Guest Author - Kristen Welcome
When you seem to be stuck in your job search and it feels like you’re spinning your wheels, it’s only natural to turn to the people around you for help and advice. After all, it’s not uncommon for friends or family to hear about a job opening that you might not be aware of, and previous coworkers that have moved on to new horizons may even be in a position to recommend you for a job at their new place of business. But are you sure you’re using your potential network to its fullest advantage? Here are a few ideas you may not have thought of.
1. Friends of friends.
Of course you’ve thought to talk to your friends, family, and former coworkers with whom you maintain a good relationship. But have you considered asking them who else they might know in your industry? It’s possible that your next-door neighbor plays golf with the hiring manager at the company you’ve been yearning to get into. It doesn’t matter if there isn’t an open position; if you get a friendly introduction, you can always ask to take the person to lunch to get information about their company and industry. This is called an “informational interview,” and it is a great way to get insider information about who’s who in the target industry as well as which companies are the best to work for and where positions may be opening up soon. Remember that it’s not polite to ask for a job during informational interviews, but have some resumes on hand, just in case you’re asked for one.
2. People at continuing education classes or industry shows.
The people you sit next to in classes or brush up against at trade functions may know the perfect job for you. Be sure to arrive at each function with a “thirty second commercial” in mind, so that when people ask you who you are and what you do, you’ll be prepared to state succinctly what type of job you’re looking for and why you’d be great at it. Don’t forget to stop by and chat with the instructor or presenter at the event; they usually love to chat with those in attendance and can sometimes have good advice.
3. The career center at your alma mater.
Even if it’s been awhile since you’ve been out of school, your old career center may still be able to help you. It’s not uncommon for a school’s career center to be in touch with professionals in many industries and cities who are willing to help out people who are beginning a new career.
4. Graduates of your alma mater.
If there are people in your industry who have graduated from the same school you did, try getting in touch to see if they will have lunch with you and provide a little guidance. People tend to have a certain fondness for those who graduated from the same alma mater, and they may provide some helpful mentorship.
5. Your apparent competitors.
It’s natural to be a little close-mouthed with a peer who seems to be vying for the same positions that you are – and your suspicions may be well founded. But give some consideration to the fact that the two of you might have some different interests that could make a job ill-suited for her but perfect for you, and vice versa. If that’s the case, you can work as allies and tip each other off when you catch wind of a job that’s inappropriate for one of you but perfect for the other. It can help to have someone who’s beating the bushes as hard as you are to compare notes and pass along useful information.
Searching for a job can be trying, but it helps to have as many allies as possible. By making contact with as many helpful people as you can, you can shorten the duration of your job search considerably, increase the chances of landing the perfect job, and build a solid network that can be helpful to you throughout your career.
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