You’ve heard it time and time again, networking is a very effective way to find a job. But how do you differentiate yourself from other candidates using common outreach techniques such as attending professional events and using social media to connect with potential hiring managers?
It’s not a transactional process. It’s relationship building. The secret is to establish a genuine connection with those hiring managers. Although talent and experience are critically important, it’s the person the hiring manager truly likes and respects who will get the offer.
Below are some tips to help you build that connection.
Build your professional community
To build new business relationships, be an active participant in your professional community – in essence, become known. This doesn’t mean you only need to attend networking events or connect with industry professionals on LinkedIn. You must also establish yourself by participating in professional associations that align with your industry and attend their professional events.
These interactions become more than casual introductions. They give you opportunities to get to know colleagues and hiring managers on a personal level, share your insight/expertise with them and learn about their interests and careers.
Proactively reach out on social media
You’ve built a strong professional network on LinkedIn; now proactively reach out to your connections through LinkedIn. For example, consistently review your connections’ status updates on your LinkedIn home page. If a potential hiring manager recently shared some news on their company or updated their title to indicate they were promoted, be sure to send a personal note to them on LinkedIn congratulating them on the company’s success and/or their promotion.
This shows your interest in their successes and people are more likely to feel connected to a professional who shows a sincere interest in their experiences.
Another strategy is to share an article with a potential hiring manager that might interest them. If you recently read an article about evolving trends in their industry, send a link to that article stating you read this article and thought they might also enjoy it.
These strategies show your personal interest in learning more about the potential hiring manager and showcase your interest in their career and company.
Participating in conversations (discussion threads) within LinkedIn professional groups is also a great way to reach out and share your insight with a potential hiring manager.
Be sure to read the news feeds and respond to questions or share experiences within your LinkedIn professional groups. These opportunities also help others to get to know you and your skills in a more informal setting.
Take your time and show your appreciation
As you would with a friend, respect your contacts’ time and space. Don’t bombard them with questions or information. You should always be fostering your network, not just quickly trying to establish a relationship when a job opportunity becomes available.
By continuously nurturing your network, you can reach out, ask questions, and share information without being a pest. Also, if you are asking a potential hiring manager for insight on a position, soliciting a recommendation, or have a general career question, be sure to show your appreciation for their time and assistance through a brief thank you via email or phone.
Reaching out to hiring managers requires a time investment that will be beneficial as part of your long-term career strategy. Build and foster these relationships by sharing your value, showing genuine interest in their careers, and finding common ground in your personal lives. These strategies can lead to long-term professional relationships with people who will come to you when they learn about great job opportunities.
Manage the Emotional Roller Coaster of Job Search
There are many frustrations that surface during a job search, and you will most likely encounter some of them. Don’t let frustration get the better of you and stall or derail your search.
It’s hard not to take rejection personally, or to understand why a recruiter hasn’t called you back. The key is how you manage your emotions. Your ability to cope with these frustrations will dictate how successful you will be in not only overcoming them, but also in reaching your goals.
- Recognize the obstacles standing in your way. For example: consider all the requirements delaying a hiring firm’s processes which could include such simple matters as turnover in the Human Resources department, or an urgent need that turns out not to be so urgent. With a lot of moving parts involved in hiring, recognize that this is “normal.” It will help you understand and prepare for potential obstacles that can lead to frustration.
- Maintain motivation. It’s hard to stay motivated during a job search when you encounter rejection and silence where you seek answers. We all have our own individual ways of staying motivated. Identify what motivates you – what recharges you – and apply those strategies.
- Give yourself a break. Don’t be so hard on yourself and add to the stress of your job search. If you need a break, take one! A mini-vacation—whether it is an hour, a day, or a week, will ease your frustration and help you regain focus. In addition, you’ll feel more relaxed during your search and find new energy/motivation.
- Create a mastermind or support team. A strong support system is extremely helpful when coping with job search frustration. Creating your own mastermind team of friends, family members, mentors, and trusted peers that you can reach out to for emotional support during your search is key. These individuals can help you stay motivated and optimistic during your search.
- Maintain a positive attitude and confidence. Your attitude, belief that you will get offers, and how you present yourself to a prospective employer sets the stage for your viability as a candidate and underscores every aspect of your job search. Just because you haven’t secured an interview yet doesn’t mean no one wants to hire you. Put yourself in the mind of an employer to help figure out what hiring managers are looking for in the role you are targeting. Focus on the positives…your strongest attributes; skills, and leadership qualities, and how you can better market them to prospective employers.
- Use your time wisely. You should spend about 30 hours a week connecting with people. Since approximately 75% of jobs are obtained through personal referrals, you need more than a résumé to get your foot in the door of a prospective employer. Studies show that this percentage is higher for mature candidates. Tap into your friends and colleagues, LinkedIn, and other social media networking sites to network and increase your base of referrals.
- Most people looking for a new job opportunity or major change in their careers are likely to experience frustration. You can surmount this and persevere by implementing some of these techniques into your job search, moving forward with a positive attitude, and having a lot of patience.
Why Choose Us?
We turn experience into opportunity – and résumés into interviews. We know what recruiters and hiring managers look for in candidates. And we don’t disappear after your project is done. We will be available to answer your questions and address your concerns throughout your career.