Husband: I can get a job faster than you can, I just need to make a call.
Wife: I'm sure I could get a job if I had someone to call.
Husband: You just need to get better at networking.
Wife: Who the hell am I going to network with? I am in a room with a bunch of teenagers all day long. Do you think one of them is hiring?
Husband: I'm just saying, it's a lot easier to get a job when you know people.
True story. All of it.
That was a conversation between me and my husband when I decided I was serious about getting a job and all I could get were rejections. I couldn't get an interview and I knew if I could at least get an interview, I could get myself hired. But how do you get an interview when you don't know anyone?
I had come to believe that the system was rigged. Only people who know people get interviews, and I didn't know anyone.
Then I learned how to use LinkedIn.
However, BEFORE you can start networking, you need to have these steps completed:
You have chosen a role/field that you want to pursue. If you are still throwing spaghetti at the wall, you can network until you are blue in the face and you will never find a job. You have to limit your job search to a role, you you're going to burn out and give up. I know it seems counterproductive but it works. Think of it this way: You and another person are in a boat and it has two holes. You both grab buckets and start bailing, unfortunately, the boat is taking on water faster than you can bail it out. You drown. OR Each of you focuses on plugging one hole. Pretty soon, the boat stops taking on water, and now you can row to shore while your friend starts bailing. Focus works.
Your resume is on point. This is why you have to get focused first - so you can tailor your resume. If you are applying with your "teacher" resume, you won't get a job. Trust me. Well, you might find a sympathetic person who may interview you on a whim and give you the job, but you would have better chances playing the lottery. So, yeah.
You have a polished website/portfolio. Not all jobs require it, but if you can find a way to "sell your wares" beyond your resume, a portfolio is the BEST way to do that. You can squeeze a lot of your personality and awesomeness into the front page of a portfolio.
Once you have accomplished these three tasks, you are ready to start networking.
Here are the steps:
Find jobs to which you want to apply.
Research the companies and make sure you actually want to work there. Do they pay the salary you want? What do their employees say on Glass Door? Have they been in the news?
Reach out to people at the company.
These seem like pretty basic steps - most intelligent people can figure this out for themselves. But what you SAY to the person at that initial contact will either give you a chance, or it won't.
Here is a list of things NOT to say:
Can you get me a job?
I was interested in applying to your company, is it a good place to work?
Do you know what the salary is for x-role at your company?
Can you connect me with the hiring manager?
Tell me about your company.
All of these are vague and poachy (is that a word?) What I mean is that it's apparent that you're just talking to them because you want their help. No one likes that. It makes you look desperate, and desperate people make bad choices.
A better approach is to tailor your message to the person's role:
Who You Reach Out To | What You Might Say |
To the job poster (if their information is available this is always my first choice). | I've been thinking about applying to ___ position at your company, and I was hoping to find someone who I could talk to more about the role before I apply. I want to make sure it's a good fit before I waste anyone's time. |
To someone who has the same job title as the position as the job posting | I've been researching your company and I really like X, Y, and Z. How do you feel about them? or I would ask a question about something in the job posting that needed clarifying. Like if it said "knowledge of ___" I might message someone and ask them how proficient they need to be at ____. And sometimes they would say, yes you need to know this very well, and I wouldn't apply but I would say hey thanks for letting me know! and may strike up a conversation about something else. I was actually sought out by a recruiter for a different role at the company because of the conversations she and I had on LinkedIn. The job didn't pay enough, but I was stoked that she thought of me! |
To someone in HR or Recruitment | I am very interested in applying for the ____ position but I have some questions about the role that aren't listed in the job posting. Is there someone I could talk to informally about the role so I can see if I would be a good fit before applying? |
To someone who works at the company and lives in the same geographical area as you, attended the same school as you, or has something in common with you. | This depends on what you have in common - I usually go for geographic area, because I was applying for remote positions. So I would ask questions like, do you have to travel? What is your work schedule like? Or something like that. |
Use these or come up with your own. But remember:
Be specific.
Ask for information, not favors
Show that you actually have a plan when it comes to applying for jobs.
Good Luck! You got this!
**Disclaimer** I am not a professional career coach. I am simply sharing advice from personal experience. Take it for what it is.
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