3 minute read
NETWORKING Cary Silverstein
Your network is the key to your job search
IT’S FRIDAY AFTERNOON and you are called into Human Resources and told you are being let go because the company is downsizing. You have been working for this firm for over 20 years. You are in your early 40s or 50s and have built a specific set of skills that are no longer relevant in today’s market. You are now in unfamiliar territory, unemployed and scared.
You ask yourself a very familiar question: “What do I do now?” “Where do I start?”
The answer is: Begin to build your network, which will consist of your business contacts, including vendors, customers, past fellow employees, and employers. Assemble their email addresses, phone numbers and begin to let them know you are in the market. You will be asking for their help in identifying opportunities, providing market intelligence and in contacting your target companies. Target companies are those firms that you see as potential employers.
I have spoken to and mentored many recent-
ly unemployed middle and upper executives and found that many were reluctant to “light up their network.” They would rather sit in front of the computer and complete online applications. When you invest your time in this manner, your chances of getting the job you really desire are lower than if you leverage your network and begin to move your name to the front of the line.
This is not the time to be timid or shy; it is a time to act to increase the possibility of finding the right position.
Investing your time networking pays dividends. It permits you to gain access to the upper levels of the hiring and decision-making processes by having someone who is familiar with you and your skills place your name and resume in the right person’s hands.
At the Lumen Christi Employment Network, we have over 800 alumni employed at major Wisconsin and Illinois firms who would be happy to pay it forward. Why, you ask? Because they were once in your shoes and have used the process to a successful end.
So, how do you “light up your network” and what steps do you need to take? » One strategy that will help build your confidence is to start networking with people you know and are familiar with you and your strengths and skills. As you become more comfortable, begin to call individuals to whom you have been referred. » Next, review your business cards, email contact file and build a list of business and personal contacts that could potentially assist with your job search. » Put together your resume and an “elevator speech” no more than 30 seconds in length stating your strengths and what type of position you are looking for. » Begin to contact these individuals and set a time for coffee or a meal to discuss your job search. » Set up multiple “face to face” meetings each week with members of your network. » Don’t be afraid to ask for referrals to individuals who they feel could be of further assistance in your search. » Come to networking meetings prepared to have them review and critique your resume. Be open to coaching and constructive feedback. End each meeting in a positive manner and thank them for their time. Even if these meetings are not initially successful, be sure to follow up with a positive note or email. If something develops in the future, they may contact you. Never close the door, keep communication open and positive. Establish a personal board of directors, friends and contacts you trust who will hold you accountable for your search and networking activities.
Once you light up your network, you need to keep it active. One contact leads to another and another and your network will expand. As you gain experience networking you will become more comfortable asking for assistance from others.
Believe me, networking is the fastest way to regain employment and set yourself apart from the masses of online applicants. This is your opportunity to act. Get plugged into the network, increase your interpersonal skills and meet the people who can aid you in again finding that job you always wanted.
So, get plugged in and get going. n
CARY SILVERSTEIN
Cary Silverstein, MBA, is a speaker, author and consultant, a former executive for Gimbel’s Midwest, JH Collectibles, and a former professor for DeVry University’s Keller Graduate School. He can be reached at csilve1013@aol.com.
