Network Your Way To A New Job

Jobfinding can be a challenge, but generally speaking, the best way to find a new job is through networking and searching proactively. In other words, instead of only posting your resume on an on-line job board and waiting to be found, connecting with everyone you know personally and professionally about your job searching, and reaching out to others you may not know but who may be in a position to help you.

People who network and who work proactively (contacting employers directly whether a job is posted or not) to find a new job, change jobs much sooner than those who only post to job boards or apply to positions that are posted.

The reality is that when you're applying for posted positions, you're competing with dozens/hundreds/maybe thousands of others applying for the same positions. And when you post to a job board - same thing: few jobs, hundreds/thousands of people applying to them or uploading their resumes hoping to be found for the same single available position.

When you proactively job search, and network to find a new job, you're looking for the 'hidden job market' -- jobs that haven't been posted yet because the employer hasn't quite gotten to that point yet, and by 'showing up unannounced', you have no competition. Proactively networking/seeking a position is a different approach from waiting to be found - it takes different skills - but it works much better.

It may happen that you will post your resume on a job board and be found, but we suggest you consider the posting of your resume, and sending it out in application for positions, as just part of your job search.

These articles may be helpful to you in networking:

The Art of Job Search Networking:  http://www.job-hunt.org/job-search-networking/art-of-job-search-networking.shtml

Successful Job Search Networking:  http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/networking/a/networking.htm

Job Searching In Unlikely Places:  http://jobsearch.about.com/od/onlinecareernetworking/a/jobsearchbond.htm

Social Networking:  http://jobsearch.about.com/od/networkingsites/a/networkingsites.htm

Employment 2.0:  http://jobsearch.about.com/od/networking/a/employment20.htm

Networking:  http://www.rileyguide.com/network.html#netprep

Nine Tips For Improving Your Networking Skills:  http://www.careerdirectors.com/members/articles/J01.pdf

Also, lots of good information about how to network can also be found in the book "What Color Is Your Parachute?" Fortune Magazine said, "Parachute remains the gold standard of Career Guides." http://www.amazon.com/What-Color-Your-Parachute-2010/dp/1580089879

by Terrie Osborn • http://www.cnyresumes.com • Resumes that work!