ISSUE 28 DIGITAL EDITION DECEMBER 2011
08 09
Advice
5
All The Latest Career News PAGES 4-7
Networking Don’t Dos For The Job Seeker
With the world ‘getting smaller’ through increased social fluidity, the increasing affordability and accessibility of international travel and the evolution of the Internet as a Nisa Chitakasem, social tool, networking co-founder of is becoming a career con- more common and sultancy Posi- sophisticated job tion Ignition, search and professional development strategy. shares her
expert advice on the topic of networking...
Networking is certainly a useful and effective tool for the job seeker, but only if used in the right way. For a comprehensive and well structured guide to networking effectively read
this 135 Networking Career Tips pdf eBook: http:// bit.ly/lYmxBq As networking is something that comes naturally to very few of us, it is completely understandable to make networking mistakes without even realizing we’re making them. Once we’re aware of the common networking mistakes we’re vulnerable to, however, we can work on cutting them out and refining our networking techniques to the point where they play a crucial part in scoring us the job we want. Here are 5 common networking mistakes to avoid:
Don’t…
1. Add someone to your network just because they exist. Add them to your network because they share the same interests as you. If you’re not interested in one another, you are unlikely to be able to really help one another with anything so why bother? Connect with relevant people. Successful networkers and job hunters connect with the right people, not the most people. 2. Be fake. If you’re just networking for the sake of building up a vast collection of business cards or social media followers and fans, people will soon suss you out. No one wants to employ someone who
comes across as insincere. Be genuinely interested in each person you meet and want to build a connection with. And if you don’t find the person interesting, why are you trying to connect with them? Because they’re your key to a new job? If you need to use people of no interest to you to land a particular job, then it’s probably a job that would also bore you.
About The Author Nisa Chitakasem, is the co-founder of www. positionignition.com, a UK-based executive career change firm focused on helping people find fulfilling roles, make successful career changes and progress effectively through their careers. For more careers advice visit the Position Ignition Career Change Blog at www. positionignition.com/ blog or find them on Twitter @PosIgnition and Facebook
4. Just sell, sell, sell! It’s easy to fall into the networking trap of pushing yourself and what you believe you have to offer onto others. Most people, however, whether on their favourite social media site or at business networking event, aren’t there to ‘buy’. So have conversations instead of just talking at people. The best way to ‘sell’ yourself is to be yourself, not a walking sales pitch. someone who is, commit to 3. Talk only about yourself consistently giving to them that will get very boring, very 5. Give up on giving. If and you’ll soon stick in their fast for the other person or you help someone with memory. If someone gives people in the ‘conversation’. something in the hope they’ll you lots of presents each We all like being asked about help you with your job hunt, week, month or year, you ourselves, so ask people you don’t expect anything back remember them and at some meet about themselves and immediately. If this person point you start thinking that they’ll soon warm up to you. could genuinely act as a maybe you should buy them job lead or introduce you to a present…
Contents News Advice Comment
For Better And For Worse PAGES 18-21
When One Door Closes PAGES 22&23
All Your Career Questions Answered PAGES 24&25
Self Employment