Job Transition Workshop Series

1. Job Transition Workshop Series James Atkinson, CDF Steve Kraus, SPHR Deacon Dan Parker Bob Priest Shelly Trent, SPHR

2. Today’s Topics • Why Networking is Important • Where to Network • Informational Interviews • How to Work a Room • One-Minute Commercial/Elevator Speech • Networking for Job Prospects

3. Who is Your Network? • Past and present co-workers • Former and current bosses • Friends with similar interests • Colleagues from business/trade associations • Alumni from your university (always maintain alumni association membership!) • Friends from high school • Acquaintances you have met via online networking services (LinkedIn, Plaxo…) • People you meet at the gym, park, sporting event, etc. • Family members and their networks • Neighbors • Church members and those you know from volunteering • Everyone you know and everyone they know!

4. Why Network? • Surveys consistently show that 80-85% of job-seekers find work as the result of a referral from a friend or colleague, and only 2-4% land jobs from Internet job boards. • Keep in touch with your network regularly - even if it's just a brief email or call to say hello and to ask how they are doing. • Don't contact your network only when you have been laid-off from your job or decide you want to look for a new position. • People are more willing to help when they know who you are. If you only network when you want something, you will get a “user” reputation. • Networking is a two-way street. You need to assist people in your network, too.

5. Ways to Network • Join and participate in a professional organization • Get involved in church committees • Attend job fairs and/or recruiting events • Visit the college career office—they assist alumni • Attend college alumni events • Volunteer • Be visible in your field • Use social networking sites like LinkedIn, facebook, Plaxo, Zoominfo, etc. • Conduct informational interviews

6. Create a Networking Plan • Think about what you love to do • Identify your key interests, wants and needs • Identify companies/organizations that meet your key needs (culture, size, segment) • Research these companies • Create your target list of companies • Places where I’d LOVE to work • Places where I’d be OK working • Places where I wouldn’t work

7. Networking for a Job • Have a very specific job or career field in mind before you start networking. • No one can help you find a job unless they know exactly what you want to do and what qualifications you have. • Contact everyone you know. You may be surprised by the people they know.  Make yourself pick up the phone and call.  It helps to assign yourself a quota of calls to be made each day. The more phone calls you make the easier it will become. 

8. 10 Minute Exercise: Starting your list • Names of industries you’d consider • Names of companies in those industries or companies you’d like to explore • Names of people you know who work in those companies

9. Informational Interviews • When you determine where you might like to work, find out through your network the name of a person who works there. Invite them to lunch or coffee. • Purpose is to learn about a field or company • Make personal contacts that may point to job leads • Become aware of employer needs • Explore career options and clarify your career choice (if changing) • Expand your professional network • Build confidence for your job interviews • Access the most up-to-date career and employer information

10. Informational Interviews • Never use them to ask for a job! Never ask what jobs are open. • Offer your résumé and ask for tips • Set a specific time for the interview—maybe 30 minutes to one hour (at the most) • Ask the person for referrals • Be sure to write a follow-up/thank-you letter or note!

11. Association Membership • There are many professional/trade organizations you can join • Associations offer not only membership, but also many resources you can use on the job and in the job search • Many have local chapters where you can network with local professionals and attend professional development sessions • Consider also the Chamber, Rotary, and other business/social/community/church organizations • GET INVOLVED AND BE SEEN—everyone in your field should know your name

12. Volunteer • Do volunteer work • Volunteering offers you career-related experience while networking with an employer and gaining a reference • Volunteer work can lead to full-time job offers • Volunteering is a great way to meet people in your field

13. Networking for a Job • Meet with a different person in your network at least once a week – maybe have coffee or lunch • Always send a note following a networking meeting • If the person gives you a referral to someone else, FOLLOW UP! • Don’t use networking to get “any” job—it needs to be a good fit for you and the new employer

14. Professional Networking • Farming (cultivating relationships) vs. hunting (getting lots of business cards) • It's about building long-lasting connections with other professionals • Evolve through three phases • Visibility • Credibility • Profitability • Remember quality vs. quantity

15. Visibility • Be visible in your field • Attend local networking & educational events related to your field • Many people will see you and remember that you are in a job search mode • It is vital to have contacts in your career field • Being visible lets others know you are serious about your career and professionalism

16. Getting to the Offers • Create VISIBILITY with people you know (List A) • Create Credibility with people they know (List B) • Create Profitability and Offers with people who have the opportunities (List C) List C List B List A

17. Before a Networking Event • Find out the purpose of the event and who is likely to attend. Be prepared for the people you will encounter. • If a response is requested, check your calendar and reply immediately. Let the host know as soon as possible if your plans change. • ALWAYS RSVP and cancel if necessary! To do otherwise is rude to the event organizers! • Think of how you will introduce yourself to others and rehearse your lines. One-minute commercial!

18. Why Uncomfortable? • Worried about yourself • Everyone is worried about themselves • Concentrate on making other people feel how you want to feel—welcomed, noticed, and at ease • Take focus off self and put on others -- self consciousness will disappear

19. Body Language • Open posture • Natural eye contact • Relaxed smile • The more relaxed and at ease you feel, the more you’ll be likely to have a good time and make some solid connections • Good handshake; no limp fish • Remember “web and wrap”

20. One-Minute Commercial • Your role in life • Job you seek or type of work you have done • Projects you are working on • How you help others • Hobbies & interests • Your past experiences • Your future plans

21. One-Minute Commercial • Who am I? (introduce yourself) • What business/industry am I in? • What group of people do I service? or In what capacity do I serve? (be specific -- do you have a niche?) • What is my USP (Unique Selling Proposition)? What makes me different from the competition? • What benefits do my customers derive from my services? What benefits can employers derive from skills, based on my proven accomplishments?

22. How to Work a Room • Remember that almost everyone there is nervous about networking and meeting new people! • They expect to be approached by strangers • They want to move around • Short conversations are okay! • Don’t overdo it with one person

23. How to Work a Room • Arrive early—you can help others when they ask about restrooms, drinks, food, and check-in • If you know someone, ask them to introduce you to others and you do the same for them • Two questions: “How do you know the host/meeting sponsor/president/board members?” and “Do you know anyone else here?”

24. How to Work a Room • “Nice to meet you” vs. “Good to see you” (If you’ve met before and forgot, it may offend. “Good to see you” is safer) • Don’t be afraid to join groups in progress • Say “You appear to be a friendly/fun/interesting group; may I join you?” • Listen carefully and ask questions • Show people you are interested in THEM

25. How to Work a Room • Ask questions that generate conversation such as: • "You said your work involves… Tell me more about that." or • "You mentioned… I’m interested in hearing more." or • "When you said you do… what does that mean?"

26. How to Work a Room • DON’T just talk about yourself—that you are seeking employment, etc. • Flattery will get you everywhere! • Gain the person’s permission to keep in touch (get a card!)

27. Best Places to Meet People at a Networking Event • Registration or check-in line • Buffet line • Bar or drink counter • Restroom • Continue networking until it is time for all to be seated • Try to sit with those you need to know better—in certain companies, in jobs similar to what you seek

28. One-Minute Commercial:5 Minutes Prep/10 minutes Practice • Write out what you want to say • Pick a partner and share your one-minute commercial with each other • Provide each other with feedback • What I appreciate about your commercial was ….. • It could be even more effective if …. • Find another partner and practice again • The more you practice, the more comfortable (and effective) this will become

29. Networker’s Toolkit • Business cards—plenty of them! • Nice name badge • Dress to impress • List of who is attending/knowledge of group • Information about the facility • A pen to jot notes on the backs of business cards • Have an e-mail address, and NOT one like hotchick@hotmail.com or cooldude@yahoo.com or suzysmom@gmail.com or soccercoach@aol.com

30. Making Conversation • Rehearse your exit lines so you don’t get stuck in conversation with just one person. • Know current events and listen to the news so you can engage in small talk. • Read current books about your field. You will impress people that you are keeping up with the field, and it will give you something to chat about. • Sit with people you don’t know rather than your friends or past co-workers. • Introduce yourself to everyone at the table before you sit down. Don’t wait for someone else to make introductions.

31. Making Conversation • When someone new approaches the table, stand, smile, extend your hand, and take the initiative to introduce yourself immediately. • Take the responsibility of introducing the other people at the table, even if you have just met them yourself. • Handle the exchange of business cards and/or résumés discreetly in conversation—don’t just hand them out to every person. • Initiate conversation with the persons sitting to both your right and your left. • Don’t monopolize a conversation with any one person at the table to the exclusion of others.

32. Online Networking • Linked In – Professional Networking site with effective controls and procedures • facebook – Social Networking site with few controls and procedures • Employers and recruiters are looking at both of these • You should be using them also

36. Follow Up • You have business cards….now what!? • Send a quick hand-written note—keep blank professional-looking notes on hand • Invite them to play golf, have lunch, meet for coffee OR • Send them information you promised • Make sure to flatter them by remembering details of your discussion in your note

37. Follow Up • E-mail is okay, too—sometimes • Never use abbreviations in email such as LOL, TTYL, IMHO, etc. • Send them a news clipping of a mutual interest • Ask them for a tour of their company’s operations • Remember the person’s name!

38. Lifelong Networking • Don’t stop networking just because you landed a job. • Get involved in business organizations. Get to know people, and tell them about what you do. • Volunteer for committees, attend conferences, and increase opportunities. • Networking is important throughout your career.

39. Important! • Throughout the job search process, remember: • IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU; IT’S ABOUT THEM • It’s not about your wants/needs: • You want a job; you need money for rent, car, groceries • It’s about what the EMPLOYER needs: • An employee who fits with the job and organizational culture • You MUST be the best fit; if not, the job was not meant for you • Don’t take it personally and move forward

40. Sharing Time • Let’s practice the one-minute commercial and have some networking time with each other • Write out what you might say and rehearse it with another person • Share with the group / offer feedback to make it better • Where will you network? • What makes you nervous about networking? • What do you need to change?