Media Coverage
November 1, 2008
Make The Connection
Originally Published in Philadelphia Inquirer
Written by Philadelphia Inquirer and Monster.com authors, Eric Herrenkohl's quote appears below in bold.
Face it, improved networking can lead to a new job.
There is an old adage that says your net worth is determined by your network. This especially rings true for the job seeker as the best jobs are often obtained through personal connections. Being able to effectively network with company recruiters, alumni from your college or industry colleagues can add a whole new dimension to your job hunt and might just be the key to your success.
Creating the right relationship with someone can certainly get you noticed in ways that a well worded resume or cover letter might not and while networking can seem daunting, seeking out those who can boost your job search could make all the difference, especially in a rough economy and job market, says Charity Mouck, associate director of career services at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana.
“You don’t have to push your job search agenda in every networking situation,” Mouck says. “Sometimes, just meeting people and letting them get to know you is as effective as going in with a ‘hard sell’ attitude. If you do take the approach of networking only for the purpose of your job hunt, be sure to be completely prepared and polished. You want to look professional, sound professional and be able to quickly highlight key skills and abilities.”
SPREAD THE WORD
The process of recruiting, interviewing and evaluating employees is often expensive and complicated for hiring companies. You can make this work to your advantage by working hard to educate those in your network about your career goals and asking them to introduce you to people at companies where you would most like to work.
“As a job candidate your ability to build a network of people who will vouch for you is critical,” says Eric Herrenkohl, a Wynnewood-based business consultant. “Most employers are not effective at recruiting and dislike the process. As a result, when a position opens up they turn to their existing network of relationships to fill the job. If someone they know vouches for a job candidate they feel more comfortable in hiring that person.”
Many people rev up their networking when they are on the job hunt but once secure in a new job they typically let their job-search network get old and dusty only to start all over again the next time they are looking for work.
Rather than making networking a stop-and-go process, work at maintaining those relationships regardless of your employment situation, suggests Kurt Weyerhauser, managing partner of the Irving, California-based executive search firm, Kensington Stone Associates.
“In an age where the average executive will work for at least five or six different companies during their career, it makes no sense to not develop and maintain a strong network,” Weyerhauser says.
The best networking groups are those individuals who know and respect you the most. In a rough economy, having someone who really knows you well and goes to bat for you is extremely powerful. These individuals are the most likely to refer, recommend and remember you when the time is right.