Networking Strategies. Doug Elliot, Career Counselor Career Services / cds.sdce.edu

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1 OR Meet? tweet? Networking Strategies Doug Elliot, Career Counselor Career Services / cds.sdce.edu

2 Career Change Steps Assess your work values, interests, abilities & skills, personality, long-term career goals. Adjust for clarity. Create a SWOT Explore occupations businesses, and industries found in the San Diego. Learn about the local labor market. Evaluate options, make decisions, develop a strategy for achieving your short and long term career goals. Take action! Acquire skills, education, training and/or conduct a job search campaign. Plan A. Plan B.

3 Self-Assessment identify your career goals that match your interests with people in occupations be true to your personality type and personal/work values don t kid yourself about your future idealism vs. realism

4 What Employers Want 1. You can do the job: Your skills and Interests 2. You fit in: Your personality and values 3. You can be counted on: You are reliable 4. You want to be there!! You are motivated

5 What is Networking? Networking is a business strategy of learning how to rely on people professionally and ethically, and to volunteer yourself to be relied on professionally and ethically. It s developing maintaining contacts with people you have a mutual interest.

6 People you know Family Friends Co-workers Teachers Supervisors People who know people Career services staff Chamber of Commerce Better Business Bureau Volunteer organizations People who don t know Friends of friends Professional associations members Potential employers Fellow participants of training programs, workshops, job fairs, mutual interesting event

7 An Interview is gets you the job closes the deal helps keeps you in the running!... can be formal or informal can be preceded by a phone screening

8 It is not what you know, it s who you know. It s not who you know, it s who knows YOU!

9 How Job Seekers Find Jobs* 1. Networking 2. Professional Trade Organizations 3. College Career/Alumni Offices 4. Cold Contact/Direct Mail 5. Job Fairs 6. Online Job Boards/Job Sites 7. Corporate Career Centers 8. Recruiters/Head Hunters 9. Online Want Ads 10. Direct In-person Contact *quintessentialcareers.com

10 How Job Seekers Find Jobs* 1. Use your network 2. Make it personal 3. Ask for advice or informational interview (foot-in-the-door) 4. Cold contacts 5. Build your own website 6. Join professional/trade organizations 7. Contact college career/alumni office 8. Attend job fairs 9. Use online job sites and job boards 10. Use recruiters/headhunters 11. Create a Linkedin.com page 12. Follow-up every lead *salary.com

11 Benefits of Networking 26% of external hires made from referrals vs. 13% from online job boards Obtain job leads, a job, or more contacts Gain information to help you obtain a job Practice interviewing Gain visibility with people who could hire you

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13 Informal Networking Be open, Be prepared, Be friendly! Professional appearance (clothes, grooming, body language) Communication (small talk) Business cards (simple) Personal Pitch (commercial)

14 Developing Rapport Remain poised and relaxed Minimize distracting body language SMILE; Convey enthusiasm Speak clearly - not too fast or slow Shake hands confidently Look at contact in the eye Listen carefully to the question Sit up and lean forward

15 Tips for small talk Be open Be prepared to ask questions Be informed Be a good listener Look for common ground Avoid controversial topics Start with tell me.

16 Your Personal Pitch Who are you? Where are you headed? Why are you going there? What is unique about you? Your background Your objective Your motivation Your brand

17 Example of a Personal Pitch I am an Administrative Professional with extensive experience in office management, event planning and presentations. Some of my key strengths include organization, diplomacy and creativity. In my last position I was a Senior Administrative Assistant supporting the Vice President of Marketing for ABC company. In this capacity I planned opening events for 500 to 1,000 participants, created Power Point presentations incorporating movement and sound, and met the administrative needs of a marketing staff of 10. I m very proud of my contributions at ABC, and I m looking forward to contributing my strengths in organization, diplomacy and creativity to your company.

18 Write your own personal pitch ASAP Recommended time: 30 seconds Debrief with Teacher, Counselor or Career Counselor Tell me about yourself

19 Targeted Networking Who is in your network? Create lists of primary contacts by identifying groups or categories of people you could network with Be creative and expand your thinking about who could help you

20 Who is in your Network? Family Friends Colleagues Supervisors Customers CUSTOMERS FRIENDS YOU SUPERVISORS FAMILY COLLEAGUES

21 Building Your Network Professional associations Social/recreational clubs Volunteer/service organizations Coworkers/former coworkers Children s activities Service providers

22 Networking Tangibles Create a personal business card Keep a portfolio of your work with you at all times including an online portfolio Develop a formal letterhead Have a resume with you at all times! Obtain or make Thank You cards/note Create a website or blog Maintain a contact file to manage your network hard copy or data base

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24 Social Media 1. Look for discussion boards or groups on browsers and social media sites 2. Formalize your professional online presence 3. Search for people and companies, not jobs 4. You must have an online profile with a bio and a link to a website, blog or LinkedIn profile 5. You must have a network of followers offline and online! 6. Create a blog of your skills, interests, passions

25 Online Networking

26 Professionally it s In 140 characters or less, it s In pictures, it s Musically, it s It s also the places you go And the things people like. Lastly, it s the stories and ideas that you share

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28 Statistics tell the story Some, like Ernst & Young, the accounting firm, have set ambitious internal goals to increase the proportion of hirings that come from internal referrals. As a result, employee recommendations now account for 45 percent of non entry-level placements at the firm, up from 28 percent in The company s goal is 50 percent. Others, such as Deloitte and Enterprise Rent-A-Car, have begun offering prizes like ipads and large-screen TVs in addition to traditional cash incentives for employees who refer new hires. Excerpt from New York Times article

29 Statistics tell the story Info gained from a myriad of resources 65-70% of job leads gained via networking 75-90% of recruiters are required to conduct online searched of applicants 57% of men negotiate salaries / only 7% of women 35% of hiring managers screened applicants out based on their social media content 30% of google searches are employment related

30 Statistics tell the story Recruiters reported to have hired via the following social media sites as follows: LinkedIn: 89% Facebook: 26% Twitter: 15%

31 LinkedIn Profile Create a profile and keep it current Add and update skills in your profile

32 Informational Interviews Meet with person doing your job who may assist you with your job search Start with friends, family, neighbors Meet with your referrals, using your contact s name to get the meeting Ask for information, suggestions support, feedback, other referrals DO NOT ask for a job

33 Informational Interviews Schedule for minutes In person preferred, not on phone Dress professionally Be prepared to ask questions Get 1-2 additional names Schedule 3 in the coming month Send thank-you notes (a must)

34 Organizing Your Job Search Create a chart or spreadsheet of your contacts Include dates, contact information, action items Remember your network grows exponentially Name of Source of Action and Follow up Contact Contact Date Status Mitchell Garcia mg@yahoo.com Carol Jon (neighbor) worked w/him at Petco Sent requesting info interview 11/1 Send thanks to Carol; schedule meeting w/mg

35 Prepare with Practice Use your Personal Pitch when meeting people Sit with people you don t already know Stand near the food Keep moving and meet new people Introduce people you meet to others Use your business card Leave with at least one contact who can help with your networking Think close

36 Join an Association Weddles San Diego Professional Associations San Diego Business Organizations 2BusinessAssistanceOrganizations.pdf