The other day, I was in our local Target Super Store…School starts today where I live in Atlanta, so the store was packed with school-supply shopping parents and kids. Clearly, the area with the most traffic was in the back corner, with bins of Elmer’s glue, Crayola crayons and a slew of other “must haves” for school kids.
While rummaging through 6-for-a-dollar bins of glue sticks, I was surprised by a rolling food cart. The woman from the deli was bringing her wares to the back of the store – samples of deli meat. If you bought something, you received a free package of cheese.
Since it seems as if every experience I have turns into a lesson for job seekers, it struck me that the lesson of the deli cart is simple: Go where the people are! The majority of shoppers that day were tending to spend time in the back of the store, maybe skipping the deli counter. Bringing the deli counter to the people was a great idea, and I am sure many people bought something they might not have considered as a result.
So, if you are looking for a job, are you going where you are likely to encounter people who can positively influence your search? Some ideas:
Regular readers know I love to suggest using Twitter for the job hunt. If you’re on Twitter, you are in a space full of others like you, CEOs, coaches and a slew of people who may have common interests. It’s a place where there is a community for everyone. Even cat lovers! Everyone is a potential contact. If you are not there, you miss out.
LinkedIn. This is a given. If you don’t have an optimized LinkedIn profile, it’s going to be tough for all of those recruiters who are sourcing there to find you!
In-person meetings. Have you joined the local chapters of professional development groups in your field? (And do you attend their meetings?) Have you looked up Meetup.com in your area? How about your alumni organization? Don’t discount social groups that have nothing to do with your job hunt or professional interest. You never know who you might meet at a backyard barbeque or at the local swimming pool. Go where people you DON’T think can help you go!
What ideas do you have for meeting people where they are? It’s just as important for people marketing their skills and accomplishments to be in the right place at the right time as it is for merchants to target their customers with their products.
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photo by Johnswilliamsphd