If you think networking is the #1 answer to getting hired, you are on the right path. If you think building social media connections is the secret, you have the right idea. If you think working with recruiters is the best secret of all, you may be off track.
All of these thoughts contribute to getting a chance to interview in varying degrees, but individually or collectively, they do not add up to THE answer.
The best strategy for getting hired is to have a positive influence on the hiring manager. You can do this by thinking like a consultant.
- Know your target industry’s trends and business issues (pain points).
- Know what skills you can offer to help a potential employer solve its business issues.
- Combine this knowledge with post-interview follow-up and you have discovered the “secret sauce.”
Reach out to hiring managers
Find and build relationships with hiring managers so you can identify the “sweet spot” (what’s important for them to know about you in the interview discussions).
- What are they looking for in a candidate?
- What impresses them about someone for a position?
Finding the “sweet spot” may lead to job offers because hiring managers see you as the solution to their business needs.
Building relationships takes time, so be patient. Hiring managers are cautious. They need to make the right decisions, so they may move slower in the hiring process than you expect.
Never leave an interview without asking…
”What are your next steps in the hiring process?”
Hiring managers expect candidates to ask questions. Inquire about a reasonable time frame to follow up. Without fail, be sure to send a thank-you note immediately after the interview. This small action is imperative and demonstrates that you respect the interviewer and the time he or she spent with you.
Post-interview follow-up is key
A follow-up phone call is an acceptable way to inquire about the status of the hiring process. While some interviewers will share where they are in the decision-making process, many won’t. However, if you are able to engage them on the phone, keep the conversation focused on building your relationship, and offer your help where appropriate.
Don’t be a pest with too many emails or phone calls; however, a follow-up note (sometime after the thank-you note has been sent) also helps reaffirm key points that match your unique skills and talents with the job requirements.
The job seeker that makes the best impression stays on the hiring manager’s radar. That person has the best chance of being called for another interview or offered the job.
Network Like Crazy!
Research consistently identifies networking as an important job search tool — anywhere from 60-80% of job placements are the result of networking.
Networking can also be a way to identify unadvertised job opportunities — accessing the “hidden job market” (jobs that are not advertised publicly). These positions may be filled through employee referrals, recruiters, or direct contact with hiring managers through networking.
Person-to-person networking is the single most effective way to find a new job, with 46% of job seekers identifying networking as the reason they found their most recent jobs.
The following tips will help you identify who is in your network and how to use these connections to find your next job.
- Build Your Network Before You Need It. The single biggest mistake most executive job seekers make is not asking for help from their networks. People want to help you — so let them! But don’t wait until you’re out of work to start developing relationships with your network. You should constantly be building — and strengthening — your connections with your network.
One of the easiest ways to do this is using LinkedIn. One of the most effective ways to improve your network, however, is through personal contact. Do something to build your network each and every day, whether that’s sending an email to someone you haven’t talked to in a while, or identifying someone new you want to meet. - Who Is Your Network? The first step is to identify the members of your network. This can include friends, relatives, parents of children’s friends, parents and relatives of your friends, club members, cousins, neighbors, current and previous co-workers and managers, suppliers, professional association contacts, your community contacts (civic leaders, clergy, et al.), and your doctor, financial advisor, or attorney. If you don’t already have a list, start one!
- Your Value Proposition/Brand Will Help Your Network. The simple definition of your “brand”(also called value proposition) is the unique value you offer your target employers – driving strengths, personal attributes, passions, results you have achieved and the positive differences you can make to companies’ bottom lines. Make sure every member of your network understands your brand. Otherwise they won’t be able to effectively help you identify opportunities.
- How to Use Your Network. The most effective way to use your network is a more targeted approach. Identify the specific need you have and then contact people who are in a position to help you reach that specific job goal. Another approach is to contact specific people in your network — or your entire network — and let them know you are looking for ideas, information, advice, and contacts/referrals. This is the broadest way to use your network and can be useful if you are unemployed and not worried about jeopardizing your current job by visibly pursuing a new one.
- Technology and Networking. Social media can also help you achieve your networking goals. Be aware: even if you have your social media profile privacy settings locked down, remember that anything you post online can potentially become public information — all it takes is someone you know taking a screenshot of what you’ve posted, or mentioning the information, and it’s no longer private.
- Networking Cover Letters. An effective way to network your way to your new job is to get your résumé in the hands of those who are in a position to help you. You can to do with a networking cover letter. The purpose of a networking cover letter is to let your network know you’re looking for a position and ask for specific help.
- Informational Interviewing. Get to know people who can help you find your next job — not necessarily the people doing the hiring, but the people who know those people. Make connections with local business leaders, government officials, bankers, commercial real estate professionals, and others who can network you into the top opportunities within the area. Ask for the opportunity to meet with them to learn more about a specific company, opportunity, or the industry. Make it clear you are not asking them for a job — only for information that may be useful to your job search.
- Networking in a Confidential Job Search. Ever been surprised when a friend announces a new job, and you didn’t even know they were looking? You can use networking even when you’re quietly searching for a new position. However, be aware that the more people who know you’re looking for a new job, the more likely your current employer is to find out about it. One way to avoid this is to build your network even when you’re not searching for a new job. Again, listen to Harvey Mackey’s admonition to “dig your well before you’re thirsty.” Having a robust network can also help you be more effective in your current position, by giving you access to people who can help you solve the problems you face in your daily work.
- Pay it Forward. People in business value what you can do for them. That is the whole premise of job searching – what you can do for the next company. And perhaps you have personally experienced a time when someone has given you a good lead for a potential job, or client account for your current employer. More than likely, you remember those unsolicited favors and will want to reciprocate. That’s the premise of paying it forward – by helping people who ask you for assistance, your network will be stronger when you need it.
- Be specific about what you want. A specific request for assistance (“Does anyone know someone who works in the accounting department at Company X?”) is more likely to be fulfilled than a general request (“I need a new job! Help!”). Educate your network to “see, hear, and visualize” the specific opportunities you are looking for. The clearer you make it for your network, the better your results will be.
- Follow-up. If a networking contact gives you advice, a lead, or information, follow up on that information — and then also get back to that person to let them know how it went. Common courtesy goes a long way. After you land your new job, be sure to thank your contacts that have specifically helped you along the way.
Heed the advice of author and networking pro Harvey Mackey: “If I had to name the single characteristic shared by all the truly successful people I’ve met over a lifetime, I’d say it is the ability to create and nurture a network of contacts. A network replaces the weakness of the individual with the strength of a support system. You don’t have to know everything as long as you know the people who do.”
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.