- When speaking to potential networking contacts, instead of asking for a job, try to ask for help and suggestions. In this way, even if there aren’t any jobs available in the company, the person can help you by giving you the names of two or three people that he or she knows.
- Think of at least 50 contacts and ask for their help and advice regarding your job search. A contact is someone who knows a lot of people, not necessarily someone who is in your industry. A contact is a friend, neighbor, doctor, dentist, travel agent, etc.
- Research has shown the people joining employment support groups find jobs one-third faster than those candidates doing it alone. Job search can be very isolating. Seeking out the support of warm, caring individuals, and those who are in the same “place” as you can be very comforting, and you can share networking contacts with others. Support groups draw on everyone’s knowledge and life experience to help all the members of the group. It is really the perfect example of giving and receiving. Employment support groups can be found on line, and you can join one located near your home or work area.
- Set small, reachable goals for yourself. Try using this metaphor: don’t think about getting from A to Z. It is too overwhelming. Think about getting from A to B, B to C, etc. Each time you reach a small goal that you set for yourself (like networking with five people each day) you are moving closer to the end goal of Z when you land your job!
- Send a thank you note (email is fine) after an interview. Besides being courteous, a thank you note will give you a chance to recap the highlights of the conversation. It becomes an excellent selling tool.
- If you want to talk with a hiring authority on the telephone, (other than Human Resources) you might have a better chance of speaking with him or her if you call before 9 AM or after 5 PM. Key decision-makers are usually in their offices by 7:30 am, and at that time of the morning, they pick up their own phones. There is a good chance that they will be more receptive to informational calls before the workday begins.
- Think positive and affirm your strengths and assets. Examine your track record of achievements in former jobs and in other areas of your life. Write them down.
Remember to be good to yourself. Exercise, eat right; try to put “balance” into your personal life. You will survive this transition, and perhaps you might obtain a higher paying position. Looking back at it, many people say that losing a job was the best thing that ever happened to them. It gave them the opportunity to start fresh and obtain a position in an industry that really sparked their interests and enthusiasm. One of my clients recently told me: “After I lost my job, I reassessed some of my values. I realized that my job was only one part of my life, it wasn’t my whole life.”
By Beverly Baskin, MA, NCC
Execuive Director, Baskin Business and Career Services
Executive Offices in Woodbridge, Princeton and Marlboro New Jersey
Toll Free: 800-300-4079