A Career Choice Question (3rd in an ongoing series)

[I have received a follow-up from the person about my suggestions about the Job Choice. I thought it would be worth sharing. The previous article can be found at: A Career Choice Question (Continued)

Here is a quick summary of what I do: I am a successful store manager in a high end specialty chain. My strength is in taking unprofitable stores and turning them into profitable units. I am a capable manager with excellent marketing skills (direct mail programs, fashion forecasting, demographics, etc…). I am great with the public. I can easily connect on a personal level — I can be a great presenter.

 

I followed your last week suggestion and here is a quick update:

1. I’ve contacted 5-7 VP Marketing Exec and asked for a 10-15 informational interview. My first one is scheduled for Wednesday. I am going to gather more information of what the job entitles and how have successful executives gotten to that level.
2. My goal is to learn what path to take and if I may need to add addn’l skills while I am climbing the career ladder.  Next, I am planning on contacting 5-10 recruiters in the retail field and the HR of the companies I would like to work for.
3. How to expand my network? I’ve read/listened to your tutorial about LinkedIn. I am still not sure what’s the best approach to expand my network contact list?

Should I send invitations? Since I don’t have a large network it seems I am limited to ask people for introductions?

1. Great. Enjoy the interview. At the 15 minute mark. Say "Excuse me, I only asked for 15 minutes. Are you ok to continue?". This shows respect for them. If they say they need to go. Thank them. Then you can call back again at another time to schedule another meeting. Don’t do it then, as you are taking advantage of them.. After the meeting – send them a Thank You card. A real card, not an e-mail.
2. Excellent. When you speak with the HR people – tell them what you are doing with the executives.
3. How to expand you network. Well, you are doing it already, by contacting these people. If you mean your LinkedIn network, by all means send out invitations.

Stick to people with large networks (500)+ and whom are clearly working on their LinkedIn  network. I have an article called – 4 Ways to generate 100 invitations a week which you can find at http://www.zaletabakman.ca/2007/10/08/the-top-four-ways-to-generate-100-invitations-a-week/

Here is an article on how I started to build my LinkedIn network http://www.zaletabakman.ca/2006/12/06/how-does-zale-respond-to-a-linkedin-request/. I don’t follow the process exactly the same way, but I do follow the similar structure with different content. 

Don’t forget the use of LinkedIn Answers as a way to generate interest – you can find some ideas at http://www.zaletabakman.ca/2007/09/19/why-is-linkedin-answers-so-useful The place is through LinkedIn Groups. You can find ideas at http://www.zaletabakman.ca/2007/12/20/5-ways-to-use-linkedin-groups-effectively/

The fourth instalment is found here.

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Tagged as: Job Hunting, LinkedIn, LinkedIn Answers, LinkedIn Groups, Networking