Networking tools for your job search
Comments:22
If you have found yourself looking for a job in the past couple years, you are probably all too familiar with the frustration that usually accompanies the search. People with jobs will give you advice—they’ll tell you to update your resume, rearrange your resume, make your cover letter more personal but shorter, more informative but more concise, do more networking and less searching, do more searching and less emailing…you get the idea. The point is, you can follow these “tips” until you’re blue in the face, but what it usually comes down to is who you know. In fact, a recent statistic noted that nearly 80% of job positions filled in the last year were given to those with a personal referral.
If you’re thinking your search is now hopeless because you’ve already tapped into all of your personal referral resources, think again. With the ease of networking via the internet, there are several networks you can use not only to find connections you already have, but also to make new connections, so your personal connection well will never run dry. Almost anyone who has used the internet to help with their job search and networking will be familiar with Facebook and Twitter, but let’s take a look at few other sites, with a more professional twist, that will give you a leading edge in your efforts.
Plaxo: As far as keeping up with your contacts, Plaxo is your one-stop-shop. Not only does it store all of the contacts from your phone and computer, but it also tracks updates from your contacts from their Twitter and Facebook feeds, so you know what’s going on in their lives before you get in touch. This is especially helpful if you’re reaching out to an old friend or ex co-worker about a prospective job. It will help take away the “cold call” feel and help you get back in the loop quickly so you can get right to what matters.
Ecademy: This tool allows you to connect with other users on a business and social level. Essentially the “business happy hour” of the web, you can connect with people based on business connections you already have, as well as find groups of people who are interested in the same topics as you. For job searchers, this can be a great way to make real connections based on business concepts while getting your name and needs out there to people who trust you.
ZoomInfo: If you need to know more about the people within a company you’re interested in, ZoomInfo is a great source for you. It has been around for over 10 years and holds a database with the information of thousands of professionals. In addition, recruiters often use this site to find potential job candidates, so whether you know how to use it or not, it is always beneficial to set up a profile.
Xing: This is another tool geared towards gathering professionals in a social environment. However, for people looking for a job, this is a great site to join, as it has systems in place which specifically encourage social networking. Not only are there forums and discussion groups, which are always beneficial for job seekers, but there are also appointed “ambassadors” for each community with a decently sized constituency which then hold “events” which allow for the participation and communication of other members.
Whether you use one or all of these helpful technologies, the main idea is to get your name out there and build trust surrounding your name. While these tools help, there is no substitute for hard work and honest time spent, so get out there and make it happen for yourself. You might even end up with more than a job; you might just find your purpose.
Written by Erin Kennedy, CPRW, CMRW - Visit the website to hire executive resume writer Erin Kennedy, CERW, CPRW
Erin is an internationally renowned certified resume writer specializing in professional and executive level resumes and career services.
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Erin Kennedy, CPRW, CERW owns Professional Resume Services, where she and her talented staff of writers specialize in professional & executive resumes. Erin is internationally recognized by her peers as one of the best of the best, she is a perennial award-nominated certified resume writer.
Erin – It’s always a good idea to keep all options open! Your point about hard work is important. I always advise my clients to be sure to only join networks if they are willing to do the work and stick to it. No point in jumping on unless you plan to really give it all you have! Your post is a great reminder of some terrific tools outside of the “big three” for very committed networkers!
.-= Miriam Salpeter, Keppie Careers´s last blog ..6 ways to improve your listening skills =-.
Thanks Erin for reminding job seekers of all the resources available. One point that I always emphasize to clients is that it is NOT who you know but rather, WHO KNOWS YOU. All the contacts in the world are worthless unless the right individuals who are aware of potential job leads matching the candidate;s interests know the prospect and reach out to them at the right times. The main idea is to have these communities/networks/connections share information enabling or empowering each other to discover new challenges. Via interacting on a regular basis, it’s possible to learn about situations that produce opportunities. Then each member of the network can initiate further action promoting themselves or by recommending someone else they know. Job seekers should not expect their networks to announce a job opening, but should be active participants in conversations that naturally produce new opportunities. Then the hidden job market is more than just yet to be advertised jobs but a much larger universe of jobs including positions created just for one particular individual.
Finally, some good networking tools that are out of the ordinary. This was helpful Erin…good post and information!!
Thanks, Miriam.
Hard work and “hitting the pavement” seems to yield the quickest results.
–Erin
Well said, Debra.
I (like you) am constantly telling clients, “It’s not what you know, it’s WHO you know”. I found every job I had (with the exception of one) THROUGH people I knew.
Thanks.
Erin
Thanks, GL!
Hi again Erin. I would take that admonition about who you know a step further.My networking battle cry is that it is not who you know, but WHO KNOWS YOU and is able to hire you or connect you to potential job leads that match your, the candidate’s, requirements.
There’s a similarity to the saying about if a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it. If your network is not delivering appropriate leads then these connections are not effective at providing targeted job leads. Therefor, simply What who you know is not sufficient to accomplish the desired objective of getting recommended. What is necessary is that your network understands what you want and is able and willing to make referrals and recommendations that will generate leads. How do you emphasize this subtle but critically important distinction and call to action? I never stop reminding that giving is the crux of networking success. Keeps you top of mind and produces positive results.
Great list! I wasn’t aware of a couple of the networking sites you mentioned.
I would also like to add Linked In to this list. Linked in is the best networking site for finding a job or building a power network. After you join LinkedIn, you’ll be amazed by how many people you are linked to in various companies across the US.
.-= Kalvin Chinyere´s last blog ..Acupuncture For Weight Loss =-.
Hi Kalvin,
Actually I LOVE LinkedIn and have devoted dozens of posts to it. I wanted to research others (and quit talking about LinkedIn so much!
).
I am amazed at what LinkedIn has done for job seekers. Awesome.
Thanks for the comment!
Erin
Good advice. Thanks, Debra!
I am not convinced of Ecademy, they used to be known as Spamcademy as they would hijack your contacts and keep sending invites out until everyone you know disowned you. I hear they have improved but it goest to show how much damage you can do to a brand by not being ethical.
.-= Jorgen Sundberg´s last blog ..Great Britain, Great Personal Brands from Yesteryear =-.
Really? I’ve never heard that and fortunately haven’t had that problem. I like them. Good to know though, and too bad about damage control!
Thanks, Jorgen!
Hi Erin,
Great post, an important point to remember when using these tools is that networking is not merely relying on contacts to whom we are close, hoping that they in turn will know somebody who knows somebody who will want what we have to offer. Nor do we simply try to make as many new contacts as possible in the hope that one in a hundred will pay off.
Instead, we are looking instead for structural holes in networks, areas in which we are clearly qualified to add value. It is highly likely that in order to position ourselves to add value, we will be relying on weak ties – contacts who know us little or even not at all – to make introductions and to convey messages. By definition weak ties offer little in the way of closure, and therefore the messages we send across these links must be Robust and Sticky.
For more detail see http://rusdens.com/2010/05/networking-for-career-success/