Feldman network career insurance final january 2010
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The document outlines strategies for effectively navigating the hidden job market, where approximately 80% of new hires are in unadvertised positions. Networking purposefully is emphasized as a crucial approach to connect with decision-makers and uncover job leads, serving as a form of 'career insurance.' It highlights the importance of maintaining relationships with contacts for ongoing support and future career opportunities.
Feldman network career insurance final january 2010
- 1. HIDDEN JOB MARKET SECRETS Turn Contacts into Career Insurance Network Purposefully™: Find a New Job Faster Now and Get on the Inside Track for Future Career Opportunities Even When You Are Not An Active Candidate By Debra Feldman, JobWhiz, Executive Talent Agent Your Executive Ascent...Personally Delivered. Swift, Discreet, Guaranteed. Landing a new job today takes more than impeccable qualifications, a compellingly crafted resume, timely applications and getting on recruiterss’ radar. Don’t be fooled into thinking that more resume tweaking or just knowing the right recruiters will rectify a deadlocked job search camapign. Job market dynamics are radically different from a few years ago. Anyone who has not recently been in the job market may find it unexpectedly difficult to navigate their transition. Leaner organizations have reduced vacancies which means fewer posted jobs and still fewer assignments to external recruiters. There is a way around these challenges and it’s possible to avoid them in the future by focusing job search on the unadvertised or hidden job market. Historically, close to 80% of new hires are in positions that were never offically announced as openings. The trend is growing for “pulling” or attracting prospective new career challenges via networking rather than depending on “pushing” or submitting applications for openings. The unadvertised job market is comprised of positions that are filled before they actually “open” and includes positions created for a particular individual that did not exist until there was a potential candidate. By its very nature, the hidden job market, by far the largest portion of the entire job market, is less competitive. Those with connections have an obvious edge by virtue of being early applicants. Often, the unadvertised market is where outlier candidates, those who do not readily meet employer requirements, have the best chance of landing. A well connected network comprised of contacts who appreciate you and understand your potential value contribution puts you on the inside track and is your career insurance. The way to find out about unadvertised jobs is through networking. Connections provide access to unadvertised job leads in the hidden job market. It’s not just what you know or who, but connecting purposefully with individuals who are able to appreciate your potential value and have hiring authority. Expanding your network has multiple benefits, both immediate and long term. Networking purposefully, that is initiating contacts and cultivating relationships, will not only help you identify a desirable position now, but if you continually nurture these connections and strive to expand your network over time, you can count on contacts to periodically volunteer interesting job leads that you can choose to pursue or let pass. This technique applies equally to internal company relationships and contacts outside your employer’s walls of a professional or social nature. Being connected and sharing ideas
- 2. and information with your contacts means that you, and everyone in your network, are plugged into the hidden job market. Therefore, your network is your career insurance. Once you have connected, it is foolish to let your investment evaporate from lack of follow up. Why give up your career insurance? It’s far easier to maintain relationships than to establish new ones. Since it’s highly probably that sometime again you are going to be looking for or receptive to a new challenge, the search process will be much smoother if you already have a vibrant, vital network. Network Purposefully™ is a proven, superior job searching technique and effective investment that provides long term career insurance by facilitating your ability to make a career move via the best method, personal referrals. In addition to facilitating offers, the contacts established also provide ongoing support and future career insurance. Individuals who clearly and compelling communicate a differentiating value contribution, keep enlarging their connections, follow up consistently with polite persistent pings, and build a positive reputation, identify new career opportunities more efficiently. Developing and sustaining a strategically constructed network is an investment. It’s career insurance. Networking is the source for current leads and ongoing referrals to future new challenges. Don’t drop connections after landing a new job because employment is rarely permanent. Once you’ve developed a relationship it is easier to keep it than replace it. Here’s how to create your own career insurance. Develop the right strategy. Connect with hiring decision makers. Executives who sustain a successful career are usually strategic. They chose challenges and made contacts intentionally to achieve their goals for career growth and progress. They position themselves to acquire skills and knowledge as well as establish connections designed to promote their success. They may understand that an executive job search is a marketing project. They are the product. Employers are customers. A mutual contact is the ideal way to bring these parties together and start a meaningful dialogue that will connect the prospect with a hiring manager They network purposefully. ACTION Identify what differentiates you from your peers, where you want to be and then connect with those who will appreciate your talent and can hire you. To gain a competitive edge, focus beyond advertised positions, corporate websites, and recruiters to source leads through insider connections including current and former employees, vendors, consultants, clients, advisors of target companies plus access via social networking, alumni and professional associations and other relationships. Implement an effective plan. Network with company insiders. Career Insurance 01/2010 Debra Feldman, JobWhiz Page 2
- 3. The better the plan, the superior the outcome. Don’t expect a swift landing if you approach job search like a conglomeration of musical chairs, hide and seek and tag- you’re-it. Effective campaigns are not haphazard; they are organized and purposeful. Specify target employers, address their needs and concerns, tailor your value proposition so the employer will appreciate your interest in them, identify the appropriate hiring decision maker, obtain a third-party introduction and then follow-up. ACTION Assemble a list of target companies, research the industry and each employer, determine which specific challenges you can address and show how your experience can benefit this organization. Then contact the decision makers most apt to appreciate the solutions that you can deliver. Seek an introduction/referral initiated by a mutual connection. Be sure to follow up and deepen the relationship. Don’t expect a single transaction to produce an offer. Promote meaningful conversations focused on the employer’s needs. Show your willingness to share generously and fit into their corporate culture. If things go well, the hiring authority may create a new role just to hire you. Recognize and eliminate roadblocks. Turn corporate gatekeepers into greeters. The most obvious barriers are corporate gatekeepers, both human and automated systems. As if adminstrative assistants and HR personnel are not enough, most companies have installed automated applicant screens, computerized telephone answering systems and email screening protocols to filter outsiders. In today’s economy, demanding travel schedules, stretch assignments, reduced workforces and communications overload interfere with candidates and decision makers getting in touch. Your contacts arelike golden keys. They can remove obstacles and introduce you to hiring authorities carving a straight path into the hidden job market. ACTION If you can’t eliminate roadblocks, then try to mitigate their negative impact. Research within and use social networks to identify and connect with insiders. Blog, Tweet, post a profile online and make presentations, lead an activitiy, volunteer to be an event planner at industry conferences. These recommended activities increase the probability of attracting an employer’s (or recruiter’s or collegues’s) attention. Promote yourself as an industry expert to increase your credibility. Once you have a contact, ask for their assistance connecting with the appropriate company insider, not HR. Create future career insurance. Keep in touch with your network. Be generous to them. Networking purposefully makes connections inside target employers to learn about unadvertised jobs.. The contacts you add to your network during an active job search are “career insurance;” insiders who may refer and recommend you to other new career opportunities in the future. Keep relationships vibrant by being generous with your time and talents and also making referrals to them. ACTION: Once you make a new contact, seek out interactions to strenghten the bond. Networking is about relationships, not one time only transactions. Whenever possible get Career Insurance 01/2010 Debra Feldman, JobWhiz Page 3
- 4. together in person or by phone. On a regular basis, maintain the connection by sharing ideas and information, making introductions and developing mutual connections that benefit everyone who is part of the network. The more people who understand your potential value contribution, the more likely you will be recommended and become aware of potential job leads. The explosion of social networking has created opportunities for everyone to market themselves through blogging, commenting, discussion groups, etc. Never stop connecting. Networking is not just for when you need to find a new job. Your contacts are your career insurance. ©2010 Debra Feldman Debra Feldman is the JobWhiz™, a nationally-recognized expert who designs and personally implements swift, strategic, and customized senior level executive job search campaigns, banishing barriers that prevent immediate success. Her gift for Networking Purposefully™ and expediting stalled job searches --- executed with high energy and savvy panache -- connects candidates directly to decision makers, not HR. Learn more about her groundbreaking techniques that compress job searches from months into weeks. Contact Debra now at www.JobWhiz.com to expedite your executive ascent! Career Insurance 01/2010 Debra Feldman, JobWhiz Page 4