Basic Networking Rule 1: Its A Connected World – Be Connected
If you are reading a post from Zale Tabakman that means you are connected to me on LinkedIn. And if you are not connected to me on LinkedIn, then you are not connected in a connected world!
Even worse,
- You can’t access the 4,400,000 million on LinkedIn a connection to me provides.
- The placement agencies, HR people, and headhunters looking for somebody like you through me can not find you. And you want to be found!!!
Connect to me at http://www.linkedin.com/in/ZaleTabakman
Make sure you belong to at least one of my groups. Just join the ones that will be real for you:
Marathoners
http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/25009/14D41334DC61
Over 4,000 new and experienced marathoners
People Living in Toronto Connected On Linked
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?&gid=2058134
People Interested In Toronto
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=35620
People who love Toronto
People Living In Canada Connected On Linked
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=2058896
People Who Are Interested In Canadians On LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/35559/32FB966FA0A4
People who love Canada
Success Through Balance
http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/42538/48FA8850E586
3000+ people who agree with my approach to life connected on LinkedIn
Networking For Success
http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/43111/6519C4612FF3
Only people wanting to be successful should apply
Interfaith Networking
http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/38130/2FCBA910D813
People of Faith wanting peace and goodwill to all – this is for all religions or believers in single Gd
Basic Networking Rule 2: Stop Making Excuses For Not Meeting People
If you don’t want to network and meet people and get a job, then don’t network. If you are finding an excuse for this, try using the same ones that you use to avoid exercising and helping around the house. As they say “any excuse will do”.
Here are a couple that you can use…
- “I’m too shy,”
- “I’m too busy,” and
- “I really don’t need any help.”
If you have been looking for a job for more than 30 days and have had no offers, you are stuck in a prolonged job search. Its time you faced these excuses and moved on.
You should be out at least twice a week at a networking event. And the events should be different. Networking can include Rotary, Volunteering, A Meetup.com event. Any type of place that birds of a feather flock together. And above all – don’t network more than once a month with other unemployed people.
Basic Networking Rule 3: Nobody is too shy to network
I get that you are not like me and can get up in the middle of the room and start singing. I can’t do that either because my singing is so bad, I value my life.
The reality is you don’t have to be an extrovert to network. It’s not about personality at all. Networking is simply a skill,” says Donna Fisher, author of “Power Networking: 59 Secrets for Personal & Professional Success.”
The simplest way to deal with being shy is to focus your attention on the other person. Ask questions for the goal of seeing how you can help them. The best way to get what you want is to help others get what they want.
I want to get on Oprah. The way I am going to get there is to help 10,000 people find jobs. The more people I help find jobs, the sooner I will get on Oprah.
It is important to understand that something like 80% of people feel awkward meeting new people. Once you get that the other person is having trouble, asking them about themselves will make them feel at ease. And, since you are shy, you don’t have to talk about yourself. Don’t worry, they will ask about you and when they do, just tell them nice easy stuff. The more you do it, the easier it will get.
Here are a couple of opening lines to use:
- “How did you get involved with the ____ Club?”
- “Can you tell me a little bit about this organization?”
- “What made you decide to go into your line of work?”
Don’t use the following lines:
- What is your sign?
- Do you come here often?
- Can you get me a job?
- Do you want to see my etchings?
If you are shy, network at places where you won’t be shy. If your hobby is hockey, network at a hockey league. Network where you can feel comfortable. If you are a board game geek, start with a board game club. Volunteering at the YMCA, your local church, or something like that can always be a good start.
Basic Networking Rule 4: Make time for networking.
You have time to do anything that is important. If finding a job is important than you need to get out there and starting talking to people.
If I were to put a gun to your head and said, “Network tonight, or else,” you would skip dinner, head to the local Rotary Club and be networking like a champion.
I want you to understand how important it is. You can think about it as important as your life. You should be putting the gun to your own head. If you have no job, or you dislike what you are doing from 9-5 every day, those unhappy hours of your life are gone forever. If you are unhappy an hour a day because of your job, it will affect every relationship you have. All those people that are part of your “life” will be affected. Your spouse, your kids, yourself.
Some people lose their networking motivation because of the need to find the perfect job lead today or meet 17 people tonight. Don’t go there. It not necessary to do a mountain of work to network well. Its better to do a small amount each day. The days add up. The weeks add up. If you make one good solid new friend through networking each day. In one month you will have 30 people all helping you find a job. That’s more than a hockey team.
In “1,001 Ways to Market Your Services,” by Rick Crandall tells about a Stanford study found that “small increases in the size of your network can double your odds of success. If your existing networking is not producing much in the way of referrals, try to add 10% in high-quality contacts. They can double your results.”
So, if you know 250 people by name, a 10% increase in your network would mean 25 new contacts. Regardless of your number, the key is to take small steps. Meeting just one new person a day will put 30 new names in your network this month, and will likely double your number of active job leads. Are you too busy for that?
Basic Networking Rule 5: Don’t Struggle When Others Have Shown You How
Donna Fisher, talks about how being a “Lone Ranger” will seriously damage and delay your job search. Its a problem of being an American or somebody living north of the United States. Batman and Superman and all those other heroes have taught us to think “I’ll figure this out on my own” instead of “Who do I know who’s already done this and can help me get it done faster?’”.
Sure you can do it alone. I know you can. But why would you do such a dumb thing. Get years of knowledge and save weeks or months of your job search by getting help. Ask people you know for help and get the free Guerrilla Job Hunting CD on the right side of the page. Read all my articles.
Both Suzy and Bill are willing to help but don’t forget when asking for help – Everyone keeps score. When you borrow that cup of sugar from Suzy, Suzy remembers. When you call Bill or at 3 am to ask for jumper cables, Bill remembers.
So when you ask networking contacts for job leads, they will remember. Make sure you a) you say Thank You, and b) pay them back by giving freely of your time, knowledge and talents in return. If you can, do something for them up front before they ask.
Why not put some “karmic cash” in your networking account and start giving to the people in your network today?
This is my Monday Morning Job Hunting help. I have taken material provided to me by Kevin Donlin and David Perry, co-creators of the Guerrilla Job Search System.
Kevin and David have been interviewed by CNN, New York Times, Fortune magazine, and the Christian Science Monitor about their method to finding a job.
Get a free audio CD from Kevin and David on how to get your job search into high gear
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