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You can learn
a lot about networking to find jobs by asking recruiters
how they do it to fill jobs.
That's
because recruiters, also known as headhunters, have to
network every day to locate and place candidates in
positions they're hired by employers to fill. And
recruiters don't get paid until they succeed.
So you'd
better believe that successful headhunters know a thing
or two about networking.
Here are two
things, to be exact, you can do to network like a pro
and get hired faster ...
1) Google And Call
Past Employees
Recruiting
expert David Perry, author of "Guerrilla Marketing For
Job Hunters," shares a unique way to research potential
employers using Google.
It's this:
Find and call people who used to work where you want to
work now.
"The fastest
way to learn the real workings of an organization is to
Google past employees and call them up. This is exactly
what I do. Before I take an assignment from a company to
place an executive there, I want to know if I'm walking
into a hornet's nest," says Perry.
Here's how to
do it ...
Google the
name of your target employer and the word "resume." The
search results you get back will include resumes of
people who used work there. (You may want to add the
word "experience" to "resume" in your search; experiment
using Google's Advanced Search options.)
Once you find
some resumes, pick up the phone and call. Say: "Hi my
name is _________. I'm researching XYZ Corp. and I think
you used to work there because I found your resume
online. I'm thinking of applying for a job there. May I
ask you a few quick questions to see if it's worth my
time and effort? I know this is an unusual way to do a
job search ..."
Most people
will be impressed by your initiative, flattered to be
asked for their opinion and willing to help you out.
"You want to
learn about three main areas: the company and its
culture; the department you would be working in; and the
name of the manager you would be reporting to," says
Perry.
Finish your
conversation with this all-important question: "If I
decide to talk with them, may I say that I spoke with
you?"
"You ask this
for two reasons," advises Perry. "First, if they left on
good terms, you can drop that former employee's name
when contacting the company to ask for a meeting.
Second, that person may phone his old boss and tell him
or her to keep an eye out for the smart person who just
called -- that would be you."
If you're at
all hesitant about this technique, try it on a company
you have no intention of applying to. Work out the bugs
first, then network your way right into your ideal
employer.
2) Make
Recommendations On LinkedIn
Tom
Stewart, VP of Executive Search at Genesis10 in
Minneapolis, advises job seekers to use LinkedIn.com as
a way to get found by recruiters and employers.
"I tell
people to think of LinkedIn as a sort of
'Who's Who' for
the Internet savvy professional. It's a great way to
expand your visibility -- and the more people who can
find you, the better," says Stewart.
Key to
using LinkedIn effectively is to give and ask for
endorsements, also known as recommendations.
"Writing
recommendations for those in your network benefits
everyone. I have found candidates accidentally by
clicking on the endorsements they wrote for other people
on LinkedIn. I can count at least 6 passive candidates I
placed in new jobs this way," says Stewart.
Start with
your network of first-level connections at LinkedIn.
Pick one person you feel strongly about and endorse
them. After you write a recommendation, the system
prompts the recipient to endorse you, which leads to
reciprocity.
Think of
your LinkedIn recommendations as free advertisements you
can run on other people's profiles. If they are
successful and highly visible in their industry, your
recommendation -- with your name on it -- will be highly
visible, too. Which increases the likelihood that a
recruiter who sees your endorsement will click on it,
read your profile, and contact you.
Now, go out
and make your own luck!
Kevin
Donlin is creator of TheSimpleJobSearch.com. Since 1996,
he has provided job-search help to more than 11,000
people. Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The
Wall Street Journal, CBS Radio and others. His free
report, The Simple Job Search Manifesto, is found at
www.TheSimpleJobSearch.com.
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