SMARTER Networking

Networking without purpose is a waste of time.

Effective networking is a numbers game just as much as it is a game of strategy.   

In order to network effectively, it is critical that you identify the rationale for participating in the ‘sport’ of networking in the first place. 

Networking events generally fall into one of four categories:

1. Social
2. Professional - Industry related
3. Professional - Personal development
4. A combination of the bullets listed above

If you are a job seeker, attending a networking event for anything other than that which is listed above will be disappointing.   

It is unreasonable for anyone to attend an event, virtual or otherwise and expect that merely making contacts will lead to your dream job.  What I am about to say may sound controversial, but heed this, “Hiring managers seldom attend networking events.” 

The purpose of networking events is to connect with people and you should know that those people may or may not be able to help you if you are a job seeker.  Furthermore, no matter how well, you as a job seeker can deliver your clear and concise ‘Elevator Pitch’, you will never be able to demonstrate the depth of your skills or cite the credentials you have earned that can be applied to the particular position you seek.

Attending networking events can only do the following:

• Demonstrate the job seeker’s verbal communications skills
• Demonstrate the job seeker’s interpersonal skills
• Give people the opportunity to exchange contact information/business cards

To expect that you, as the job candidate will meet your future boss at ‘cattle call’ networking event, although mathematically possible, is not likely.  [N.B. ‘Cattle call’ networking events are those that are not specific to the industry of the job seeker.  These ‘cattle call’ networking events are typically attending by salespeople who are interested in the job seeker as a potential customer and not a potential employee.]  

There is no reason to attend a networking event unless you do so with a specific purpose in mind, e.g. to connect with a particular person you believe will be attending the event. 

Purposeful networking dictates that you integrate your SMART goals into your networking attending strategy.  Your SMART goals should be akin to the following:

S - Specific - e.g. I plan to exchange information with X at the event

M - Measurable - I plan to exchange information with three people at the event

A - Achievable through actions - I plan to exchange information with three people at the event by arriving early

R - Reasonable - I plan to exchange information with at least three people at the event by arriving early

T - Time-bound - I plan to exchange information with at least three people at the event by arriving early and taking the time to ensure that my goal has been achieved before I leave the event

 N.B. Advanced SMART Goals are SMARTER goals.  Once you have become accustomed to creating and achieving your SMART goals, you can then take add the following steps:

E - Evaluate - Identify why or why not you were successful in achieving your SMART goal

R - Refine and/or Repeat

Networking is an on-going game that should be played when you are already employed.  To start playing AFTER you lose your job is akin to ‘closing the barn door after the horse has bolted’.

Copyright © 2012, Career Matters. All Rights Reserved. Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it appears in its entirety with the following attribution: Copyright © 2012, Career Matters. Reprinted by permission of the author, Mary Salvino. “Career Matters” is a blog authored by Mary Salvino, Senior Consultant for SMART Career Planning.com that is dedicated to those who are seeking advice on managing their career and future job opportunities. We welcome readers to share their experiences, post their comments or ask questions about career related matters. This blog is also dedicated to those who stand a little taller each time they picked themselves up after failing and those who gained the wisdom and humility from those experiences to help others do the same. For any questions or comments that are better addressed privately, please feel free to e-mail Mary directly at Mary.Salvino@shaw.ca

10 Commandments for Securing Your Next Career Opportunity

Can it really be just this simple?

1. Thou shalt always look out for #1
1. All jobs are temporary so think and act accordingly

                                                    i.     Treat prospective employers as clients that you want to please

                                                  ii.     Demonstrate the many ways that you can be an asset to them or their organization [solve a problem or save them money]

2. Thou shalt not spray and pray

3. Thou shalt focus on 5-10 target companies at a time

4. Thou shalt not save/send your résumé in anything but a WORD [.doc NOT .docx] or PDF format
   
   
5. Thou shalt revamp and get your LinkedIn profile to 100% and join relevant LinkedIn groups.  Of the 50 groups you are allowed to join, distribute your group membership mix as follows:
1. 50% professional groups related to your industry
2. 50% job search and open networks
   
   
6. Thou shalt customize every résumé and cover letter you send by doing the following:
1. Editing and rewriting the documents as necessary
2. Include the keywords used in the job description in both documents
3. Ferret out the name of the hiring manager and use it
   
   
7. Thou shalt search your social networks for those connections you already have with your target companies.

8. Thou shalt do your homework before applying for the job.  Your homework involves doing the following:
1. Reading the entire job description
2. Visiting all company websites and social media channels
3. Contacting those in your network who currently work for or have recently left the company in order to gain some insights regarding what is really going on at the company
4. Applying for relevant openings only

9. Thou shalt network both on-line and off-line, expect respect and productive feedback and be prepared to move on when it is not received.

                                                                                                

10. Thou shalt respect the recruiting boundaries set forth in the job description or on the career site.

Copyright © 2012, Career Matters. All Rights Reserved. Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it appears in its entirety with the following attribution: Copyright © 2012, Career Matters. Reprinted by permission of the author, Mary Salvino. “Career Matters” is a blog authored by Mary Salvino, Senior Consultant for SMART Career Planning.com that is dedicated to those who are seeking advice on managing their career and future job opportunities. We welcome readers to share their experiences, post their comments or ask questions about career related matters. This blog is also dedicated to those who stand a little taller each time they picked themselves up after failing and those who gained the wisdom and humility from those experiences to help others do the same. For any questions or comments that are better addressed privately, please feel free to e-mail Mary directly at Mary.Salvino@shaw.ca

Career Crushing Mistakes that You May Not Know You’re Making!

 

Here at SMART Career Planning, we’re all about straight talk and the strategies you can start using today to move your career forward.   One of the best places to start is being aware of the following “Career Crushing Mistakes” that just about everyone is making.

As you read though the following bullets, you will find that none of these revelations are stunning or earth-shattering, but, you may find that they are blunt reminders of things that you have already heard or suspected but were far too afraid to acknowledge out loud. 

Mistake #1:   Failing to realize that all jobs are temporary. 

Even if you already have a great job, if you don’t have a plan for getting your next gig all lined up, right here, right now, at this very moment, then you’re an idiot. The only things you can count on now for certain are death, taxes, and layoffs.

• In today’s economy and in most company’s “short-term-live-and-die-by-stock-price-culture,” things change in an instant and you are one re-org away from being on the street.
• You are just one job elimination away from being handed your ‘not so pretty in pink slip’.
• Unless you can afford to retire, you can be sure that your current job is probably not your last.
• If you go to work on any given morning unprepared to leave that afternoon, then you have your head in the sand. Always be mindful of the possibility that today could be your final day at your company.
  
  

Mistake #2:    Ignoring the importance of social media.

Social media is here to stay and you have two choices:

• Learn to use it to your advantage
• Ignore it and say ‘Good-bye’ to any future career aspirations you may have

Mistake #3:  Not having an updated résumé posted online and searchable at all times.

This bullet ties into bullet #2 and LinkedIn is a great tool for doing this.  Your LinkedIn profile is a marketing tool and there is no ‘downside’ to posting an updated résumé online.  Your résumé is a ‘living document’ that lets you continue to expand your network and prepare for your next career opportunity.

Savvy recruiters/head hunters always do keyword searches on LinkedIn profiles long before they cold call any candidates or spend a dime or any time on anything else.  In order to ensure that you don’t miss out on potentially great opportunities, it makes sense to take the time to properly market yourself and your skill set before you need to find a new job.  Even if you are not looking for work, you can always let people know that after they have contacted you.

Mistake #4:   Not recognizing that you must be able to sell yourself and your accomplishments.

Unless both your boss and your boss’s boss know that you are exceptional, you may as well be invisible.  The game can change at any moment and anyone could be your next boss.  As long as you remain invisible, you have absolutely no shot at advancing your career or keeping your job when times get tough.

Just working hard and expecting that your results alone will be recognized, noticed, or will be appreciated guarantees one thing and one thing only.  That one thing is old age!

Focusing on doing what you do better than anyone else and trusting that your accomplishments and skill set is enough, guarantees you one thing and one thing only:  a long frustrating career labouring in oblivion.

Mistake #5:  Failing to grow your personal network.

Sending your résumé to a blind advertisement is like sending it into a black hole.  Most recruiters will tell you that networking will deliver more job interviews to you than any other method.

Depending on your personality, networking is either a lot of fun or a lot of work. If it’s work for you, have the discipline to start now. Building a network takes time, effort and sincerity.

Start taking people to lunch. Start attending coffees, dinners, after-work and networking events.

When attending networking event, set SMART [Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic and Time-bound] goals for yourself.   For example, “I want to have a good conversation and exchange business cards with at least 3 people during this event.”

Mistake #6:   Not engaging in physical exercise on a regular/frequent basis.

One of the best investments you can make in yourself is to sweat on a regular basis.

Jog.  Work out.  Hit the bike paths.   Any kind of physical exercise, followed by relaxation, will clear your mind. Positive thoughts and innovative, breakthrough ideas will just pop in.

Regular exercise is not a choice.  Exercise is an essential part of any successful career. It is an essential part of a healthy and balanced life. Adopt a lifestyle regimen that includes regular exercise.  Regular exercise changes your mental and physical life.  It helps you perform better at work and enriches your home life.

Exercise is not just about enabling you to look better in your jeans (which is true). It’s about giving you the energy to bring your “A” game to work every day and the resilience to persevere during difficult times.

Mistake #7:   Failing to differentiate yourself from the rest of the pack.

There are many ways to differentiate yourself from the masses, but let me give you just ONE example to start off with.

Start a blog.  Your blog is your living résumé.

It shows how you think. It shows how you write. It shows what is important to you. It can also draw career and/or entrepreneurial opportunities to you. What is your passion? Educate your readers on your passion, help your community grow and you will be able to set yourself up to be an expert/thought leader in a particular subject area.

Employers of the future will love bloggers. Microsoft and Apple love them now.  Bloggers are mentors and employers love hiring mentors — they raise everybody’s performance.

Mistake #8:    Failing to keep your skills up to date.

There is really no excuse for failing to keep your skills current and thanks to the Internet; it won’t even cost you anything but your time.  Many colleges, universities and private institutions, including YouTube, offer self-directed courses in almost any subject you can think of and they often offer these courses for FREE.

Mistake #9:    Believing that you are irreplaceable/Not having a ‘back-up’ plan.

Unless you OWN THE COMPANY, you CAN be replaced.

The old adage proposes that you should always, “Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.”   Stuff happens.  The peace of mind you will gain from a well thought out back-up plan is a gift of immeasurable value. 

Mistake #10:   Not recognizing that loyalty should be reserved for YOUR FAMILY ONLY.

Even though many companies try to foster a ‘family environment’ to create loyalty to the organization, and it would be great if this loyalty were truly a two-way street and was sustainable, but unfortunately, it isn’t.

In order for companies to remain competitive, some jobs, as defined in terms of job descriptions, responsibilities and duties will need to be either reviewed or removed completely. 

If the company concludes that particular role or position doesn’t help enhance the P&L, the position will be eliminated regardless of the ‘loyalty’ of that ‘family member’.

By being too loyal to your company, you will likely wind up being disloyal to those who matter most – your immediate family.

In business, nothing is certain and anything is possible.  If your start creating your future now, your success is inevitable.

Copyright © 2012, Career Matters. All Rights Reserved. Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it appears in its entirety with the following attribution: Copyright © 2012, Career Matters. Reprinted by permission of the author, Mary Salvino. “Career Matters” is a blog authored by Mary Salvino, Senior Consultant for SMART Career Planning.com that is dedicated to those who are seeking advice on managing their career and future job opportunities. We welcome readers to share their experiences, post their comments or ask questions about career related matters. This blog is also dedicated to those who stand a little taller each time they picked themselves up after failing and those who gained the wisdom and humility from those experiences to help others do the same. For any questions or comments that are better addressed privately, please feel free to e-mail Mary directly at Mary.Salvino@shaw.ca

Take This Job and SHOVE IT!

 According the latest report from the US government’s Job Openings and Labour Turnover Survey, 51% of all job separations were due to workers quitting.  More explicitly, the number of people who quit their jobs in February outnumbered the number of workers who were laid off by companies for the first time since this economic recovery began.

What does this information mean for the job seeker?  Well, if history is any guide, it means that consumer confidence is improving and that these confident quitters are on the move, presumably because they are confident that they will find another job.

Seeking new employment involves change and change necessitates movement.  Change requires that the individual reposition themselves from the mental and financial state of ‘nice to have’ to the mental and state of ‘need to have’. 

The shift from the state of ‘nice to have’ to the state of ‘need to have’ requires an overwhelming desire to commit to the need.  This move involves the following:

·        Recognizing that your personal ‘state of affairs’ has changed - work-life balance, family dynamics, financial commitments, etc.

·        Accepting that before you can change your actions, you must change your point of view or manner of thinking - Break old unhealthy habits and adopt new and healthy good habits

·        Understanding and embracing the fact that the strategies you have used and have worked for you in the past in order to get you to where you are now, may not be able to get you to where you want to go in the future

Managing change is a process that involves following a sequence of steps or activities in order to ensure success.  Your change management process demands that you be aware of and be able to make the transition from one phase to another with ease.  These three distinct phases include the following:

• Phase 1 - Preparing for change - SMART goal setting
• Assessment of your current state of affairs
• Strategy development
• Phase 2 - Managing change
• Planning
• Implementation
• Phase 3 - Reinforcing change - SMARTER [Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Rewarding, Time-bound, Evaluate, Repeat] goal setting
• Evaluating the success of the plan i.e. data gathering
• Taking corrective action if and when necessary
• Recognizing and/or rewarding success, or, the milestones on the path to your success

Once this process becomes an automatic habit, repeat the process as many times as necessary in order to continue moving towards your goal.

Copyright © 2012, Career Matters. All Rights Reserved. Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it appears in its entirety with the following attribution: Copyright © 2012, Career Matters. Reprinted by permission of the author, Mary Salvino. “Career Matters” is a blog authored by Mary Salvino, Senior Consultant for SMART Career Planning.com that is dedicated to those who are seeking advice on managing their career and future job opportunities. We welcome readers to share their experiences, post their comments or ask questions about career related matters. This blog is also dedicated to those who stand a little taller each time they picked themselves up after failing and those who gained the wisdom and humility from those experiences to help others do the same. For any questions or comments that are better addressed privately, please feel free to e-mail Mary directly at Mary.Salvino@shaw.ca