a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tP_BKo8louk/SodIciptH5I/AAAAAAAAAsU/rPBu9ZryWHk/s320/cover+ears.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 303px; height: 320px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tP_BKo8louk/SodIciptH5I/AAAAAAAAAsU/rPBu9ZryWHk/s320/cover+ears.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”" //abr /divHear that? That growling noise? That’s the sound of dozens of career experts venting their frustrations over how many job seekers still refuse to accept they must network if they want to find a job. Career bloggers are ranting about how the unemployed still spend most of their time looking at job boards instead of making contacts, and it’s not getting any better. That’s what prompted my interest in this story on networking — the fact that so many job seekers seem to keep ignoring the advice. Here’s the story I did for Gannett:/divdivbr //divdivbr //divIspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”f you’re looking for work, it may be time to step away from the computer./spandivspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”br /That’s because like many job seekers, you’re probably spending way too much time poring over job boards and sending resumes to cyber black holes that offer you little chance of finding a job./span/divdivspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”br /Instead, it’s time to get on the phone or go out to lunch. In other words, it’s time to network, still the best way to land a job./span/divdivspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”br /However, chances are good you’re going to balk at the suggestion. Networking for many people has the appeal of doing taxes or having an especially painful medical procedure./span/divdivspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”br /“I think part of the problem is because people don’t feel at the top of their game when they’re looking for work. They’re afraid of looking needy and helpless to other people. And, they feel like it’s begging – especially if they haven’t been networking until now,” says /spana href=”http://www.networkingexcellence.com/”span class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”Liz Lynch/span/aspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”, founder of the Center for Networking Excellence and author of “Smart Networking.”/span/divdivspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”br /According to research by /spana href=”http://www.upmo.com/index.html”span class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”Upwardly Mobile Inc./span/aspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”, an online career management service in Palo Alto, Calif., job seekers only talk, or e-mail, an average of eight people outside of their current organization on a monthly basis. Only 38 percent say they have asked for an introduction in the last month, and job seekers on average only have a network of 29 colleagues, which they define as peers they’ve interacted with in the last 18-24 months./span/divdivspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”br /Such statistics, Lynch says, prove it’s time that those hunting for work must move past their doubts and inhibitions about networking if they want to find a job. /span/divdivspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”br /“I think the first thing these people need to realize is that others really do want to help them,” she says. “The second thing they need to realize is that they’ve got to be much more targeted and strategic about their networking.”/span/divdivspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”br /She suggests job seekers should:/span/divdivspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”br //spanbspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”• Attend events attended by others in your industry or field of interest. /span/bspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”“If you attend a networking event with random people, it won’t help you. Then, you’ll just say that networking doesn’t work and you won’t do it again,” Lynch says./span/divdivspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”br //spanbspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”• Be prepared. /span/bspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”Always dress professionally when networking, refine your pitch on your capabilities and be ready to ask pertinent questions. “I think some people have this idea that they’re’ gong to network with someone and the person will say, ‘Oh, my gosh! I’ve been looking for you all my life!’ People don’t really have a job in their back pocket, but they can give you information that will help you in your search, such as what the hot-button issues are in the industry, or who might be hiring in the future.”/span/divdivspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”br //spanbspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”• Give back./span/bspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;” It can be uncomfortable and awkward to just call and ask someone for a job lead, so instead ask a question like: “I’ve been thinking of going in this direction with my job search, and I’d like to get your thoughts.” Lynch says it also can help ease your discomfort by then offering something in return, such as saying, “Is there anything I can do for you?” To maintain the connection, send the person articles or information you think they might find of value./span/divdivspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”br //spanbspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”• Avoid over-using social networking./span/bspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;” Sites like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are great for keeping tabs on your contacts, but nothing beats a face-to-face conversation for making strong connections. “Use your social networks to do advance research when you’re going to meet someone, but remember you can make a much better impression in person,” she says./span/divdivspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”br //spanbspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”• Keep the networking muscle in use. /span/bspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family:arial;”It’s estimated college graduates will change jobs nearly a dozen times in their careers, and networks will remain critical. “Often, your discomfort with networking goes away when you’ve got a job, so that’s a great time to work on your connections,” Lynch says. “Take the time once a week or even once a month to ask someone from your company or another connection to go to lunch. By the end of the year, you will really have expanded your network.”br //span/divdivbr //divdivp class=”MsoNormal”span class=”apple-style-span”span style=” line-height:115%;-webkit-monospacequot;,quot;serifquot;;font-family:quot;;font-size:8.5pt;color:black;”a href=”javascript:window.location = ‘http://www.socialmarker.com/?link=’+encodeURIComponent (location.href)+’title=’+encodeURIComponent( document.title);”img src=”http://www.socialmarker.com/bookmark.gif” border=”0″ alt=”share” //anoscripta href=”http://www.socialmarker.com/”Social Bookmarking/a/noscript/span/span/p/divdiv class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5579284890902840419-6907821672671176937?l=www.45things.com%2Fblog.php’ alt=” //div
Source: Anita
