursday in Tech Paradise.
Even the least technical of my circle of friends will pace and froth at the mouth (metaphorically of course) when the internet sites they depend on are not available, or heaven forbid, hacked. We rely on this media more than previous generations relied on Newspapers and Radio. We rely on it more than Television. And we are in denial about how much we rely on technology. Because if we had to admit how much we don’t know about how it all works, we might have some responsibility in learning more and becoming more actively involved in the utilitarian aspect of the internet and its ancillary services…oh, yeah, can I get an “Amen Brother”!
Rules of networking
August 5, 2009
People network for a variety of reasons.
- Sales
- Business Development
- Recruiting
- Business Capital
- Professional Development
- Getting Help with Career/Finding a Job
- Fund-raising for Charities or other Non-Profits
- To Find a Date or a Mate
- To Find a Group to Join
How successful you are in your networking, depends on what kind of networker you are. And what KIND of networker is more dependent upon how you go about networking, than whether you are an Open Networker or only tap those closest to you. That being said here are my “Rules of Networking”:
- Protect your reputation
- Don’t ask something of someone that you wouldn’t do yourself if asked
- Help when you can, be clear when you cannot help
- Stay true to your inner compass (if it doesn’t “feel” right, don’t follow through and see #5)
- Be honest and kind
- Keep confidences, share good news
If you are new to “networking” start small, talk to only your most trusted friends and colleagues when trying to get connected to meet one of the goals listed at the top.
Social Networking and YOU
July 29, 2009
At the end of the day the only person you have control over is YOU. But each of us influence and have impact on others based on our relationships. And “Social Networking” is a way of taking a systemic look at your relationships and leveraging them to help you accomplish your goals – whether that goal is to find a great realtor, gain access to a prospective client, find a new job, or raise funds for charity – your most successful forays will be with people who know you or know someone who knows you.
Randy Schrum, http://successwithlinkedin.wordpress.com/ has a whole blog, and an e-book about how to successfully utilize LinkedIn in marketing. Charlene Li’s book Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies
Ultimately if you are trying to decide to “Twitter or not to Twitter” ( you might want to check out: Twitter Power: How to Dominate Your Market One Tweet at a Time
If you “shot gun” your approach, you spread yourself too thin, miss your target half the time, and may jeopardize the one thing you have to leverage – your relationships. Guard them closely, your contacts are almost as precious as your reputation. Learn how to nurture and leverage, remember to give value as well as harvest value, and take the time to stay in touch – that is the beauty of the internet and social networking sites – they enable you to stay in contact and find opportunities to help others.
Things that make you go “DUH”
July 15, 2009
I recently read a series of articles on things NOT to put in your resume. In this day and age it merits restating that there are some things that are just not going to aid you in getting a job. For example, if you are older than 24 and have worked in a real full time job, including your experience at fast food restaurants and baby sitting while in high school is not helping you.
Sounds obvious? Believe me, it isn’t. Remember that common sense is not really all that common. I have seen resumes for technical positions that included in the body of the experience that the person spent a year as a Boy Scout Troop Leader. While admirable, and perhaps appropriate in an area of interests, listing it as part of the experience for a position not related to the Boy Scouts is not helping your cause.
Most people forget that the resume is not only your marketing tool, letting the potential hiring entity know what great experience and qualifications you have – BUT IT IS ALSO a tool that the same entities use to SCREEN PEOPLE OUT of the running for a job.
Before you send in your resume, take a look at it from a “stranger’s perspective” and see if there are items listed that would be reasons to say NO to you.
Job Search Tips
July 6, 2009
My friend Liz described leaving a bad job for uncertainty while looking for a new position, as “Changing Deckchairs on the Titanic” – an apt analogy in these frightful economic times. Of course, there are ways to minimize the risk when working to get a job… and I will go through some of the various strategies and tactics here.
First, remember that getting a job, whether you have one already or not, is work in and of itself. Plan your time. You will want to approach this in a structured and organized manner.
Keep track of the time and materials you spend on job searching. This will allow you to make a good determination of the value of others services in this area… in other words, if it takes you three hours to review jobs against your qualifications to make a choice of which ones to send your resume to, and you can get a recruiter or sourcer to do that for you – you have economized your time.
Get some practice in talking about your qualifications - even if it is just in front of a mirror. Remember to make note of special accomplishments that you may want to mention to a recruiter or hiring manager. Make a list of the companies you are interested in working for, and a list of people you know who already work there (or know someone who does). Your most likely entrance to a company will be through networking. Practice saying to people that you meet “Hi I am (your name); I do (your profession) and I am currently looking for a job – would you happen to know of something that is opening up?”.
Don’t be afraid to call the HR department of companies you are interested in and asking if they have any openings…most likely they will direct you to their web pages, and ask you to apply online. Get the name of the person you spoke with on the phone, and send them a note of thanks for “helping” you, after you submit your resume on line.
Check the job boards on line, and the unemployment job boards and the newspaper. Remember that if a job sounds familiar, it could be the same position. Keep track of where you have submitted your resume, so that if a recruiter asks you if you have been submitted you can tell them. Many companies will not consider you if you have already been submitted by someone else, or if you applied directly. Because in those cases, the Hiring Company will not pay the recruiter, so understand that they are doing their job when asking you if you have been submitted before.
If you get an interview with a hiring manager through a recruiter – ALWAYS get the full name of the person interviewing you and if possible their email address. ALWAYS send a thank you note to the person who interviewed you, and if you want the job, say so. Send a thank you email to the recruiter who arranged it. And communicate with the recruiter… don’t just say “it went well” – give details, what kind of questions were asked, how you answered…and again if you want the job, tell the recruiter “I think they like me, and I want this job”.
Don’t just send your resume without a cover letter. Cover letters are your “special commercial” to tell them where you heard about the position and why you think you are the right person for the job. And if they are looking for specific skills, make sure that you reflect those in your resume. And yes, that means you may have to have several iterations of your resume, each one focused on specific skills you have that match a job description.
And don’t say you can do something that you can’t – with technology today, it is very simple to check on your background and to get references that are not on your resume!
Looking for work
June 23, 2009
Several friends and acquaintances are looking for work at the moment. And because I have staffing experience and hiring manager experience, they have been asking me for advice. There are all the standard bits of advice that everyone in the industry (and out of it) gives; but I was surprised that some folks are unaware of a few tidbits that I will share here:
- Google your name before you send out your resume and really check out what comes up! You may discover that there are many folks with your name out there – be aware of who they are and what they do – so you are not caught unawares if a Recruiter asks you about a subject that seems to be a non sequitor, chances are they are trying to figure out if you are that (insert your name) who skydived in a youtube video or not… You will be surprised at how much “surface” level research is done through googling, and how many folks are mistaken for someone else. At least if you have looked already, and if the Recruiter or Hiring Manager says “tell me about your skydiving video” you can chuckle and explain that it isn’t you, but someone else with your name. This is good, because you demonstrate you are aware of your web presence and that you are comfortable with the fact that someone tried to check on you.
- If you have a Facebook or Myspace page, edit your comments and pictures before sending out your resume. I know, I know, that is your “personal” space, but believe me – Recruiters and Hiring Managers will go and look to see what they can find out about you (and if anyone they know, knows you). Rather than having to explain something that is iffy or unprofessional or just embarassing – remove it.
- Update your Linkedin page and if you don’t have one, set one up. Many HR folks will check a resume against the Linkedin.com profile and if there are mismatches, or questionable items – use it to screen the resume out. Likewise, some HR departments will screen a resume out that doesn’t have a Linkedin.com account – dependent upon your career area. If you are in Technology, Sales, or Management – you should have a Linkedin.com profile. And it should be up to date.
- The absolutely best way to get a job is through a referral from someone you know, who knows someone in the Company you are trying to get a job in. This requires work – and let’s face it – finding a job is a job all by itself. The job seeker should be actively researching where they are most likely to find a job that matches their skills and/or career goals, and networking to see who they know who can get them through all the standard resume filtering that happens.
I hope this was helpful to you if you are looking for work. Let me know – leave a comment!
Word of Mouth…
June 22, 2009
We used to call ourselves “Bargain Hunters” or “Smart Shoppers” – now we are “Recessionistas”, finding the best buy and beating the economic woes of the land! My co-worker and friend, Afsheen, coined the term… and I have been using it with relish for about a week. My circle of friends have adopted it and so on and so on… who knows where it will end up next. That is the joy of a “living language”. Not that I am assuming that my adoption of this clever term will make it into the jargonaries of the world, nor that by our usage we will change the language – my point about it is that usage is viral because people tell others about what they are using.
In the decades prior to mass media (not really THAT long ago), most products were spread through word-of-mouth marketing. One person would tell another person about how well it worked or how wonderful the product was, and it spread. This is why so many advertising formats are “Testimonials” of one kind or another… because the majority of humans like to pass things along, share, and enjoy as a group. The concept of viral (word of mouth) marketing came back into vogue when the internet became mainstreamed. Social networking and the marketing that comes with it, is the good old fashioned word of mouth type of testimonial marketing that was prevalent a century ago. The village is bigger now… the “mouth” is a screen.
A person in Dallas can coin a term like “Recessionista” and in two days, it can be heard in San Francisco and Boston in a conversation 3 times removed from the source. Just think what you could do with a strong strategy and purpose!
