5 Out-of-the-Box Job Networking Strategies for 2010
5 Out-of-the-Box Job Networking Strategies for 2010
Last week it was all about the No-No’s of Networking. Not that I would want you to start embellishing your Facebook pages and start Twitter accounts, which I’ve written about before, but this is about really giving and creating opportunities. I promised you that I would provide successful networking strategies that you can try today. In addition, I thought of some additional Out-of-Box strategies and tips that you can apply now.
1. Write recommendations for your connections on Linked In, and vice versa. Former co-workers would love this, and probably were too shy to ask. In some cases, it may not hurt to write recommendations without expecting back. This would inspire many jobseekers, and likely your connections will reciprocate by writing compliments on your account. For your connections that rarely use their Linked In accounts, you have my permission to ask them to write a recommendation for them before doing so and you should suggest that they check out what you wrote. By the way, my friend Anita Santiago inspired this technique. I recommend that you add her blog, The Workforce Connection, to your subscription list. See her tweet that inspired part of this blogpost
2. Sponsor your own networking event among your own network of connections. Send invitations to meet at a place that will provide the best networking ambiance (it could be at your house or not). There are other potential business hookups may happen because of you, and has nothing to do with you are OK. These rogue relationships may have benefits for you down the line. What’s to lose right? The objective is for you to create an informational exchange climate. By the way, great opportunity to invite your local Tweeps, or uh, Twitter friends in your city.
3. Create your own Facebook fan page and ask people in your network to join. Build your own community and every now and then offer updates, and treat it like your fan base. If other people help others with their job search, so be it. It should make you feel really good. By the way, a great benefit is that it’s easy upkeep, and after 25 fans join you can create your own URL. You can update it in many ways and invite feedback from many people at a time. Another benefit is that anyone can access it without being a member of Facebook.
4. Get on the radio. Small stations with public affair, community, and college formats would be flexible in finding an angle for you. Take advantage of upcoming slow news cycles, which would increase your chances of broadcasting your expertise in your field to the world in either as an interviewee or host. There are some former co-workers who should be interesting to talk to and help promote your cause.
5. The small kids have no fear. I wouldn’t coach them to say that “My Daddy needs a job” but they could be helpful in passing personal business cards in CONTROLLED situations. These days you have to be an evangelist in your job search by asking for information, diffusing any begging you may be tempted to do. Besides, when people see another person with a child, automatically this disarms them. May I emphasize again, your goal is to start discussions, not convert them to evangelize (so to speak) for you.
If my suggestions are not completely original, at least my presentation and take is slightly different than most. Below are blog posts of networking strategies that have been written before (not just mine), and are quite useful. Hopefully, you can find them useful.
Advice: Finding Work Without Applying to Official Job Postings
6 Secrets to Successful Schmoozing
7 Simple Rules to Make Your Events Remarkable
Networking: What To Say
Job Networking Strategies Beyond the Resume
Last week it was all about the No-No’s of Networking. Not that I would want you to start embellishing your Facebook pages and start Twitter accounts, which I’ve written about before, but this is about really giving and creating opportunities. I promised you that I would provide successful networking strategies that you can try today. In addition, I thought of some additional Out-of-Box strategies and tips that you can apply now.
1. Write recommendations for your connections on Linked In, and vice versa. Former co-workers would love this, and probably were too shy to ask. In some cases, it may not hurt to write recommendations without expecting back. This would inspire many jobseekers, and likely your connections will reciprocate by writing compliments on your account. For your connections that rarely use their Linked In accounts, you have my permission to ask them to write a recommendation for them before doing so and you should suggest that they check out what you wrote. By the way, my friend Anita Santiago inspired this technique. I recommend that you add her blog, The Workforce Connection, to your subscription list. See her tweet that inspired part of this blogpost
2. Sponsor your own networking event among your own network of connections. Send invitations to meet at a place that will provide the best networking ambiance (it could be at your house or not). There are other potential business hookups may happen because of you, and has nothing to do with you are OK. These rogue relationships may have benefits for you down the line. What’s to lose right? The objective is for you to create an informational exchange climate. By the way, great opportunity to invite your local Tweeps, or uh, Twitter friends in your city.
3. Create your own Facebook fan page and ask people in your network to join. Build your own community and every now and then offer updates, and treat it like your fan base. If other people help others with their job search, so be it. It should make you feel really good. By the way, a great benefit is that it’s easy upkeep, and after 25 fans join you can create your own URL. You can update it in many ways and invite feedback from many people at a time. Another benefit is that anyone can access it without being a member of Facebook.
4. Get on the radio. Small stations with public affair, community, and college formats would be flexible in finding an angle for you. Take advantage of upcoming slow news cycles, which would increase your chances of broadcasting your expertise in your field to the world in either as an interviewee or host. There are some former co-workers who should be interesting to talk to and help promote your cause.
5. The small kids have no fear. I wouldn’t coach them to say that “My Daddy needs a job” but they could be helpful in passing personal business cards in CONTROLLED situations. These days you have to be an evangelist in your job search by asking for information, diffusing any begging you may be tempted to do. Besides, when people see another person with a child, automatically this disarms them. May I emphasize again, your goal is to start discussions, not convert them to evangelize (so to speak) for you.
If my suggestions are not completely original, at least my presentation and take is slightly different than most. Below are blog posts of networking strategies that have been written before (not just mine), and are quite useful. Hopefully, you can find them useful.
Advice: Finding Work Without Applying to Official Job Postings
6 Secrets to Successful Schmoozing
7 Simple Rules to Make Your Events Remarkable
Networking: What To Say
Job Networking Strategies Beyond the Resume
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