Most of us are made to believe that one of the best ways of securing a job is by building a strong resume and applying to job profiles that match our expectations and skill sets. Even though this process has been around for a long, rising competition in the market, new job opportunities unfolding every day, and people getting clearer about the kind of job they would like to work in has put traditional job hunting practices on the back burner.
Now arises the provocative question in the HR industry, which is how to get a job. Well, one of the best ways of finding a job that can do justice to your personal desires and aid professional growth is through strong networking. Networking is no doubt an underrated practice, which, if used to its fullest capacity, can help resolve all your job search-related woes.
That said, it is important for you to know the do’s and don’ts of finding a job through networking, something which is our topic of discussion today.
Put yourself out there:
When you are looking for a job, it is important for you to put yourself out there. This is crucial because unless the recruiter spots you, there is no chance of you securing the job you desire.
How do you proceed with this? By not hesitate to introduce yourself to people who you think may have powerful connections in the organisation that you are looking to join in the near future. The said introduction can either be in person or over an electronic medium.
You can get started with a casual conversation, which can slowly move into you introducing yourself, your qualifications, past work experiences, and future goals. You never know; this might work miraculously well in helping you secure the job you have been eyeing.
Hyper-Personalisation:
When trying to secure a job by taking assistance from networking, avoid starting with a generalised elevator pitch. You need to understand that every person is different, which is why the way in which you break the ice needs to be unique and highly personalised.
One of the best conversation starters is keeping the encounter focused on the opposite person instead of highlighting your achievements and aspirations. Many people like folks, who talk fondly about them, which can eventually help in securing a job of your choice by leveraging the right network.
Crisp Messaging:
When networking with an unknown party, especially when it has to do with your professional interests, make sure your pitch is short, sweet, crisp, and impactful. For instance, if it is an in-person meeting, be as confident and enthusiastic as possible.
Likewise, if the networking encounter is over an electronic channel, avoid beating around the bush, start with a meaningful subject line, and structure the body of your message as tightly as possible. This done right, you should not find it difficult to secure a job taking help from networking.
Follow Up, but don’t appear pushy:
You may possess all the skills that are required for the job role you are pitching for. In spite of that, you may fail to bag the job purely because you appear too pushy and desperate.
While there is no harm in following up with the point of contact you have been networking with, you need to know where to draw the line. If the person you are networking with feels that you are entering into their personal space, it is quite possible that they will eliminate you. So make sure you learn to differentiate between being pushy and following up.
How to get a job? – The Million Dollar Question
If the above question has been bothering you for some time now, possibly because all the traditional methods have failed to bring you the job of your dreams, it is time for you to look beyond the pre-set boundaries.
Wondering what to do next? The answer is simple. Go ahead and exploit the power of networking to help recruiters identify you and your skills and eventually help you with securing the job of your dreams.
The power of networking in the area of recruitment and selection is multi-fold. You just need to recognise and execute the same.
