The following article is by Joy Lynn Reed from ivillage.com
If I were making a bet, I could double or triple my money by betting that virtually 100 percent of all people looking for jobs feel they have to do it alone. I could also double or triple my money by betting that all those people have access to other people who could and would help them. Where are those resources? How can you find them?
First, start by telling everyone in your immediate and extended family that you’re looking for a job or a career change. Most job seekers tell their immediate family but don’t call cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents, or distant relatives. Call them! Most people are happy to help a relative, even a distant one.
Second, call former coworkers and tell them that you’d like to make a job change. People who once worked with you are likely to be able to tell others the benefits of having you as a colleague.
If you’ve kept in touch with any former teachers or professors, contact them. I’ve had students contact me periodically for years. Some have kept in touch for 10 or more years. I’m always willing to help them and often have several job leads to pass along to them when they call or e-mail.
Invite a group of your good friends over for an informal get-together and inform them of your search. A lot of times having your friends in a group like this can help get a brainstorming conversation started. Make sure to take notes and follow up on leads, even if those leads don’t seem likely to produce anything.
Make a list of all of the extra activities you do. When you’re at meetings, games or outings, let them know you’re looking. You’ll be surprised at the ideas you get from people you associate with for fun and in your spare time. For example, I’m on the board of trustees for our local dispute resolution center. The 15 or so other people on this board are diverse. There are lawyers, educators, bankers, real estate agents and many others. They travel in many circles and can get my name mentioned in places I would never go.
Finally, tell people who deliver professional services to you: your pharmacist, your child’s day care teacher, the manager of your dry cleaners who always asks how you’re doing when you pick up your laundry. It may sound crazy, but it’s not, and here’s why. There are three principles behind this list:
- The more people you tell, the wider your net and the more likely you’ll uncover information or an opportunity.
- People want to help other people. Give them a chance to do so. Also remember that if someone tries to help you, even if it doesn’t result in a job or an offer, send him or her a thank-you note or do something else to show appreciation. This will keep people willing to help you.
- Looking for a job or changing careers should not be done secretly and should not cause shame. I often run into acquaintances who believe that spreading the news that they’re job hunting is embarrassing. Everyone has looked for a job so everyone knows the feeling of loneliness associated with it. (Although you don’t want to tell the folks in your office if you are not ready to leave your present job.)
By mobilizing your resources, you’ll gain a lot of support as well as information about careers and opportunities you might not have found on your own. A good analogy involves shopping. If you were searching for the perfect gift, would you go to only two stores, or would you rather have a mall full of good stores to browse? Telling people about your search is like going to the mall: There are many more possibilities that you’ll find the perfect gift.
NOTABLE QUOTABLE“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.”— Hamilton Wright Mabie |
Include NRI In Your Job Search
This month’s feature article raises several terrific points and the article on Page 3 is meant to give you a chuckle, but seriously, who do you have in your corner for your job search?
Every job search should be a three-prong effort: networking is a very important part of any job search as well as looking in the Employment section of your local newspaper, but the very vital third prong is having a dedicated recruiter working for you as well.
Working with a group of well-trained, dedicated staffing specialists can only enhance your job search and bring forth every opportunity available to you.
Did you know that some employers only list some of their openings in the paper and sometimes list all openings with a staffing service? Did you also know that you have a better chance of being seen by a potential employer when you are presented by an Account Manager/Recruiter team than if you sent your resume in by yourself in response to an advertisement?
NRI has forged relationships with many of our employer-clients over the course of several years. They come to us because they trust us to use our experience to screen the proper applicants for their open positions.
By all means, continue to network with anyone who can help you and check the Employment section every week, but also enlist NRI and our staffing specialists to give you full and dedicated coverage on your job search!
20 Common Want-Ad Phrases And What They “Really” Mean
The following is from ivillage.com
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ENTRY-LEVEL POSITION: You’ll be making under $7 an hour.
ENTRY-LEVEL POSITION IN AN UP-AND-COMING COMPANY: You’ll be making under $7 an hour; we’ll be bankrupt in a year.
COMPETITIVE SALARY: We remain competitive by paying less than our competitors.
JOIN OUR FAST-PACED COMPANY: We have no time to train you; you’ll have to introduce yourself to your coworkers.
IMMEDIATE OPENING: The person who used to have this job gave notice a month ago. We’re just now running the ad.
WE OFFER GREAT BENEFITS: After 90 days, you can join our HMO, which has a $500 deductible and a $25 co-pay.
SEEKING ENTHUSIASTIC, FUN, HARD WORKING, PEOPLE:...who still live with their parents and won’t mind our internship-level salaries.
CASUAL WORK ATMOSPHERE: We don’t pay enough to expect that you’ll dress up.
COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT: We have a lot of turnover.
MUST BE DEADLINE ORIENTED: You’ll be six months behind schedule on your first day.
SOME OVERTIME REQUIRED: Some time each night and some time each weekend.
FLEXIBLE HOURS: Work 40 hours; get paid for 25.
WHERE EMPLOYEES FEEL VALUED: Those who missed the last round of layoffs, that is.
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE: We’ve filled the job; our call for resumes is just a legal formality.
SEEKING CANDIDATES WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF EXPERIENCE: You’ll need it to replace three people who just left.
PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS A MUST: You’re walking into a company in perpetual chaos.
REQUIRES TEAM LEADERSHIP SKILLS: You’ll have the responsibilities of a manager, without the pay or respect.
GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Management communicates, you listen, figure out what they want and do it.
ABILITY TO HANDLE A HEAVY WORKLOAD: You whine, you’re fired.
ASPIRATIONS FOR GROWTH WITHIN OUR COMPANY: We loooooove brown-nosers.
 Happy HolidaysWe would like to wish all of our temporary employees and candidates a very happy holiday season and the very best for the new year. All of you are part of the reason that NRI is a success and at this time of the year, we want to say “Thank you” and wish you joy, peace and prosperity now and in the future. |
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