Every day we hear about yet another company laying off employees. In January, 100K people were laid off…a staggering number. Of course, this would
lead one to believe there will not be any companies hiring. Oddly enough, according to Reuters, "U.S. job openings increase to five-month high as labor market stays tight."
Even if you have yet to be laid off, it helps to stay connected with professionals in your field. If you have lost your job, networking accounts for 85% of your job search.
Here is the way networking works:
Let's say you talk with someone at a company you might be interested in working at. Many times, those inside the organization are aware of upcoming changes. New projects, products, etc., may be planned that require new employees. This means that person might be aware of jobs that will soon be posted. Your goal is to get your name 'in the hat' before the listing is posted.
As for the 'networking' term, many people feel uncomfortable with it because they don't want 'use' someone. That is understandable. However, once you talk with someone, it often becomes more of a conversation during which you will learn about them. They may ask you about yourself (it's not an interview).
EVERY client who pushed back against networking due to fear, talking to a stranger, etc., has come back to me saying it was a positive experience.
It takes only one person to help put you in front of the person responsible for hiring.
I recommend reaching out to three people per week and keeping a spreadsheet of who you spoke with and the names of the people they referred you to.
Although LinkedIn is the best platform for making and finding connections, you can attend professional networking groups in your city. Many are in person, and some are virtual.
Whenever you connect with someone, there are two essential points to remember. Focus on asking for 'advice' and do not send your resume before the meeting. I promise you if the conversation goes well, they will ask you to share your resume with them.
Finally, give yourself time to grieve if you have lost a job, and when you are job searching, schedule times during the week for different tasks. It can become overwhelming if you spend 24/7 on this. Also, try to do fun things unrelated to your job search to put your mind in a different space. As long as you work intentionally and strategically to find a job, it will happen.
Contact me if you would like to schedule a free phone consultation.