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Contacts, Connections, & Tips: Finding and Making the Right Connections for Job Search Success

Learn how to effectively find and connect with contacts to enhance your job search. Get tips on making connections and using tools like LinkedIn and Google. Includes examples and hands-on exercises.

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Contacts, Connections, & Tips: Finding and Making the Right Connections for Job Search Success

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  1. Contacts, Connections & tips Tony Dye February 12, 2015 Free Powerpoint Templates

  2. Introductions

  3. Suggested “quick” pitch Hi, I’m Joe Smith and I’m looking for a Sales Management position. I’m focused on technology companies with 200 or fewer employees in Northwest Atlanta, such as: Corus360, MailChimp, or PossibleNOW. Questions

  4. Finding Contacts Three major types of contacts: • Personal connections • Contacts related to target companies • Contacts related to target jobs/functions <Contacts Handout> Jeremiah

  5. Jeremiah One of my favorite verses: Jeremiah 29:13 … you will seek me and find me when you seek me with ALL your heart … Job search, and finding contacts, is quite similar! You can do it if you’re diligent Counter-intuitive

  6. Past, not Current

  7. maps

  8. Q&A

  9.  Questions? • Easy enough? • You can eliminate the “does anyone have any contacts at…” question! • You have a contact, how do you make a connection?

  10. Making ContactFinding Connections • Are you ready? • 10 second pitch? Check! • Target company? Check! • Specific [former emp.] contact name? Check! • Know what to say? Discussion • Know how to make contact? discussion Story

  11. Discussion • You are NOT contacting to ask for a job! • You ARE seeking information and advice • You have some affinity (right?) • You will keep it short • Don’t even think about sending your resume or giving it to a new connection How to

  12. How to connect • Best: letter, then call, then in person • Email is usually a poor alternative, but very appropriate for some recipients <Connections handout> Letter

  13. Dear Mr. Clapton: I am writing to you because of your technology leadership position and knowledge of business in the Atlanta area. [We’ve previously connected on LinkedIn] I am on a career search and speaking with knowledgeable people, such as you, to gather information to help me determine the right fit with an organization. Please understand that I am not applying for a position with your organization nor do I expect you to know of any opportunities. I am going about my career search in a way I believe will result in better-than-conventional possibilities. I have been involved in the computer industry for over 20 years. Early on I was involved in programming and development of early networks. Blah, blah, blah…

  14. <continued>  Blah, blah, blah… At this point in my career I am exploring new opportunities where I can make a real contribution. I would like to meet with you briefly to discuss business opportunities in the Atlanta area and to learn how {YourCompany} has managed to excel in a very challenging economy. I will also be asking for some advice and feedback. I will call you on {Day}, {Date}, in the early afternoon, to set a convenient time to meet. I will come prepared and be brief. I very much look forward to meeting you.

  15. MAKE the calls • Don’t forget or wimp out! • Script it • Prepare for voice mail • Repeat

  16. Excuses • I’m shy • I’m an introvert • I don’t do well on the phone • Etc., etc., etc. • “Get over it.” (I did – all the above are MY excuses)

  17.  Questions? • Simple enough? (Easy is different :-) • You can eliminate the “does anyone have any contacts at…” question! • Preparation: plan, script, automate • Practice with friends – accountability

  18. My Network (as of 12/2014)(are we connected?) Note: My network grows by roughly 8,500 each day, even if I don’t do anything!

  19. Tips <handout>

  20. LinkedIn tips • Be findable • Be reachable (phone and email for all) • Be clear • Have a picture • Complete your profile • Grow your network • Groups • NEVER a default invite

  21. Google Tips • Worth knowing: • Quotes • OR • Parentheses • Minus • Site:

  22. Sample searches • tony dye -bengals -ucla -"dr doom" -tonydye.wordpress.com • "bite size training" OR "bite-sized training" OR "incremental training" • "Harold Dye" OR "harold a dye" OR "haroldanthony dye" -"steel guitar" –Hulen • "peter dye" OR "peter a dye" OR "peter anthony dye" -"golf course" -"Air Vice Marshal" –raf • floydcramermonkees (cd OR mp3)

  23. Finding Email Addresses • If you know the name of a person, and the domain for their emailhttp://email-format.com

  24. Validating Email Addresses • Worth trying:http://www.MailTester.com/

  25. Thank You Tony Dye TonyDye@Gmail.com @TonyDye TonyDye.com

  26. Hands-on Time(vs. Networking) Let’s TOGETHER do some real investigation Where do YOU need contact help?

  27. Stories, Time Permitting • Kayla – a story of connection • Lynnet – overcoming shyness. “If you’re willing to reach out to a complete stranger like this, you’ll do fine at XYZ (or anywhere).”

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