Your Job Search Networking Checklist

Your Job Search Networking Checklist ShareSharejob search networking checklist to clear roadblocks and get ready for painless networking that really works. Heres what youll need: A solid understanding of what networking is, and the best practices for doing it. A target companies list: You could just network at random, but youll get better results if you know what companies youre aiming at. Tip: five or ten companies arent enough and a hundred are too many. Read my post on how to build your target companies list using LinkedIn and the followup post on more easy ways to put together this crucial tool. Good answers to the three questions most job seekers flunk. An effective LinkedIn profile and plenty of contacts. Shoot for at least a couple hundred, or far more if youre in a very network-oriented field like sales or recruiting. Job interview readinessbecause a networking conversation can lead to an interview very quickly, or even turn into one, right on the spot. A high quality resume, just in case, although there are several reasons why a bio is actually a better option for networking purposes. Last but not least, you need: An attitude that works. If you approach a networking conversation feeling like it has to result in a job, it will be stressful for both parties. To be effective, your networking conversations need to be enjoyable. One job seeker I know had a successful job search networking campaign despite his introverted personality by approaching the conversations in a spirit of curiosity, or as if I were a reporter. How might a similar mindset work for you? Although it may seem like going online and applying to jobs is the way to get a job, most employment experts agree that talking to people works faster. Why? By networking, youre putting yourself in a position to be matched up with job openings before theyre advertised, while there is still little or no competition. Plus, youre setting yourself up to be referred in as a known person, not just a resume in a database. Its all about talking to people. When you can check off all seven items on this networking checklist youll be ready for job search networking thats effective, low-stress and sustainable for as long as it takes you get your next jobwhich may be much sooner than you think. Your Job Search Networking Checklist ShareSharejob search networking checklist to clear roadblocks and get ready for painless networking that really works. Heres what youll need: A solid understanding of what networking is, and the best practices for doing it. A target companies list: You could just network at random, but youll get better results if you know what companies youre aiming at. Tip: five or ten companies arent enough and a hundred are too many. Read my post on how to build your target companies list using LinkedIn and the followup post on more easy ways to put together this crucial tool. Good answers to the three questions most job seekers flunk. An effective LinkedIn profile and plenty of contacts. Shoot for at least a couple hundred, or far more if youre in a very network-oriented field like sales or recruiting. Job interview readinessbecause a networking conversation can lead to an interview very quickly, or even turn into one, right on the spot. A high quality resume, just in case, although there are several reasons why a bio is actually a better option for networking purposes. Last but not least, you need: An attitude that works. If you approach a networking conversation feeling like it has to result in a job, it will be stressful for both parties. To be effective, your networking conversations need to be enjoyable. One job seeker I know had a successful job search networking campaign despite his introverted personality by approaching the conversations in a spirit of curiosity, or as if I were a reporter. How might a similar mindset work for you? Although it may seem like going online and applying to jobs is the way to get a job, most employment experts agree that talking to people works faster. Why? By networking, youre putting yourself in a position to be matched up with job openings before theyre advertised, while there is still little or no competition. Plus, youre setting yourself up to be referred in as a known person, not just a resume in a database. Its all about talking to people. When you can check off all seven items on this networking checklist youll be ready for job search networking thats effective, low-stress and sustainable for as long as it takes you get your next jobwhich may be much sooner than you think.