Who do you tell that you’re looking for a job? The answer to this question is pretty simple. Everyone! There was a time when being out of work was looked down upon. In previous posts I’ve emphasized the fact that unless you were fired from your last job for gross misconduct, being out of work is not your fault. There may still be a few people around who look down on you for being out of work, but they’re out of touch with what’s really going on in the job market. They may even have a fear of being around you, as if they might get some “unemployment cooties” on them. Ignore them. They don’t want to help you anyway. They’re only interested in their own skins.

You need to market yourself to everyone you know and to everyone you meet. You never know where your next opportunity will come from, and it’s generally agreed that you’re more likely to get your next job through personal networking contacts than through any other method. Posting your résumé on the big job boards and applying to posted positions online are necessary tools, but they are only part of the equation. You need to be spending 60 to 70, maybe even 80 percent of your time in contact with real people in the real world.

The first step is to make sure people with whom you are regularly in contact know you’re looking for a job. This is your personal network, including family members, neighbors, people at your church, civic groups, clubs, the gym, your kids’ teachers, your kids’ sports teams, shopkeepers, etc. These folks are in contact with other people every day. They know your reputation in the community and can likely say good things about you. Perfect your 10-second commercial, making sure you can clearly state what you do and the job you want so these folks can remember it and pass it on. And when they ask you how you’re doing the next time they see you, say, “Doing great! Still looking for the right job opportunity.” Also, consider volunteering at your church or community organizations. You don’t want to take too much time away from your job search, but a few hours every week is beneficial. Giving of yourself makes you feel good, and it gives you more positive visibility in the community.

The next step is to reconnect with old friends and former business colleagues. By business colleagues, I mean people with whom you worked both inside and outside your employers’ organizations. This would include, coworkers, subordinates, supervisors, managers, directors, officers, vendors, suppliers, service providers, bankers, attorneys, insurance agents, etc. This is your professional network. LinkedIn and facebook have revolutionized the reconnection process. I recommend that you establish profiles on both sites and start searching for people from your past, and let them know you’re looking for a position. The basic service is free on both sites, which is sufficient for my purposes, but there are additional features that you can buy to enhance the utility of these sites. Blow the dust off your old Rolodex and review your Outlook Contacts. Making contact with email and the good, old-fashioned telephone are still great methods as well. Use all the tools at your disposal, just reestablish the connections and redevelop the relationships. Once again, you need to be clear and concise in describing what you do and the type and location of the position you’re looking for.

If you have not done so already, you need to line up your professional references. Spend some time asking people with whom you’ve worked if they are willing to act as a professional reference, and discuss with them what they will say about you when contacted. If what they say is not really what will help you, just thank them for their time and leave them off your reference list. References should include a current mailing address, phone number and email address. Related to this, you need to request recommendations via your LinkedIn connections. The best way to solicit recommendations is to make recommendations. As I’ve said many times in this blog, this must be genuine. Take some time to develop a thoughtful and meaningful recommendation. Fluff is easy to spot and not very helpful to anyone. Your references and recommendations will establish a common theme around your strengths and your expertise, providing a living testimony of your working history and professionalism. And remember when you’re back at work, you need to cultivate your professional network, both inside and outside the organization. If you leave a path of destruction in your wake, you will have a much harder time the next time you are looking for work. Once again, how you treat people, on the job or between jobs, is part of your brand. If your brand includes things like professionalism, courtesy and kindness, you will have a different – and I think better – experience in the job search than if your brand includes things like selfishness, bitterness and anger. Your professional image on the job matters and has lasting consequences. Remember it.

There are likely several people in your professional network whose opinion means a lot to you. Ask for 15 or 20 minutes of their time to come to their office and to visit with them about your résumé, as you value their opinion and guidance. You’re not asking for a job; you’re asking for their help, and since you’re not asking for a job, a meal or a cup of coffee, it takes a lot of pressure off them. Most people want to help and most can spare 15 or 20 minutes of their time in their own offices. Meanwhile this keeps you in contact with people who are working, keeps your brain engaged in your industry, and will likely give you additional contacts, resources and ideas to improve your résumé and your search.

Third, establish or maintain your membership in professional associations, and make sure they know you’re looking for a job. Many professional associations offer discounts to members who are out of work, and some maintain job boards of their own. Of course, these associations are also conduits, if not direct suppliers, for required continuing education and professional development. Be sure to attend meetings and volunteer. Again, volunteering gets you in front of a lot of people, gives you additional résumé material, and gives you something positive to say when the interviewer asks, “What have you been doing while you’ve been out of work?”

Fourth, make new connections wherever you can. Don’t be bashful. Put on your game face and get out there. Here in the DFW area we have many job-search networking groups, groups of fellow job seekers who get together to develop job-search skills, make new connections, share leads, and generally lift each other’s spirits. If you’re in the DFW area, go to http://careerdfw.org to see an all but exhaustive list of career search networking groups operating around here. There are other similar groups in other areas. Do your research on the web and get connected.

So what is effective networking? It’s an easily misunderstood and abused concept. Some people think if they can just collect as many business cards and LinkedIn contacts as possible, they are somehow networking. These are people who are so busy thinking about what they need or want that they aren’t paying attention to others. That’s a bad habit, because when they get an interview, it will show. The employer has a need that they’re trying to fill. If you walk in there thinking it’s all about you, you’ll be sending the message that their need isn’t important to you. In an interview, it’s all about the employer and how you are the best person to fill their need. Networking is a great place to hone the skill of asking, “What can I do for you?” This may require a fundamental change in your thinking, but it’s critical. Effective networking is about finding out what others need while communicating your skills, your personality, and your desires. Networking is a conversation. It’s about developing relationships that go beyond a handshake and exchanging business cards.

My friend Paul Vercher (http://www.linkedin.com/in/paulvercher) says that your professional network is a “fragile ecosystem.” You need to treat the people in your network with respect. Don’t put undue burdens on them or make frivolous introductions of people you barely know. If you do that very often, it won’t take long for your network to fall apart, because the people in it no longer feel that they can trust you. People almost always want to help, but if they feel they are being taken advantage of, abused or disrespected, they will withdraw their help. Don’t harass your network contacts with constant reminders that you’re looking for a job. Don’t make an introduction if you don’t really know the work, reputation or character of the person being introduced. Spend time getting to know the people in your network, so if an introduction is requested, you can speak with confidence about the person making the request.

You do need to keep your network updated as to your status, but you need to do this in a way that does not come across as desperate or needy. Typing “Still Looking for a Job” in the status bar on LinkedIn, facebook, twitter or your blog every few days is NOT the way to do this. People want to help, but are easily put off by needy, grasping, repetitious or annoying people. It’s human nature. Keep your updates positive, concise and not too frequent. You don’t want to wear people out. People who know you and like you want to know how you’re doing, and as I keep saying, they do want to help you. They just may not know how at this time. If you remind them too often that you’re still in the job market, it builds a sense of anxiety. So update your network from time to time to let them know you’re available, but not too frequently. Keep it brief, positive, entertaining if possible, and remind them what you’re looking for. Ask if you can send them your résumé, as they may not be fully aware of your work, but don’t force it on them. That too can come across as needy.

Develop your personal and professional network. Protect and cultivate it. The way you handle your network is an extension of your personal brand. You want to demonstrate your professionalism in how you manage these relationships, showing that you genuinely care about these people. By doing this well, you will not only improve your probability of landing a job sooner, you will develop a network of people on whom you can rely for advice and expertise, people who trust and care about you, people who could become clients for you or your future employer.

Ret Martin
SPHR certified Human Resources Generalist & Administrative Management Professional
martin3820@charter.net

http://www.linkedin.com/in/retmartin