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| Finding Job Leads in Unusual Places |
| By
Tracy A. Bumpus, CPRW, JCTC |
|
| A recent article in
a recruiting newsletter promoted finding job candidates in the aisles of Barnes
and Noble Booksellers on the premise that "you are what you read." Taken from a
job seeker point of view, this approach to recruiting demonstrates that job
seekers should be ready at any and all times to make positive contacts that
might lead to a new career position. Such an attitude often goes by that
dreaded "n" word-networking! |
|
| A collective groan
often erupts at the mention of networking to find a job. After 3 solid years in
the late nineties of simply being able to type "Joe Jobseeker - Java
Programmer-555-5555" into a résumé database and the phone rings
off the hook, getting used to WORKING at getting a job can be tough. At the
mention of the word "networking", most people get a mental image of mixers from
college where everyone was dressed uncomfortably, carried around a watery drink
for two hours, and struggled to read nametags that were printed too small.
"Working a room" is just too darn much work, even if it means the difference
between paying the mortgage next month or moving into a single-wide behind the
mother-in-law's house. Such a strained form of networking is just too tense to
be endured without solid promise of a job at the end of the evening.
|
|
| Fortunately,
networking doesn't have to be a nail-biter event. Networking as defined by
Dictionary.com is "An extended group of people with similar interests or
concerns who interact and remain in informal contact for mutual assistance or
support." The key words in that definition are "informal" and "mutual".
Networking is not going to everyone you know with your hat in your hands
begging for a job! It's simply talking to people! It's getting out in the
community and getting involved! It's helping others by connecting them with
people you know that can help them. |
|
| I write
résumés for a living. As part of my client consultation, I ask
clients in what civic, professional, or volunteer affiliations they are
involved. 95% of clients are not involved in anything. They work, they come
home. On the weekends, they mow the grass and wave at the neighbors. True, the
work schedule of a technical professional (my market niche) generally does not
leave a great deal of extra time for extras. But you know what I've discovered
about that other 5% of my clients who ARE involved in something? They enjoy a
more accelerated career track than other clients in terms of salary, position,
and growth of responsibility. I'm not saying that if you want to get promoted
you have to go join 8-10 organizations. What I'm saying is something that all
job seekers have discovered in the past 18 months: It's not what you know these
days so much as it is who you know. And if you don't know very many people,
it's a lot tougher to find a job. |
|
Some suggestions for
getting involved and building a network:
- Join a Users' Group or
Special Interest Group
- Volunteer to beta test a product
- Volunteer
at your church
- Join a professional organization that is 1) active, and 2)
has regular monthly meetings
- Host a neighborhood weenie roast and get to
know everyone
- Show up at your kids' ball games and talk to other parents
- Send congratulation cards to people you know who have received a new job
or promotion
- Do volunteer tech work for schools, churches and other
nonprofit organizations
- Attend school board meetings and talk with others
who also attend
- Attend city council meetings and talk with others who
also attend
- Volunteer on a political campaign
- Enroll in a class
- Join a public speaking group |
|
| All of these are
simple ways to get out of your cubicle and start getting to know people. None
of them are real nail biters (well, maybe the last one could be a little
tense). They are all very simple to do and many would actually improve your
personal life in addition to helping your professional goals. |
|
| The HR Panel members
at the 2002 conference of the Professional Association of Résumé
Writers and Career Coaches (PARW/CC) were unanimous in their practice of paying
particular attention to résumés which came to them through a
referral. Debbie Zurinski, Regional Vice President of Snelling Personnel
Services in Dallas, Texas stated "Networking is the number one way to get your
résumé in front of me. I give top priority to
résumés that have made it to my desk by means of a referral."
Résumés received via online job boards or non-targeted mailings
were given the least consideration. Maximize your job search effectiveness by
extending your network. It's time well spent and you might make some new
friends in the process! |
| ### |
Copyright, 2002. RezAMAZE.com.
Austin, Texas.
Tracy Bumpus, CPRW, JCTC is Executive Director of
RezAMAZE.com, a career services firm that specializes in working with
professionals in the high tech and engineering industries. Mrs. Bumpus has been
published in six national best selling job search books and has written for the
National Business Employment Weekly and Contract Professional. Mrs. Bumpus can
be contacted through her web site at http://www.rezamaze.com or via email at
tbumpus@rezamaze.com. |
|
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