Untethered Job Search
ningcontentAugust 9, 2011
“Computers are magnificent tools for the realization of our dreams, but no machine can replace the human spark of spirit, compassion, love, and understanding.” – Louis Gerstner
It would be so easy to spend every minute of your job search sitting in front of a computer, searching and applying for jobs. To a certain extent, you should be doing just that. But on the other hand, you do need to step away from the glowing screen every once and awhile and interact with living, breathing people. While there should be some balance between the two, I’ve not really focused too much on the people side of the search. And, although the bulk of your time should probably be spent “tethered”, you are more likely than not going to be hired by a person (no a computer). The two main aspects that come to mind are Networking and Marketing yourself. So, now that we’ve spent so much time learning how to leverage the Internet in our job search, now it’s time to learn how to leverage the human side.
It would be so easy to spend every minute of your job search sitting in front of a computer, searching and applying for jobs. To a certain extent, you should be doing just that. But on the other hand, you do need to step away from the glowing screen every once and awhile and interact with living, breathing people. While there should be some balance between the two, I’ve not really focused too much on the people side of the search. And, although the bulk of your time should probably be spent “tethered”, you are more likely than not going to be hired by a person (no a computer). The two main aspects that come to mind are Networking and Marketing yourself. So, now that we’ve spent so much time learning how to leverage the Internet in our job search, now it’s time to learn how to leverage the human side.
Networking:
- The Importance of Networking in Your Job Search -You know what they say (it’s who you know not what you know). This article, published by ContempoResume, provides a good overview of how to leverage both your network and your networking skills. From how to prepare (yes, there is preparation in networking) to building your relationships. This article is worth a read. While you are there, take a look at related articles.
- Build Your Job Search Network – Who better to help you with networking than Monster.com? This article covers many of the important aspects of networking. From how to make your pitch to keeping track, there is some interesting advice. Best of all, the article provides a list to get you started (like, have you leveraged your alumni association).
- 37 Ideas to Grow Your Job Search Network Right Now – Not much of a network if it is too small. This article, from JobMob, provides lots of great ideas to help you grow your network. From preparing an elevator speech to following industry blogs, there are some ideas for you. In addition to all of the ideas, there are embedded related links throughout the article. Not enough? Take a look at the related articles at the bottom of the page.
Promote Yourself:
- Why Self-Promotion is the Key to Success – You “need to be in it to win it” (borrowed from the Lottery guys). This article will give you some ideas on how to promote yourself. The more people who know you are available the better the chances. What first looks to be a short article is spread over several pages, so don’t forget to click Next Page. Some additional related content is available on the left hand side of the page.
- Promoting Yourself on LinkedIn – Posted on The Wall Street Journal’s site, some advise on leveraging old standby (and now public) LinkedIn. Some good advice, like my all time favorite – update your profile often to another one of my favorites – get the word out. Some interesting advice for building your network. Lots of great related resources on the site, don’t forget to take a look.
Good luck in your search.
By: CareerAlley
Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.
