How to Use Your Network to Find a Job

If you read the last post you're now able to identify your network and have an idea of what it can do for you.  And what you can do for it. That's important.  Don't forget that part.   So now we'll talk about how to actually ask for the help you need.  Even if it's someone you don't know well.  We're also going to cover why you should find opportunities to help others.  None of this is as hard as it sounds and it does get easier with practice.  I promise.  If you're not familiar with networking, it probably takes you out of your comfort zone.  Which is actually a really good thing.  It's when we move out of what makes us comfortable that the adventure starts.  And who doesn't love a good adventure?

Related:  How to be Seen as the Best Job Candidate

You need help finding your next job.  You do.  Most people get their jobs through other people.  You can find a job by responding to an online post.  It happens. Just not very often.  And much less often than when someone who knows you will help you out.  Since you need help, your first step is to let everyone know that you need help.  Go to Facebook and LinkedIn and post an update that clearly states exactly what you need and what you're looking for.  If you can inject a little sense of humor, all the better!  Recently, my sister was looking to re-enter the workforce after an absence raising children.  The kids are all in school and sitting around the house was boring so she threw it out there to her Facebook friends. She mentioned something about having to find a job since the kids were gone most of the day and her husband was insisting she earn her keep (see? humor). She said she was looking for something part-time and local (pretty clear about what she wanted).  That day, just from her local friends, she got a lead on two different jobs.  One of which she is now happily working.  This tactic works just the same if you post the update on LinkedIn.

There are two main things to take away from my sister's example.  The first is, state clearly what you need.  Adding some humor doesn't hurt.  And let everyone know. Someone will answer. You never know who.  Which leads to the second point...  Sometimes, people who don't know you will help you because by helping you, they're actually helping someone else that they know better.  Did that make sense?  The lead came from someone my sister didn't actually know all that well.  The person who sent her the lead wasn't just trying to help my sister.  She was helping her friend who had the job opening find a great candidate to fill it.  People will help you for a variety of reasons.  You may never even know what the real reason was.

Related:  Don't Let Your Resume Get Lost

You don't have to just stop at your own network.  It's ok to talk to people you don't know.  You just have to go about it the right way.  One of things you should already be doing is identifying companies you'd like to work for.  If you don't know anyone at a particular company, take a look at your network on LinkedIn.  You may find one of your connections knows someone there.  Ask your connection if they would be willing to introduce you.  When they do, have a couple of questions ready to ask the person.  A great way to get the conversation going is to express your interest in working for their company followed by asking them what they like about it.  You should also ask about the company culture.  Knowing about the culture is very important.  If they tell you things that  lead you to believe you may not fit in, it's good to know before you put in too much effort to get an interview.  

Your network is the most valuable tool you have in your job finding arsenal.  But it has to be used correctly.  The most important thing to remember as you start trying these techniques is to always keep a look out for opportunities to help others.  This is the key to the networking kingdom. Build a reputation for being open and helpful.  It will open more doors than you can imagine.  If you take and never give you'll not get anywhere.  And people will avoid engaging you. You need your network to help you so the first thing, the absolute first thing you must do is to offer your help to others.  Respond positively when someone asks for your help, whether it's an introduction or just information. You will get out of your network what you put in.  

Networking Basics

We all hear about the importance of networking.  Build your network.  You should use your network to find your next job.  Make sure you contribute back to your network.  And the best one, you should network.  It's great! Now we all know everything we need to find the next job.  Build, use, contribute to and network your network.  Makes perfect sense. You're now an expert.  Class dismissed.  Go forth and network.  




Yeah, it didn't work for me, either. Telling you what you need and what you should do with it really isn't all that helpful without some definition and instruction.  The how and the why of it all is necessary to understand before you can start something.  I can tell you all about cake.  I can describe it in detail, what it's used for and when. Then I can give you a list of ingredients and say you now have all the tools you need to bake a cake.  You then sally forth to the kitchen returning with a professional quality wedding cake crafted by your own two hands.  And if you think it works that way, I have a bridge or two I think you might be interested in purchasing...

Related: LinkedIn Etiquette

Let's just start at the basics.  What is a "network"?  And, how do you get one?  The good news is, unless you're a hermit living in a cave at the top of a very steep mountain, you already have a network in place.  Your network is just the people you know, both personally and professionally.  They could be people you've met in person or just online.  Regardless of where you know them from, they count. Facebook and LinkedIn are the most popular social platforms designed primarily to organize your network.  LinkedIn is specifically for your professional network but can (and should, really) include people from your non-professional life.  I'm connected in LinkedIn with friends and family members right along with my professional contacts.  Just because you're not connected with someone in LinkedIn, doesn't mean they aren't part of your network.  LinkedIn is just where you organize and keep track of people.  Everyone you know, regardless of where you know them from, is part of your network.


Now you know you have a network. Great.  But what do you do with it? And how do you know if you have a "good" network?  First, understand that each person in your network knows lots of things you don't.  They also meet lots of people and have lots of experiences that you don't and that don't involve you.  Every day.  Some of these experiences they have could possibly be beneficial to you but they won't realize that unless you've told them what you're looking for.  So tell your network what you need.  Tell them you're looking for a job.  Tell them what kind of job or the company you'd like to work for.  The easiest way to get this started is to announce it on LinkedIn and Facebook.  You don't know who the people in your network know.  Someone in your network might just know someone very high up in that company you want to work for and could introduce you.  Don't leave someone out because you think they can't help you.  My mom offered to get me an interview at a company once because, turns out, she was friends with the CEO's wife.  Who knew?  Every network is a good one because everyone knows people you don't know which extends your reach.  The best way to get your network to help you, is to ask.  Just put it out there.  It's ok.  A lot of the people know and care about you, so they want to help.  The rest want to help because they know, next time they might be the ones asking and they'll want you to help them.

Related: Effective Networking

Which brings us to the last bit for today.  Why should anyone in your network do anything for you?  The most important thing you absolutely must do with your network is to look for ways to help others.  Offer advice, offer to make introductions and respond in a positive way when someone asks you directly for something.  If it's something you can't do, or aren't comfortable doing, talk to them to work out a way you can help them.  Don't ever just say no.  When someone in your network asks you for something, "I can't" is never an acceptable answer.  That'll get you dropped from their contact list faster than anything.  I know.  I've dropped people for that very reason.

To sum up:  You have a network, it's simply everyone you know.  You use your network by telling them what you need and asking for help.  You guarantee people will help you by making the habit of volunteering to help them, first.  In the next post we'll talk about how to actually go about announcing to your network that you need help.  And how to ask someone directly.  Especially if it's someone you don't know very well.  Yes, it's ok to talk to and ask people that you don't know well. Don't be shy, everyone's doing it.  And we'll show you exactly how to go about it. It's not that hard.  Really.

Enhance Your Job Skills While Looking for a Job

Go Beyond the Resume

Finding a new job takes a while.  Usually longer than any of us would like.  But if you're out of work, for whatever reason, you have a great opportunity to gain some new skills.  Looking for a job shouldn't take all day, every day. That's draining and will most likely kill you.  Ok, maybe not literally.  But you'll wish you were dead.  Besides, when you do get an interview and you're asked what you've been up to since you got laid off, you'd better have an answer other than "Just looking for another job".  

Related:  The Miracle of a Positive Attitude

What you do with yourself during this time you're not working can have a huge impact on you.  If you focus on some type of job training or certification that enhances your skill set, you make yourself more hire-able.  If you focus on a hobby or sport, you'll have something to talk about during your next interview making you much more interesting than the next guy.  And when you're involved in an activity that improves you in some way, you feel better about life all around.  And when you feel good, everything around you improves.

The first thing you can do with all your extra time is look into a certification or training that will compliment your current skill set.  Or find one that will help you move into a different, but similar area. Some highly sought after certifications are in Project Management and Regulatory Affairs. You can find courses for both online. Both have course options that are held entirely online or locally, in person.  Most certifications require you sit for an exam at the end, but the courses are designed to give you the best probability of passing.  The down side is that they do cost money.  But it's an investment in your career.  Besides, educating yourself is always worth it.  No matter what happens, no one can take what you learn away from you.

Related:  Get the Attention of Hiring Managers

Another great way to spend this time you have is to pursue a hobby you didn't have time for when you were working all the time.  It could be working on something artistic or musical that you'd like to create.  Or you could set a goal to compete in a sports event like a run or triathlon. You have the time it takes to train, use it. Once you reach your goal you'll feel accomplished and more confident.  Not only is this going to come across in your interviews, but talking about it makes you more interesting and demonstrates your ability to set and accomplish goals. And that's always impressive.

You may be out of work and looking for a job but this is a great opportunity for you, too.  While you're looking for a job take advantage of being able to make your own schedule.  Take this time to work on yourself both personally and professionally.  This time between jobs is going to pass, either way.  You may as well make the most of it and do something positive for yourself.  

It's Not You, It's Them - Increase Your Chance of Hearing Back

We Take You Beyond the Resume

As we all know, this tough job market has dragged on for far too long.  In the media you'll see reports of economic recovery but the unemployment rate is still very high.  I don't know about you, but when I look around, I'm not seeing this economic recovery the media keeps talking about.  I'm seeing highly qualified job candidates, experts in their fields, get passed over for jobs on a regular basis.  I hear from clients how they're being brought in for numerous interviews over a period of months and then never hearing back.  All the while, corporate America is complaining about a lack of technically skilled job applicants even though our universities are awarding scientific degrees at an all time high.  So what's going on?  Why aren't companies hiring you?  The answer is, it's really not you.  It's them.  

Related: Job Listings With Less Competition

The economic recovery isn't isolated to the US, it's global.  And it's happening far more slowly than predicted.  Add to that the shenanigans of our government with the fiscal cliff nonsense and, more recently, the whole sequestering debacle, large companies are not feeling secure enough to start hiring again.  So they wait.  They wait for our government to tell them something concrete about the economic recovery.  The problem is, the government can't promise them everything will be ok.  Because they don't know.  They're just people, too trying to get this worked out.  Psychic, they're not.  But until large companies see some sort of guarantee that it's safe to start growing again, they're holding off hiring.  Excuses such as not enough technical skills in the US labor force are just that, excuses.  So once this recovery actually gets rolling, the situation will be very different.  But until then, what do you do?

Entrepreneurship is at an all time high in the US.  More small companies are being started now than at any other point in our history.  And they're making money.  Which means they're growing.  And when companies start growing, they start hiring.  Rather than focusing on large companies that are holding their breath, afraid to move, start looking for smaller companies and start ups to work for.  A great place to start looking is your local Chamber of Commerce.  Most have a website and you can look up business members.  Working for a smaller company or a start up doesn't necessarily mean lower pay, and it can have benefits that a larger company doesn't.  A smaller company's staff usually works more closely together giving you the opportunity to learn new skills and be involved in projects that you would never have a chance at in a large company. There's also more room for career growth.  In a smaller company, especially a start up there are lots of opportunities to take on more responsibility and really show what you can contribute.  Getting promoted is easier because frequently, there isn't anyone in the position you get promoted to and you have the chance to really define the role and make it your own.  And if you stay with it and help grow the company to be successful, you may just find yourself a permanent home.

Related:  Market Your Career and Stand Out

So don't worry about what it is you're doing wrong when you don't hear back from all those companies you applied to.  It's not you.  It's them.  Take a look at the smaller businesses and start ups in your area. They're much more likely to actually hire for open positions and give you a better career opportunity.  And if they're local, you may even know someone there or a friend of a friend that could introduce you.  As long as you're using current job search techniques and marketing yourself properly, just know that it isn't you.  It really is them.  And that next job will happen.  It really will.  

How to Present Yourself as the Perfect Candidate

We Take You Beyond the Resume

If you read our last article you know where to go to find job openings that have fewer people applying. But before you apply for that perfect job opening you found, there are a couple of things you should do so you make a great first impression.  You already know that your resume should be top notch and your LinkedIn profile should shine.  That way you stand out from everyone else.  If you do a little research on the company beforehand, you'll make yourself look even better.

Related:  Job Listings With Less Competition

Because they can be more selective than ever, companies look for people who are genuinely excited about working for them.  They want people who are interested in their company, fit in with their culture and align with their values.  But first, you have to find out what that means to them.  Then, you can present yourself as their perfect candidate.  Here's how you do it.


1.  Find the company on LinkedIn.  Most companies have a business page that gives a lot of useful information about them.  Generally they list how many employees they have, whether it's a publicly or privately held company and their official website.  But the best part is that off to the right of the screen it will show how you're connected to their employees and which of them are on LinkedIn.  Which takes us to...


2.  Take a look at the profiles of the employees at the company you want to work for.  First look to see if any are in your network or are connected to anyone in your network.  If you're directly connected to someone at the company, send them a message explaining that you'd like to apply to their company but you'd like to ask them a few questions about working there.  If you aren't directly connected see if someone in your network will introduce you to someone at the company. This is a great way to show your interest and start building a relationship with someone on the inside.  And the best way to get into a company is with help from the inside.


3.  Go to the company's official website and start learning about them.  You'll find information on current projects or achievements and learn what they find important.  This information will help you know what to focus on in your cover letter.  You'll also usually find links to their Facebook page or Twitter account, if they have one.

Related:  How to Write a Great Cover Letter

4.  Follow the company on Twitter and like them on Facebook.  These two places are where they'll make announcements, give updates and share information.  By learning what they share, you'll learn what they find important.  This kind of information can be used to tweak your resume and LinkedIn profile to focus on topics they'll likely be looking for.  For example, if they Tweet updates about their charity work you can make sure you add some volunteer work to your LinkedIn profile.  Facebook and Twitter also give you a chance to engage and interact with the company.  You can join the conversation and start to become a familiar name. This can also help you get to know someone on the inside.  You can also reference a Facebook post or tweet that you found interesting in your cover letter.  It helps get you their attention.


The point is to learn about, engage and interact with the company even before you apply.  Sometimes though, you need to apply right away and don't have time for all the engaging and interacting but do it after the fact, anyway.  Even if you don't get the first job you applied for they'll start to notice you.  Which is great, that increases the chance they'll want to interview you.  You'll show yourself to be the interested, excited candidate that they've been looking for.  Unless you go overboard.  Don't answer every Tweet or comment on every Facebook post.  That gets creepy.  Don't be a stalker.  Just be interested.

Find the Job Listings With Less Competition

We Take You Beyond the Resume

Most of us will start our job search online.  And most people are still going to the usual places like Monster and Career Builder.  We all know today's job market is super competitive.  Not only do we all have to compete with each other but many employers hold off hiring perfectly qualified candidates because they're waiting for the elusive, absolutely, beyond perfect candidate.  Also known as the "Purple Squirrel". Since most people are heading to common and popular job boards, maybe you should head out where fewer people are looking.  Fewer people means less competition and a greater probability that you'll be the one to get the interview.  But how do you know where to look?  Good thing you came here, because we've got some suggestions for you.  

Related:  Stand Out From Your Competition

1.  Head on over to LinkedIn and check out their job listings.  I know, I know, LinkedIn is the most well known place to look for and get connected to jobs.  But they give you a little more information that other popular job boards don't.  They tell you how many people have already clicked on, and applied for, that job you're looking at.  If hundreds of people have already clicked that link, you can figure with that much interest your resume will get lost in the noise no matter how stellar it is.  Although, it might not.  There's always that tiny chance that yours will stand out.  If it does, make sure the rest of your career presentation is outstanding through your LinkedIn profile and a personal website that tells the story of your career.  

   Another benefit of a job listing at LinkedIn is that frequently the post will include the email address of the hiring manager.  Sending your resume directly to this person ensures that it will end up in the hands of an actual person who will take a look at it.  Granted, they're only going to take about 20-30 seconds but it's still better than submitting into a system that filters out resumes based on keywords.  Most of those resumes never get seen by anyone.

2.  Once you're done mining LinkedIn, head on over to Craigslist.  You'll find jobs posted from all over the world across widely varied industries.  The best part about these job listings is that for most of them, the resumes are sent directly to a hiring manager.  If there's a link that sends you to an automated system your resume ends up being filtered with less chance anyone will see it.  But the vast majority of job posts on Craigslist connect you directly with an actual person.  There's less competition here because not as many people think to use Craigslist to look for jobs.  It's widely assumed that the posts are for small, underfunded businesses that aren't going to pay well.  But that's not the case.  I've seen posts for openings at large companies like Baxter and Amgen.  They may not list the company name, though.  But if you want to know before you apply, it can't hurt to respond to the post asking for the name of the company.

Related:  Use Twitter to Find Your Next Job

3.  Niche job boards focus on openings in a particular industry. They can be harder to find unless you know where to look.  And lucky for you, we do.  A great place to start looking is any online publication or website that focuses on your industry or field.  For example, Mashable has a really good job board that companies pay to post on which means they're probably serious about hiring.  The search capability is good and helps you narrow down what you're looking for.  Scientific American is another one.  If you're looking for a job in any scientific discipline, they've probably got something listed for you.  So start looking for websites and companies dedicated to your area of expertise.  You may have to scroll to the bottom of the home screen to find what you're looking for.  It's not always listed in the main menu.  Scientific American is like this.  Another benefit is that when you apply from a site like this, it makes you look more like an industry expert yourself.  After all, you found the job post while reading articles that keep you current in your area of expertise which demonstrates your interest and dedication to your field.

Finding job openings with less competition from other applicants isn't impossible.  With just a little bit of savvy search skills and some effort, you can find a great job without battling hundreds of other competitors.  Think of it less as open warfare and hand to hand combat and more like a tactical strike mission.  Focus in on the places where you're more likely to be in contact with a person, not a filter. Find smaller job boards run by a publication that specializes in your industry.  And don't bother applying to jobs that you know already have hundreds of applicants. You'll probably just get lost in the noise.  And that's just not fun for anyone.

What's Negotiable in Your New Job Offer?

Get hired faster!  We can help.

In this blog we talk a lot about how to find a job.  So let's talk about something more fun.  Let's talk about when you actually receive that job offer.  Receiving an offer is the result of a lot of time, effort and stress on your part and is reason to celebrate.  But before you pop the cork, make sure you've successfully negotiated the terms and salary of your new job.  Any company that hires employees understands that negotiation of salary, paid time off, raises and bonuses is to be expected.  Most people understand this, too.  But how do you approach it and negotiate for what you want successfully?

For some, this is a bit of a new idea.  I'm looking at you, ladies.  Don't get offended.  I'm one, too.  Just hear me out.  Most women didn't realize they could negotiate pay and benefits until fairly recently, and many are still hesitant.   A number of the women I spoke with weren't even aware that it wasn't just acceptable, but expected that they'd negotiate.  If you're a woman and you just accepted what was offered at your last job, it's ok.  You're not alone.  But it's time to get in the game.  The guys have the advantage over us here.  And it's a large part of the reason for the disparity in pay between men and women.  Simply, men ask for more because they know they can.  

Related:  Questions You Should Ask in Your Interview

So the good news is things are negotiable in your new job offer.  The bad news is that not everything is open to negotiation.  You can ask for a higher rate of pay, more paid time off (vacation/sick), and determine your first raise and bonus.  Additionally, if you're relocating, you can ask for relocation costs to be covered as well as for the availability of corporate housing.  You might need a place to stay while finding something more permanent.  If you're being actively recruited from your current job, you can even ask for a sign on bonus.  

What you typically can't negotiate on is health insurance benefits, retirement benefits or observed holidays.  If your new company doesn't let everyone off for a particular holiday, they aren't letting you off, either.  Health insurance and retirement benefits (like a 401K) are group plans that apply the same to everyone and don't have the flexibility that would be needed to negotiate anything beyond what those plans offer.  


When you see the initial offer don't be afraid to counter with a higher salary request.  They may not accept your counter and respond with something less but it's most likely going to be more than what they originally offered.  One of our clients negotiated the salary at her new job for the first time a few months ago.  She rejected and countered their offers twice before agreeing to her new pay.  It was substantially more than the original offer and more than what even she thought she could get.  Don't worry about going back and forth a few times until you at least get close to what you want.  They aren't going to take back the offer and you won't lose the job before you start.  As long as you're asking for things within reason.  A pony is not within reason.  More vacation time, is.

Related: Use LinkedIn to Check Out Your Competition

When negotiating just remember that not only is ok, but it's expected.  You can ask for more than they're offering because they usually have more to offer.  But if they can get away with paying you less, they will.  So don't let them.  Remember, if you don't ask the answer is definitely no.  Besides, no is really the worst thing they could say.  

In the next post coming out on Monday, March 11 we'll talk about how to approach the negotiations.  Included will be what questions to ask, how to word your counter offer and what you can reasonably expect to gain.  Come on back!  Unless you don't care about making more money at your next job.  It's ok.  Not everyone's into that.

Make a Great First Impression Before They Even Meet You

Let Us Help You Go Beyond the Resume

Finding a job now is just not what it used to be.  In times long gone by, you could just show up to the place you wanted a job and drop off your resume.  Doing that now is guaranteed to not get you an interview.  Although, it might get you escorted back out to your car.  The point is, it used to be that you had a chance to make a first impression before anyone even looked at your resume.  And it's human nature to overlook a few things when we like someone.  So if your resume wasn't that strong, but you made a great first impression you might get an interview, anyway.  You can still have that advantage today.  You just have to know how to work it.

Rather than meeting someone in person first, hiring managers find potential candidates online.  The most common (by far!) place they do this is LinkedIn but they'll also search for you online.  You've probably gone to a lot of effort to make sure your resume looks great.  If you haven't had it professionally written, I highly recommend it at least once.  It's a great investment.  But no one is looking at your resume first.  They're looking at your LinkedIn profile and whatever shows up in Google.  You need to go to at least as much effort on your profile, and general online presence as you did on your resume.  And just cutting and pasting your resume into the form isn't enough.

Related: LinkedIn Etiquette - Make a Great Impression

So, what should you do, then?  Here are a few ways to polish up your online presence to make it reflect you as the competent, highly valuable professional you are.

1.  Don't cut and paste your resume into the profile.  Because you have so much more space to talk about your career than on a resume, this just looks lazy.  Resumes are bullet points with achievement highlights.  At least, they should be.  If you're still listing job skills on your resume please get your resume written professionally.  That you have the job skills necessary for the job is assumed, what everyone wants to know is what you achieved with those skills.  A professional can show you exactly what should, and shouldn't be on a modern resume.  It's a great investment in your career.  On your profile, go into more detail about your achievements.  Talk about what you did, why you did it and the final result.  

Related:  What Should, and Shouldn't Be On Your Resume

2.  Set up a personal website (you can find lots hosted for free) and tell the story of who you are and how that influenced where you went in your career.  Talk about what you've achieved so far and what you'd like to do next.  Really show how your unique experiences and accomplishments will contribute to the next company that hires you.  Use images and formatting for a professional and polished look.  You have the ability to add any images or video you think is relevant, as well as links to projects or publications that you want to show off.  This will define your "Personal Brand" and associate your name with a sense of professionalism and the willingness to go the extra mile.  Right now a personal site will set you apart from your competition.   However, this tactic is becoming more common.  Set yourself apart now.

Not unless you sell sombreros

3.  Include a professional picture of yourself on your LinkedIn profile as well as your personal site.  It should be a clear image of your face from about the shoulders up, with you dressed appropriately for your industry.  If you work in finance or are an attorney, a suit works really well.  But a suit would look a bit strange if you're in an industry like film making or design of any kind.  You can wear anything you want in the picture, just make sure it's right for your industry and shows your face clearly.  When a hiring manager runs a search on LinkedIn for job candidates they are much more likely to click on a profile with a picture than one without.  Providing a picture on your personal site helps the reader connect with you as a person.  Once they connect with you, they're much more likely to want to speak with you.

Related: Questions to Ask During Your Interview

Even though you no longer get to make your first impression in person, or with your resume, you can still make it outstanding.  In a really good way.  You just have to be willing to go to the extra effort in order to make yourself stand out.  And when you're competing with hundreds of other applicants for a job or thousands of others that come up in a search for someone with your skills, standing out will make the difference between getting the job and being invisible.