You talked about the importance of networking over just sending a resume, could you please explain?
-Los Angeles Job Hunter
Employers receive hundreds of resumes a day. There is no connection between the person sending the resume and the person reviewing the resume. Most of these resumes end up in the trash can. Employers are more apt to hire people they know.
Networking is just what it says; setting up a network where you can meet people working in your field of interest. If you ask people around you if they know someone in the field you are interested in, you will be surprised by the number of referrals you can get. Calling someone at a company that you have a connection with through a friend makes it easier to get your foot in the door of that company.
I recently overheard a conversation where a man was telling his friend that he couldn’t understand why he wasn’t getting a job. After all he said, “I send out 25 resumes a day”. In the next breath he said, “last time I found a job it was through someone I knew”. I thought to myself bingo! The best way to find a job is through those people you know.
You need to be prepared for what you want to say to a potential contact when you call them. Introduce yourself, explain who your connection is to that person. Have a one minute presentation about yourself to give to the contact. No rambling, be clear and succinct. Ask if this person’s area is hiring. If not, ask if there are other areas within the company hiring. Try to get some face time with the person on the other end of the phone. If you can let them get to know you a little bit, it will go a long way towards moving your employment effort forward.
Many people ask about Linkedin. Linkedin is a professional social network website. Many people “link” to others in their field in order to try to get jobs. Again, this is one step removed from face to face contact. It is this face to face contact that gets your foot in the door.
If you have a question for Vicki please email: vickiscareercorner@gmail.com
