Northwestern Mutual Financial Network- Jorge Molina, CLU
Phone : (619) 230-8013
| Searching for a Job? Network, network, network! |
| Employment and Career |
Perhaps an area of extreme importance for anyone in transition is networking. We must recognize that we all need help from time to time, especially when we lose a job or trying to re-enter the workforce after rearing children the last few years. Whatever it may be, connecting with people you know and don’t know is crucial today. There are a few tips to networking. A good starting point is to list out people you know, categorized into friends, neighbors, colleagues and the likes. Do you belong to a religious or sports group, professional or volunteer organization, educational institutions or alumni associations? Perhaps you participate in some of the social networks – LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, to name a few? Even some of the employment sites, such as CareerBuilder and Monster, have forums where you can connect and make yourself visible.There are many ways to approach people and certainly a call or an e-mail is a good way to start, especially if you have been referred to them by a mutual party. However, there are some other clever ways of letting a broader audience know that you might be looking for a job. For example, have you thought about posting your career objective on your Facebook wall? Can you imagine how many people might see your request in a very short time? How about Tweeting your friends, who have friends and coworkers? Again, information carries fast in today’s world. In Malcom Gladwell’s best seller, The Tipping Point, he describes three types of people: Mavens, Connectors and Salesmen. This book comes to mind because networking carries traits of each of these types of people. Mavens are considered trusted individuals who seek to pass along knowledge to others – teachers, of sorts. Connectors, on the other hand, are persons who have a gift for knowing a lot of people and a knack for facilitating introductions. These people have a habit of keeping small bits of information on everyone they know, from birthdays to favorite restaurants to a pet’s name. This type of information is critical in networking. The more you know about a person or a situation you’re about to encounter, the more likely, you will effectively connect and perhaps lead you to an opportunity. The point to networking is about worming your way to the right contact(s) that will lead you to an opportunity, answering a question or helping you achieve whatever objective you have in mind. Most people genuinely want to help others, and you will find that many people you first come into contact with might not have an answer for you, but perhaps will connect you with someone they know that just might. In your dealings with people, remember that a mere “thank you” is not only common courtesy but assures you of a return visit, should you need one in the future. In addition, helping or serving others is one of the quickest ways to be remembered. Two useful internet resources are: http://www.rileyguide.com/network.html http://networkingeventfinders.com/San-Diego-Networking-Guide/ |
