My job hunt has taken on a decidedly “Six Degrees Of Separation” feeling.
As odd as it may be explaining that “my wife’s sister’s best friend’s co-worker used to play soccer with your cousin,” I’ve learned that stories such as that are actually what can get you a personalized response instead of a form letter. Consequently, I’ve recently sent a number of e-mails with fun subject lines such as, “You don’t know me, but your cousin said you were cool.”
Not long ago, I saw an ad for a copywriting position with a well-known Web site on hotjobs.com. Trying to separate myself from the pack, I applied through a listing on the company’s internal job board and waited for a response. A few nights later, during dinner with friends, I met someone who worked at the site and was more than happy to pass my info on to the proper person at the company.
Within days, I received an e-mail from the company’s HR department and set up a phone interview. I went through several rounds of interviewing before they decided to choose another applicant. Oddly enough, the same day I found out that I was no longer in the running, I received an e-mail reply to my original submission telling me they would keep my information “on file.” Getting rejected twice in one day, for the same position, is quite a feeling. Truly.
While it is no guarantee of success, introductions can go a long way. Many employed people sympathize with those on the hunt and want to help. A number of kind folks who’ve been trying to assist me noted that they would not be working where they are if someone hadn’t helped them. Career Karma, if you will.
A writer friend recently offered to take me to an event at a bar sponsored by the Web site Media Bistro. The event was to be a chance for local writers to get together and meet and mingle, but the e-mail invite made it clear that this was “not a networking opportunity.” In a bitter conflict between economics and ethics, ethics won out, and I declined the invitation. Sure, I could have gone, met some folks and networked as discreetly as possible, but I would have felt dirty–and not in a good way.
Judi Lansky, of Chicago’s Lansky Career Consultants, has been helping people find new careers for 21 years. She told me that 65 percent to 75 percent of people get jobs through networking and creating a personal connection, as opposed to blindly sending in their resume.
She also noted that research and specificity are keys to successful networking. You need to have a strong understanding of what you’re looking for and how the person you’re contacting can help. Conversely, common courtesy should not be ignored, or you may be too.
An overly enthusiastic Mary Kay rep politely ambushed my wife the other morning coming off the train. The lovely young woman sidled up and complimented her “sense of style.” She then asked what my wife did and, without missing a beat, reached into her pocket and announced, “Here’s my card, let’s network.”
Broadsided by this walking, talking pink Cadillac, my wife took the card, only to dispose of it later. Yes, the extroverted cosmetic cultist had managed to establish contact but failed in establishing a connection.
Networking etiquette is not etched in stone, but it does follow the basic tenets of common sense. Owen Dougherty, executive director of the Career Transition Center of Chicago, said that “networking is about using people, and some people don’t like being used.” He emphasized that authenticity is paramount, as to avoid misrepresenting yourself or your intentions.
And so, my friends, I’ll close with this final piece of wisdom: Never toss away a business card, unless it smells like lavender and feels like a trap.
UP Next
Adventures in the Unemployment Line. Or, making your former employer pay for letting you go.
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Edited by Lara Weber (lweber@tribune.com) and Kris Karnopp (kkarnopp@tribune.com)
greg(underscore)rolnick@yahoo.com.
