One of the things that there is an abundance of online is articles about networking. There are articles talking about what networking is; how to build a network and why you should have one; in fact I’ve added to this pile with my last two blog postings. So to buck the trend a little what I would like to do for this posting is to share four things that networking is most definitely not.
Networking is not…..
Begging for a job:
Seriously, it’s not; people and especially employers are more inclined to tune you out or try and avoid you if you keep pestering them for a job. Yes at one time they might have admired your perseverance but now they have scores of people doing the same thing so enough is enough.
A quick fix:
Many people think that the moment they start networking, job offers will start appearing. The reality is for the majority of people it takes time to build up a network to a point where you can receive referrals and use it to generate employment opportunities. How long will vary from person to person but the average is counted in months not days.
Only conducted online:
While sites such as LinkedIn have made it a lot easier to research and make connections with individuals / employers it will never take the place of a face to face meeting. It’s at those meetings where we can use tone / body language to express ourselves much more vividly than we could through an email. Also some of those potential connections may not be using the same sites that you use or even have the time to use them at all. So while online networking may be easier don’t sacrifice meeting people offline.
Your only option:
This follows on from the last point as there are a few different job search strategies that job seekers can use depending on the type of work they are looking for. Too many times people will advocate networking as the “be all and end all” of someone’s job search. The reality is though that even within networking there are several different types and there are other job search strategies that someone can use. Something that I recommend to clients is to try one job search strategy and if it doesn’t work try something else. Otherwise you’ll end up beating your head against a wall wasting time you could spend doing something productive.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Developing A Network
After a very busy summer I am back to blogging, at work we have over 20 clients preparing to start school in September thanks to the Second Career program and at home I am about to enter into my second year of university studies (online) as I continue to work towards gaining a degree in Sociology.
In my last posting I talked about the two types of networks that people have Organic and Rational, here’s the link if you want to refresh your memory http://bit.ly/j0L45Q, its ok I’ll wait for you.
In this posting what I want to talk about is how to grow and develop your network. Yes you can go through life with a small network that you are comfortable with; the problem with that though is at some point the effectiveness of your network will reach a limit and you can only go beyond that limit by introducing new people. Let’s face it the reason why we have people in our network is because they each bring unique knowledge and experience to help you achieve your goals, whatever they may be, this is also why you are part of their network.
What are your networking goals?
Before we look at building the network, you first need to ask yourself why you are networking; is it to connect with hiring managers that may hire you or is it to gain a support base? The reason you need to ask yourself this question is because the answer will redefine how you go about networking with individuals. If you wish to build a network to find employment then you need to be aware that it is going to take effort on your part and depending on the size of your starting network may also take time to develop and become effective.
If on the other hand you are wishing to develop a support base, you cannot expect jobs leads to start appearing as you will more than likely be connected to individuals that have no connection or interest in providing you with these leads. For example for several years I ran a peer support group for mature job seekers, we had fun, shared information about how to job search, and how to deal with certain issues such as age discrimination. The one thing that rarely happened though was sharing job leads; those that were shared were ones that the individual did not want to apply for as they understandably did not want others in the group applying to the same jobs in order to reduce the competition.
Who are you connecting with?
Now I’m aware that the majority of individuals who are starting to network wish to find work, and that’s admirable. A large number of jobseekers though end up networking with the wrong people, many go to events similar to the one I mentioned above, in the hope that they will hear about lots of job opportunities. As I have already stated though these events are mainly focused on supporting individuals and not with providing job leads.
So if your networking goal is to find a job, then your networking activities should be focused on reaching those individuals within a company that make the hiring decisions and for a number of positions this is not Human Resources. In order to find out who those individuals are you may also need to connect with individuals that work for the company you are interested and ideally work in the same department or are doing the same type of job that you wish to have.
You should also develop a target list of companies that you wish to work for; this will help you to become more selective in your networking, which is necessary in developing a rational based network and will help you to focus on meeting with the people that either make the decisions or are connected to them.
How are you connected to them?
In developing your target list, it is also a good idea to determine how you are connected to an individual. Ideally you would have a personal referral from someone who is connected to an individual within your target company, however for those that are just starting to develop their network this will take time to gain. Another connection you can use is that you and the individual are part of the same professional association or belong to an industry specific group such as those on LinkedIn. I should also mention that LinkedIn is a great way to find people in companies on your target list. The final type of connection that you may have with an individual is that you simply share the same industry. Now if you have recently moved to a new area, this may be the situation you are in, in which case one of your primary goals in meeting with this individual would be to find out who else in the area you should be trying to connect with.
How to approach them?
Now that you know what your networking goals are, who you wish to network with and how you are connected to them; the next step is to reach out to them and arrange a meeting. Career counsellors and advisors such as myself that promote targeted / rational networking approaches recommend sending out an introductory email to the individual followed by a phone call a few days later.
Your initial email should be brief, complimentary and state your connection to them as discussed above. It should also outline what you are looking for career wise and what you expect from them such as a face to face meeting for some advice and assistance; you should not be asking them for a job.
Several days after you have sent your email, which gives them the opportunity to respond, then you would follow up with a phone call. During this call you would essentially restate what was included within your email, making sure to specifically request a call back and to leave a call back number. If after this they still do not respond, then leave them alone for now as you do not want to be perceived as a pest like so many other job seekers.
Finally
Two final thoughts to wrap up with, first you need to be aware that like many things in life, building and managing a network requires time and effort. I have seen people give up on this type of networking after only a few days, this type of networking takes commitment.
Secondly once you have cultivated a network connection, do not let it go to waste. Stay in touch with the individual, either through meeting for coffee or via social media tools. The first thing that people stop doing as soon as they find work is managing their network which means that should they lose their job, they have to start this process of developing a network all over again.
In my last posting I talked about the two types of networks that people have Organic and Rational, here’s the link if you want to refresh your memory http://bit.ly/j0L45Q, its ok I’ll wait for you.
In this posting what I want to talk about is how to grow and develop your network. Yes you can go through life with a small network that you are comfortable with; the problem with that though is at some point the effectiveness of your network will reach a limit and you can only go beyond that limit by introducing new people. Let’s face it the reason why we have people in our network is because they each bring unique knowledge and experience to help you achieve your goals, whatever they may be, this is also why you are part of their network.
What are your networking goals?
Before we look at building the network, you first need to ask yourself why you are networking; is it to connect with hiring managers that may hire you or is it to gain a support base? The reason you need to ask yourself this question is because the answer will redefine how you go about networking with individuals. If you wish to build a network to find employment then you need to be aware that it is going to take effort on your part and depending on the size of your starting network may also take time to develop and become effective.
If on the other hand you are wishing to develop a support base, you cannot expect jobs leads to start appearing as you will more than likely be connected to individuals that have no connection or interest in providing you with these leads. For example for several years I ran a peer support group for mature job seekers, we had fun, shared information about how to job search, and how to deal with certain issues such as age discrimination. The one thing that rarely happened though was sharing job leads; those that were shared were ones that the individual did not want to apply for as they understandably did not want others in the group applying to the same jobs in order to reduce the competition.
Who are you connecting with?
Now I’m aware that the majority of individuals who are starting to network wish to find work, and that’s admirable. A large number of jobseekers though end up networking with the wrong people, many go to events similar to the one I mentioned above, in the hope that they will hear about lots of job opportunities. As I have already stated though these events are mainly focused on supporting individuals and not with providing job leads.
So if your networking goal is to find a job, then your networking activities should be focused on reaching those individuals within a company that make the hiring decisions and for a number of positions this is not Human Resources. In order to find out who those individuals are you may also need to connect with individuals that work for the company you are interested and ideally work in the same department or are doing the same type of job that you wish to have.
You should also develop a target list of companies that you wish to work for; this will help you to become more selective in your networking, which is necessary in developing a rational based network and will help you to focus on meeting with the people that either make the decisions or are connected to them.
How are you connected to them?
In developing your target list, it is also a good idea to determine how you are connected to an individual. Ideally you would have a personal referral from someone who is connected to an individual within your target company, however for those that are just starting to develop their network this will take time to gain. Another connection you can use is that you and the individual are part of the same professional association or belong to an industry specific group such as those on LinkedIn. I should also mention that LinkedIn is a great way to find people in companies on your target list. The final type of connection that you may have with an individual is that you simply share the same industry. Now if you have recently moved to a new area, this may be the situation you are in, in which case one of your primary goals in meeting with this individual would be to find out who else in the area you should be trying to connect with.
How to approach them?
Now that you know what your networking goals are, who you wish to network with and how you are connected to them; the next step is to reach out to them and arrange a meeting. Career counsellors and advisors such as myself that promote targeted / rational networking approaches recommend sending out an introductory email to the individual followed by a phone call a few days later.
Your initial email should be brief, complimentary and state your connection to them as discussed above. It should also outline what you are looking for career wise and what you expect from them such as a face to face meeting for some advice and assistance; you should not be asking them for a job.
Several days after you have sent your email, which gives them the opportunity to respond, then you would follow up with a phone call. During this call you would essentially restate what was included within your email, making sure to specifically request a call back and to leave a call back number. If after this they still do not respond, then leave them alone for now as you do not want to be perceived as a pest like so many other job seekers.
Finally
Two final thoughts to wrap up with, first you need to be aware that like many things in life, building and managing a network requires time and effort. I have seen people give up on this type of networking after only a few days, this type of networking takes commitment.
Secondly once you have cultivated a network connection, do not let it go to waste. Stay in touch with the individual, either through meeting for coffee or via social media tools. The first thing that people stop doing as soon as they find work is managing their network which means that should they lose their job, they have to start this process of developing a network all over again.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Hiatus
Even though I am a casual blogger, an increase in my volunteer and school schedule at this time of year means I need to take a break from this site for the next couple of months. On my return I will continue my series on networking and writing about the job I love which includes helping people plan out their journey in life.
I hope everyone reading this has an enjoyable summer and even though I am not writing, I am available for questions / help requests and consultations.
Andrew Bassingthwaighte
I hope everyone reading this has an enjoyable summer and even though I am not writing, I am available for questions / help requests and consultations.
Andrew Bassingthwaighte
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Organic and Rational Networking
Networking is a word that is becoming more and more popular in today’s society thanks to social media sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn. The problem with networks and networking isn’t about what it is but how to do it effectively. Over the next couple of postings I want to break down this subject and look at the types of networks people have, how to grow a network and finally look at how to maintain that network once your job search has ended.
Types of Network
Everybody on this planet has a network and with enough digging we are able to connect ourselves to other people, it’s how the six degrees of Kevin Bacon (or separation as it is technically called) was developed. These networks can be broken down into two categories: Organic and Rational.
Organic networks are ones that grows naturally and normally over long periods of time. They start out with family and friends and then develop as you make more personal connections through school or work. The issue with organic networks in relation to job searching is that they are limited in scope. If I were to look at my own organic network (ignoring my friends at work), then there is no-one in that circle that could provide me with advice or potential job leads to further my career. This is a problem that is faced by a number of job seekers, especially if they have moved to a new area in order to find employment.
In contrast rational networks are developed based on a targeted or rational decision to connect with someone based on a perceived connection you have with them. For example Joe Blogs works as an employment counsellor at a local college, because we work in the same field it makes sense to try and connect with him. Having said this, rational networks have their own issues which are mostly connected to the person at the heart of the network; you. For a lot of individuals making a connection or even just talking with another individual outside of their organic network can be very difficult. There is also the issue of the type of industry that you are looking at, in some cases the potential number of connections can be limited based on their number or even their location.
When it comes to job searching the type of network that you can depend on with vary based on the industry you are in and how established your current networks are. Some individuals may have a large organic network but due to a lack of experience or having to make a career change may have a limited rational network. For other individuals they are only able to rely on the rational network as they left their organic one behind when they moved locations.
For those interested in seeing what these types of network look like, we can turn to social media for some great examples.
Facebook started out as an example of an organic network. Connections were initially made based on the school you attended. After time they expanded this to include regions (such as St Catharines-Niagara) to its present state which enables you to connect with anyone at a push of a button.
Linkedin on the other hand is an example of a rational based network. In order to connect with people you need to be able to demonstrate exactly how you are connected to these individuals, either through work, school or as part of a LinkedIn’s group. These groups by the way can be a great way of finding people in your industry and introducing yourself to them at the same time prior to making the actual connection.
In my next post I will share some ideas on how to grow and develop networks both in-person and online.
Types of Network
Everybody on this planet has a network and with enough digging we are able to connect ourselves to other people, it’s how the six degrees of Kevin Bacon (or separation as it is technically called) was developed. These networks can be broken down into two categories: Organic and Rational.
Organic networks are ones that grows naturally and normally over long periods of time. They start out with family and friends and then develop as you make more personal connections through school or work. The issue with organic networks in relation to job searching is that they are limited in scope. If I were to look at my own organic network (ignoring my friends at work), then there is no-one in that circle that could provide me with advice or potential job leads to further my career. This is a problem that is faced by a number of job seekers, especially if they have moved to a new area in order to find employment.
In contrast rational networks are developed based on a targeted or rational decision to connect with someone based on a perceived connection you have with them. For example Joe Blogs works as an employment counsellor at a local college, because we work in the same field it makes sense to try and connect with him. Having said this, rational networks have their own issues which are mostly connected to the person at the heart of the network; you. For a lot of individuals making a connection or even just talking with another individual outside of their organic network can be very difficult. There is also the issue of the type of industry that you are looking at, in some cases the potential number of connections can be limited based on their number or even their location.
When it comes to job searching the type of network that you can depend on with vary based on the industry you are in and how established your current networks are. Some individuals may have a large organic network but due to a lack of experience or having to make a career change may have a limited rational network. For other individuals they are only able to rely on the rational network as they left their organic one behind when they moved locations.
For those interested in seeing what these types of network look like, we can turn to social media for some great examples.
Facebook started out as an example of an organic network. Connections were initially made based on the school you attended. After time they expanded this to include regions (such as St Catharines-Niagara) to its present state which enables you to connect with anyone at a push of a button.
Linkedin on the other hand is an example of a rational based network. In order to connect with people you need to be able to demonstrate exactly how you are connected to these individuals, either through work, school or as part of a LinkedIn’s group. These groups by the way can be a great way of finding people in your industry and introducing yourself to them at the same time prior to making the actual connection.
In my next post I will share some ideas on how to grow and develop networks both in-person and online.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
The Job Seekers Swiss Army Knife
No matter where you are in the job search process, from new grads looking for their first position outside of academia to individuals who have been out of the workforce for several months or years. Every one of us has a tool that can be used in a multitude of different ways. However because it is so commonplace a tool, we don’t give it the respect that it deserves and it becomes neglected. The tool in question is the resume, a document that every job seeker has but do they use it effectively.
Historically resumes formed the largest part of the application process; everything was based around that piece of paper. Today things have changed; networking and branding are strategies that have increased in importance across many, if not all fields of work and the versatility of social media seems to have pushed the humble resume into the background.
Despite this a resume can still make or break your chances of finding employment. Not only is your resume a record of the work that you have completed, it can be the foundation of an online portfolio; it can demonstrate how your brand has impacted your career and your clients. It’s what you use to sell your skills to the networking contacts that you have made and if you are like me, it’s a simple way of refreshing information prior to going into a job interview. Today’s resume is a tool that can be used in many ways, not just the ones I’ve listed, so it is important to ensure that your resume is as effective as it can be to assist you in your job search.
In a recent survey I conducted on LinkedIn, over 50% of the 21 individuals that responded stated that their resume generated only 1 – 5 resumes within the past 6 months. One commenter even mentioned that his resume is the thing that is letting him down in his job search. This isn’t the first time that I’ve heard that statement either, many of the clients that I have dealt with inform me that they have a resume but it’s not getting them anywhere.
One of the common mistakes that job seekers make with regards to their resume is that they think along the lines of ‘one size fits all’. Basically they can take the resume they have and then use it to apply for every job under the sun; the problem is that doesn’t work. In their survey of Canadian Resume and Interview Trends, Wright Career Solutions (www.thewrightcareer.com ) showed that the majority of respondents to their survey indicated that one of their pet peeves were resumes not tailored to suit the requirements of the job.
With so many people competing for jobs now employers can receive literally hundreds of resumes, by tailoring your resume to the actual job not only will you make it easier for keyword scanners to pick out your resume from the crowd; employers will also see that you went the extra mile to address the solution to their problem. In doing this not only do you demonstrate to employers what you have done but more specifically it demonstrates what you can do for them as part of their company.
While there are a number of different tips that can be given about the design and creation of resumes that can vary from industry to industry. There are five particular things that will remain true no matter which industry you are looking for work in.
• Include a relevant skills / competence profile in the first third or half of page one. Make sure to highlight things like achievements to grab the employer’s attention
• Read the job description and tailor the resume to it. Yes it means extra work but if you are truly interested in getting into that career or finding that dream job a little effort shouldn’t be an issue
• No matter what level of career you are looking for, make sure your resume is clean and professional looking. Only include graphics, colour or extra information if it’s appropriate to your industry and will add weight to the application
• Proofread your resume, the second major pet peeve of employers in the Wright Career Solutions survey was poor spelling and grammar. A little thing, such as a typo, can be big enough to cause you not to get the interview
• Keep your resume updated with skills, experiences and achievements. This is particularly important when you are actively employed as you never know when you may need that document
Historically resumes formed the largest part of the application process; everything was based around that piece of paper. Today things have changed; networking and branding are strategies that have increased in importance across many, if not all fields of work and the versatility of social media seems to have pushed the humble resume into the background.
Despite this a resume can still make or break your chances of finding employment. Not only is your resume a record of the work that you have completed, it can be the foundation of an online portfolio; it can demonstrate how your brand has impacted your career and your clients. It’s what you use to sell your skills to the networking contacts that you have made and if you are like me, it’s a simple way of refreshing information prior to going into a job interview. Today’s resume is a tool that can be used in many ways, not just the ones I’ve listed, so it is important to ensure that your resume is as effective as it can be to assist you in your job search.
In a recent survey I conducted on LinkedIn, over 50% of the 21 individuals that responded stated that their resume generated only 1 – 5 resumes within the past 6 months. One commenter even mentioned that his resume is the thing that is letting him down in his job search. This isn’t the first time that I’ve heard that statement either, many of the clients that I have dealt with inform me that they have a resume but it’s not getting them anywhere.
One of the common mistakes that job seekers make with regards to their resume is that they think along the lines of ‘one size fits all’. Basically they can take the resume they have and then use it to apply for every job under the sun; the problem is that doesn’t work. In their survey of Canadian Resume and Interview Trends, Wright Career Solutions (www.thewrightcareer.com ) showed that the majority of respondents to their survey indicated that one of their pet peeves were resumes not tailored to suit the requirements of the job.
With so many people competing for jobs now employers can receive literally hundreds of resumes, by tailoring your resume to the actual job not only will you make it easier for keyword scanners to pick out your resume from the crowd; employers will also see that you went the extra mile to address the solution to their problem. In doing this not only do you demonstrate to employers what you have done but more specifically it demonstrates what you can do for them as part of their company.
While there are a number of different tips that can be given about the design and creation of resumes that can vary from industry to industry. There are five particular things that will remain true no matter which industry you are looking for work in.
• Include a relevant skills / competence profile in the first third or half of page one. Make sure to highlight things like achievements to grab the employer’s attention
• Read the job description and tailor the resume to it. Yes it means extra work but if you are truly interested in getting into that career or finding that dream job a little effort shouldn’t be an issue
• No matter what level of career you are looking for, make sure your resume is clean and professional looking. Only include graphics, colour or extra information if it’s appropriate to your industry and will add weight to the application
• Proofread your resume, the second major pet peeve of employers in the Wright Career Solutions survey was poor spelling and grammar. A little thing, such as a typo, can be big enough to cause you not to get the interview
• Keep your resume updated with skills, experiences and achievements. This is particularly important when you are actively employed as you never know when you may need that document
Friday, March 25, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
~ Retraining ~
Going back to school can for many be a scary, yet worthwhile experience. Earning that "piece of paper" can make a significant difference in their professional or personal life i.e. the achievement of a lifelong dream - but the idea of returning to school after a long absence can present quite a challenge.
In my own experience it was the fear of failure that caused me to question my decision to go back to college. For others who have spent the last few years within the workforce and not in a classroom, they may be concerned about either not fitting in or with being stuck with people that they are unable to relate to.
If you have decided that retraining is the best option for you, than the following guidelines will get you started on the path to completing your education.
Take an inventory
· Are you going to college for the first time or re-entering after an absence?
· Are you currently working or are unemployed?
· Would there be funding available for this program?
· Are you able to take the course on a FT / PT basis or through distance learning?
· Do you have any potential prior college credits you can apply to the course?
· What impact will returning to school have on your family life?
Keep these questions in mind as they will help to guide you and maintain a healthy dose of reality when looking at the different options available.
Define your educational goals
Why do you want to go back to school? Is it your goal to change careers, grow professionally, or finish a degree program started years ago? By focusing on your motivation, you can best define your educational goals. Personality and Interest assessments such as Career Cruising and the Jackson Vocational Interest Survey are available to help pinpoint interests and help you identify occupations best suited to talents and temperament.
Another good resource is the Canadina National Occupational Classification Codes which is available for access online at (http://www23.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/). The NOC includes an overview of a wide range of professions as well as the education and training required for those chosen careers.
Search the Web
The majority of school boards, colleges, universities and training organizations have their own personal website. Accessing these sites can help you to research online courses or traditional programs, find out how to get credit for life experience and information on whether you qualify for financial aid. You can also brush up on forgotten study skills and read motivational articles about others who are successfully returning to school. Finally there are also a host of recommendations online for best-selling books and guides for those looking into retraining.
A lot of schools and colleges also have Facebook, MySpace and Twitter accounts so you are able to get the answers to some of your questions quicker as well as being able to see what current and past students are saying about them.
Take a Tour
Many colleges and training organizations offer student orientations or campus tours before the start of a semester. Sometimes there is an orientation especially for non-traditional students. These orientations often include information about campus resources, re-entry services, study skills and stress management tips. They also help familiarize you with the campus and provide assistance with other important issues you may need to address while continuing your education.
Finally - What will be the best outcome for you?
Only you can truly know the answer to this question, everybody has a different capacity for learning and how they prefer to learn. It’s only by comparing multiple schools that you will be able to figure out which one has the best environment for you.
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