"Where are the good jobs?" is a dominant question among job seekers. The search
for job openings is like a treasure hunt, but a frustrating one since much of the job
market is hidden and therefore difficult to uncover. Employment agencies, job banks, and
other such enterprises are useful in learning about certain pockets of employment, but
they are missing large numbers of others. The job market moves too fast and is too diverse
to be tracked with any thoroughness. In many cases employers are trying hard not to
make openings widely known. Employers would prefer to broadcast their vacancies only to
the people best known to them such as current employees or other informal referral sources
in order to get applicants. A known quantity is much better to an employer than an unknown
quantity.
So what do you as the job seeker do about this? You still want to know where the good
jobs are and you do not want to waste your time looking down blind alleys or canvassing
the area looking for a job. It does not pay to complain about there not being any good
jobs. There are actually plenty of good jobs, you are just not accessing them. The name of
the game is getting to the good jobs before someone else does. Using the newspaper, job
listings, job banks, employment agencies, etc. are good but they leave you behind others
who have already made personal contact with employers concerning job openings. Remember,
one of the top principles of job search is, "it's not what you know, but who you
know" that makes the difference.
Networking or making personal contacts with individuals is the number one, most
effective method for obtaining employment. People you know, and people that you know that
know others is the single best source for obtaining information on where the good jobs
are. There is something very simple about networking and talking to people you know. As
long as you do it properly, good things tend to happen. Here are a few tips for networking
yourself to your next job.
1. Be respectful other people's time
2. Be prepared with a list of questions
3. Don't ask, "Do you know of any good jobs." Instead ask, "Where would
you go if you were
me", or "What would you recommend I do?"
4. Keep records of who you have talked to, when you talked to them, and the results
5. Send thank you cards to those who have helped you
6. Make a list of people you can talk to. The list could include friends, family,
associates,
past co-workers, barber, hairdresser, insurance person, car salesperson, etc. Everyone
is
a potential resource in your job search.
7. Present yourself enthusiastically, confidently, and sincerely
If you would like more information about job search, career management, or employment
in general, please contact Bob Goyer at (740) 382-3132 or e-mail gplaza@gte.net. |
