Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

Free networking ebook!

By

Are you prepared to make the most of your networking?

Don’t miss the opportunity to talk to people who may have information (and those you don’t think have any information for you at all)!

For a limited time, I’m offering a copy of my ebook, Drive Your Own Career Bus -  Networking for Success, for FREE to subscribers to my blog at Keppie Careers. Subscribers receive an email once a week with my Keppie Careers blog posts. All you need to do is follow THIS LINK and enter your email address. Then, you’ll receive a confirmation notice. Once you confirm, you’ll be subscribed and will receive the link to my free ebook. It is full of advice, tips and tricks to get you through in good networking shape.

What a deal!

Don’t delay, this offer is limited. My marketing team thinks I should sell this report, so take advantage now before I change my mind!

Don’t forget that Keppie Careers offers many services to help you get your job hunt on track. Stop wasting your time! Learn more about me and how I can HELP YOU get your job search on track!

Networking is About Relationships

By

If you’ve read anything I’ve written about networking (click on categories at the right and Networking to catch up), you know that I’m a big fan!

Today’s post is a reminder that networking isn’t about a meeting, it’s about a relationship.  If you flit from one networking contact to another without bothering to follow up with anyone, you will not reap the benefits of networking.

If you are trying to network with HR professionals or hiring managers, you are less likely to be successful with your networking.  Plan to meet and connect with people who are in the job you’d like to have and those who are a step or two above you.  Give them a reason to be interested in you!  Share information.  Ask about them and their career paths.  Ask about their company and its goals and methods.  The goal is to make contacts who may later suggest your name when an opening comes up, not to send your resume to a lot of people.

If you are sitting home, zapping resumes to this posting and that posting, you are not likely to have much luck.  Weave your career net instead of constantly casting off in search of a hit.  You’ll be better off.

Keppie Careers – We write resumes and support you in your job search.

www.keppiecareers.com

Interviewing Positively

By

Would you want to hire someone who trashed her former employer?  As the next and future employer, you might be concerned about your own reputation should bad blood come between you and the new hire.

No matter how much you hated your old boss or loathe your current supervisor, it is a BAD idea to let anyone interviewing you know about it.

Instead, try to put the situation in the best possible light if pressed and avoid discussing it if possible.  Negativity can only hurt you, so why go there?

Netweaving – An Underutilized Job Search Strategy

By

I attended a networking meeting this week, and one of the participants talked about “netWEAVING,” the process of creating communities to help one another find solutions for problems.

This is not a new concept.  An article by TechRepublic by Michael Sisco explains:

The term was coined by Bob Littell, a consultant who focuses on strategic marketing, product design, development, and implementation issues within the financial services industry. Rather than going to the “party” to learn what you can that might lead to new business, you attend with the intent of learning all you can from as many people as possible about their business, their needs, and their challenges. The objective is to try to help as many people as you can. The help or insight you provide may be putting them in touch with someone you know or sharing insight that can help the other person.

This approach, which is reciprocal by design, may be more comfortable for those who view networking in a negative way because it seems too much like “using people.”  If you focus on going out to seek and share information, your return will be even greater!

Keppie Careers can transform your resume and help you learn how to network and netweave!  Our mission is to advise, encourage and enlighten job seekers!
www.keppiecareers.com

More on Networking: Who, What, When, Where and Why!

By

Finding a job may seem overwhelming.

You need to:

  • Know what you want to do. 
  • Create a great resume that shows how you can do it. 
  • Find opportunities that may not be advertised.
  • Generate opportunities for yourself that may not exist otherwise!

That is where networking comes in.  Networking recognizes that relationships are the crux of the job search.  Employers prefer to hire people whom they like, or people their friends or colleagues admire.   Job searchers need to put themselves in the position of being that person!

Don’t forget – approximately 80% of jobs are NOT filled through job postings.  They are filled via networking.  Google it.  Convinced?
 
How do you get started?

First of all, please start networking before you are looking for a job!  Don’t wait another minute!

Many think of networking as something that happens on-line.  I’ve been amazed at the connections available on LinkedIn, and other social networking sites like facebook or myspace, used correctly, may open doors.  Take advantage of all of your virtual resources.  Keep in mind that networking happens in person, too!  Don’t forget:

  • Relatives
  • Friends (especially those in the workplace)
  • Friends of friends
  • Professors and Deans
  • Former employers and co-workers
  • Neighbors and acquaintances
  • Alumni (of undergraduate and graduate schools)

 Where/When should I network?

  • Professional associations/conferences
  • Work events and meetings, social and professional
  • Classes
  • Alumni events
  • Social events
  • Community events
  • Elevators — collect business cards
  • Airplanes
  • Anywhere, all of the time!

Stay tuned for Networking:  Obstacles and Shy Networkers and Networking Strategies.

 keppiecareers.com…We advise, encourage, enlighten!