A job seeker responded to a recent blog about the importance of face time by asking “Who are all these people I am supposed to be meeting with? How do I find them, approach them and set up meetings?” This job seeker, like many others, held a job that didn’t involve a lot of person-to-person contact. After being laid off, she is left feeling she has no network and isn’t sure how to get started creating one. Recent college grads and people who have been out of the professional world for awhile may relate. Read More
Making Informational Interviews Work for You
Informational interviews are an invaluable tool for today’s job search. While you never actually ask for a job during an informational interview, many do lead directly or indirectly to employment opportunities down the road. In part one of our series on information interviews, we look at why you should do informational interviews. Read More
Entering And Exiting Networking Conversations
For many people (including myself), networking at social and professional events can seem like a very intimidating process. Two of the trickiest parts: How do enter into a networking conversation, and equally important, how do you properly end one?
Starting a conversation can be the most intimidating part of networking. It sets the tone for everything else. How do you determine when a good opportunity has come up to start a conversation? Read More
Turning Social Events into Networking Opportunities
Job seekers often hear that holiday gatherings are a great place to network. But how do you do that without being annoying? After all, no one likes being hit up for job leads at a party. Here are tips on converting a social event into a networking opportunity in a tactful way. Read More
Clear Goals = Better Networking
One of the principles of being highly effective is “Begin with the end in mind”. This is important advice in a job search. Being clear about where you want to end up will help you chart a course from here to there. Another strong reason for being clear about your goals is that it will make it easier for your network to help you. Here are some of the positive effects your clarity will have on your networking efforts: Read More
Warming Up a Cold Contact
Many networkers feel awkward about approaching a cold contact – someone they do not know. Yet reaching out to new people is an important part of expanding your network and constructing a successful job search. Here is a step-by- step guide to warming up a cold contact: Read More
Video Friday: Getting Started Building a Network
You know having a network is important to your job search. But how do you get started building one? In this video Jobfully’s Carrie Krueger has help for recent grads and others who are building a network from scratch. Read More
Balancing Being Confident and Being Humble
Job seekers are often given two pieces of potentially conflicting advice:
- Be humble
- Sell yourself
The two seem contradictory. Is there a way to do both? The answer is yes, but it takes great communication skills, self awareness, and practice. First understand the reasons behind each piece of advice. Read More
How to be a Graceful Power Networker
Job searching involves a lot of networking which sometimes comes with awkward or sticky situations. Your ability to handle them with grace and style is vital to your success. Here are solutions to common networking situations, and ways to bring out your grace in the process. Read More
Questions to Ask When Networking
Job seekers are well aware that networking is critical, but it can be intimidating. Even people who enjoy being social can find themselves tongue-tied when they have a goal in mind other than just chatting. Read More