An easy way to hang with locals who share your interests

Join Meetups in your area.

Want to associate with people in your area who have the same love of movies, new restaurants, social media, sports, cooking, travel, books, or other interests that you have with no strings attached (and often, no cost)? 

There’s an incredibly easy way to do so and it makes making fast friends with like-minded people a snap. 

12 ways to make the most of job fairs

Take steps to make job fairs more productive.

Often when job seekers hear an announcement for an upcoming job fair you can look around the room and see people roll their eyes. We chuckle amongst ourselves, “Oh great, another wasted two hours!” 

Recently, however, I attended a job fair for what I thought would simply be a chance to get out of the house and practice my elevator pitch, and ended up with a job!

How to land a meeting with the right person at a target company

Schedule referral interviews to learn
about companies and opportunities.

Unlike informational interviews (which help you learn about a company or job), referral interviews help you meet people who can refer you to the right people at companies where you want to work. Because of their tremendous potential, schedule referral interviews often!

To arrange such meetings ...

Networking tips for people who'd rather not

Are you like a job-seeking friend of mine who doesn’t want to network because he’d rather land a job all by himself? 

That mindset can hurt your job search success because networking plays a major role in up to 75% of all hires. Many job openings are never posted on general job search web sites or featured in a newspaper classified ad, but are instead spread by word of mouth. If you aren’t communicating regularly about your job search with a wide variety of people, you won’t hear about these jobs.

You CAN learn to network well!

Even if networking doesn't come naturally to you, you can take simple steps to expand your network. Here's how: 

10 job seeker power tips to make the most of networking events

Make the most of networking opportunities!

Are you like my friend at networking events?

He plants himself by the roast beef buffet and rarely roams beyond the horseradish sauce to avoid talking with strangers.

Networking at events can be scary, but it is essential! Studies show networking is THE best way to learn about and land positions. 

Follow these networking tips ... they can help you land a job or get a better one!

10 reasons why YOU should have a personal brand

Establishing a personal brand can help you land a job.

A recruiter recently asked me how to find qualified job seekers through social media. More companies like hers are searching for candidates on the web, and people who are well represented are more likely to be considered.

In marketing, the definition of branding is the sum total of a company’s value, including products, services, people, advertising and culture. That includes logos, symbols and designs that promote consumer awareness of goods and services. Personal branding is the process whereby people and their careers are marketed as brands.

A personal brand can help you ...

50 fast free fixes to improve your job chances. Part 4: Networking

Take these steps to improve your
chances of getting hired.

Recently, I shared fast fixes to improve your resume, cover letter and LinkedIn presence. Now, I’ll share fast fixes to improve your networking abilities. 

Don’t slouch on these tips! Networking plays a part in nearly 75 percent of all hires.

The 2 master networker tips that can transform your informational interviews

Ask interview subjects out for coffee
or lunch.

Informational interviews (meetings you set up with people to learn more about their industry or company) can be a dynamite way to learn valuable insider scoop, make critical connections and find out about job openings.

Master networkers use two tips to maximize their informational interviews … now you can, too.

How networking made some legendary movie roles ... well, legendary

Take a tip from the movies and
network like the stars.

“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” goes the old Hollywood cliche. But in job seeking, what’s true in La-La Land is true for the rest of us.

Clear and simple … how to blog and social network (for free) to promote your fledgling business

Learning how to blog and use
social media for business can help
you improve your job prospects.

Many job seekers have given up finding a job and have decided instead to start their own business. 

They know how to do whatever it is they do, but they often don’t know how to market their services effectively online. 

I give these budding entrepreneurs the following advice (which I gained from my often exasperating attempts to establish WiserUTips.com).

Good idea for job seekers: Meet relevant people over coffee or lunch. Here are the best techniques

Ask interview subjects to coffee or
lunch to network your way into a job.

Any of my close friends will tell you … I am the lunch queen. 

I work hard, but I love to get away for an hour to see friends or family. I also like to give advice if I feel it can help people … so the combination of helping job seekers over a quick lunch has always appealed to me. 

That’s why I have never minded when someone in the St. Louis area has sought me out on LinkedIn, or was referred to me by a friend, who took the initiative to invite me for a quick bite to eat.

If you are considering asking someone for coffee or lunch for an informational interview, keep these guidelines in mind:

Pre-Meeting Guidelines

• Determine who would be good to meet and why. Ask friends for suggestions and referrals.
• Do your research about the people, their company, and their field.
• Invite the selected people to connect with you via LinkedIn. Explain in your invitation why you want to connect (they are in the same field, in the same LinkedIn group, work at a particular company, etc.)
• Once they have accepted your invitation, look through their connections to see if you have any mutual connections.
• Send them a LinkedIn message requesting to meet briefly. Be sure to mention why you selected them. Here was a particularly well written message I received from a job seeker, tweaked for the purposes of this blog post.

Dear Kathy:
I’m meeting with (YOUR FIELD) professionals to seek information, suggestions and contacts that could be helpful as I consider career options and opportunities. I noticed your LinkedIn profile and that we share some common connections, including XX and YY, and thought that you might be willing to meet with me over coffee or lunch. Please be assured that I’m contacting you for information, not a job. I’m also happy to help you in any way that I can.

I'll contact you later this week to see if we can schedule a brief coffee or lunch. I understand your time is valuable, so please be assured that I will be respectful of your time. I'm available whenever and wherever it's convenient for you.

Thanks so much. I look forward to connecting with you.

Regards,
Name
Primary phone number
Cell phone number

Invitation guidelines

• Suggest coffee or lunch (not just one of the options). Some people prefer to meet before work or during a break, while others can get away easier at lunchtime. Some people may not be able to get away to meet, but will be more willing to meet with you at their work because you were generous enough to ask them out.
• Mention mutual friends or LinkedIn connections in your invitation. People will be much more open to meet with you if you are a friend of a friend.
• If they do respond positively, do all of the leg work to firm up the appointment. Suggest dates, times, and locations (research what coffee houses and/or restaurants are nearby).
• Listen for their concern areas. If they say they have only limited time, select a place that is fast and very convenient to them.
• If possible, try to meet with them at their company cafeteria so you can get a feel for the company, possibly meet other useful people and maybe even get a tour of their building. 
• If they can’t or won’t meet with you, don’t take rejection personally. People may have many reasons for not being able to meet including being overwhelmed by their workload, insecure about their usefulness, or worried about being away from their work area for too long.
• Send them a confirmation email that includes the meeting date, time, and restaurant name and location. Also include your name, cell phone number, email address, and types of positions you are seeking.
• Email them a reminder the day before or the morning of the meeting. Include your contact information in case they need to reschedule. Tell them what you look like and what you will be wearing so you will be easy to spot.
• Don’t be discouraged if they cancel even at the last second; reschedule a new date as soon as possible.

Meeting Guidelines

• Check out the restaurant a day or two before at the same time of day so you can make contingency plans should it be too crowded or noisy, or parking too problematic.
• Arrive early so you can lay claim to a table in a quiet area, within view of the front door.
• Since you invited the person, you pay (but keep in mind the place does not have to be expensive).
• Bring more than enough money for both of your meals and the tip. If you plan to play by credit card, make sure the restaurant takes credit.
• Bring a note pad and pen to take notes.
• Bring your resume. Also give the person your business card (if you have one).
• Have a basic plan of what you want to cover, but also be interested in them and their career. Work to develop a relationship.
• Ask them for their suggestions and referrals.
• If you are interested in their company, ask how they got their job there and how they like the company. Also ask them for their tips for how to get hired there.
• Keep the meeting brief; be respectful of their time.

After Meeting Guidelines

• Send a thank you email the same day. Thank them specifically for any suggestions they provided. Tell them what actions you will take because of their suggestions.
• Send them follow-up emails every couple of weeks to let them know the status of your job search. Particularly let them know the status of any efforts you have undertaken based upon their suggestions. For example, if they suggest you contact someone, let them know the outcome of your conversation with that person.

While the cost of buying a few coffees or lunches can add up, the benefits of connecting with relevant people who can help you find work is well worth the expense … and you can write the expenses off on your taxes. So invite people to lunch or coffee … it can help you land a job that you love

Have you tried inviting people to coffee or lunch to help you in your job search? Share your experiences and comments via the Contact page.
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How to become a LinkedIn Open Networker

Consider becoming a LinkedIn
Open Networker to expand your
network into hiring companies.

Earlier, I shared information to help you decide whether you should become an open networker. As I explained then, a LinkedIn Open Networker (LION) is a member of LinkedIn who invites and accepts invitations from hundreds, even thousands of other LinkedIn members who they don’t know to expand their network.

Should you become a LinkedIn Open Networker?

Becoming a LinkedIn Open Networker can help
you network your way into target companies.

A LinkedIn Open Networker (LION) is a member of LinkedIn who invites and accepts invitations from hundreds, even thousands of other LinkedIn members who they don’t know personally to expand their network. 

About being a LION

Make the most of your LinkedIn recommendations

Aim to have several LinkedIn
recommendations.

Occasionally online job applications will contain a section where you can not only attach your cover letter and resume, but other documents as well. 

A list of recommendations about yourself makes a great additional attachment to include in this section … and developing such a list is a lot easier than you might think.

If you are on LinkedIn (and if you are job seeker, you really should be on this free business networking site), ask your contacts, particularly former colleagues and bosses, to make recommendations about you on the LinkedIn site. 

These recommendations will appeal on your LinkedIn profile.

Copy and paste the best recommendations into a Word document, and then format the page to look attractive. Save the document to your computer, then attach it to job application emails or online job applications. It’s that easy.

Suggestions

• To encourage people to make recommendations about you, make thoughtful recommendations about them first. People are usually glad to reciprocate.
• Email your resume or a short description of your past work duties and business successes to the people you want to recommend you to make it easy for them to write about you. Basically give them the general idea of what you want them to say so their recommendation will be correct and useful to you.
• Add a link to your LinkedIn public profile on your email signature so people can access your recommendations that way as well.

Develop a list of recommendations about yourself … after all, it could help you land a job that you will love.

What ideas do you have about this subject? Please share your comments. If I can be of help to you, let me know.  -- Kathy
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Like what you've learned?
Receive the WiserUTips blog by email or RSS feed and benefit from our services!

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Are you trying to find a job all by yourself?

Don't job search alone!
Enlist your network to help.

Are you like a job-seeking friend of mine who doesn’t want to network because he’d rather land a job all by himself? 

That mindset can really hurt your job search success because networking plays a major role in up to 75% of all hires. Many job openings are never posted on general job search web sites or featured in a newspaper classified ad, but are instead spread by word of mouth. 

If you aren’t communicating regularly about your job search with a wide variety of people, you won’t hear about these jobs.

Even if networking doesn’t come naturally to you, you can take simple steps to expand your network:

• Email everyone you know and ask them to send you leads for the types of jobs you are seeking. Send them upbeat reminders every couple of weeks to remind them to keep looking out for you.
• Send invitations to connect with friends and business acquaintances on www.linkedin.com (with a quick note about your need for job leads), and then invite mutual friends on their contact lists to connect. Make sure your “What are you working on now” box on your LinkedIn profile indicates that you are seeking job leads.
• Reach out to unemployed friends. Send each other job leads and encouraging messages. Meet for coffee to learn how you can connect with each other’s contacts.
• Participate in free and low cost networking events in your region. You can find out about these events from your local library and by joining local LinkedIn groups (just type your city name in LinkedIn’s “Search groups” box).
• Volunteer, particularly for groups or associations involved in your area of business.

Step out of your comfort zone and network … after all, it could help you land a job or get a better one! 

In what ways do you network successfully? Share your comments!

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Look to WiserU
WiserU provides LinkedIn training and services and career training and services for individuals and organizations that can transform your future or grow your business. Visit WiserU.com to learn more.

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