Blog Post: Jobseekers - Sage Summer Series - Tip #2

Last month I addressed how jobseekers can let go (of their old job) so that they can move on in the search for their new job (read it here).   For the rest of the summer, each Thursday, I’ll address an aspect of the job search process.  What makes me qualified?

Before I launched my own business in 2000, when I was still a corporate cog I changed jobs every few years.  Sometimes that meant I quit and moved to another company, and other times, I changed roles in the same company.  Plus, when I worked in the career development & outplacement industry for a decade, I coached many people in their job search.

Some of my articles this summer may be applicable to you immediately and some will be relevant at other times in your career.

Today I have a question that, while it may be obvious, is often ignored.

Here it is: When is the best time to network?

Yes, I know, I said the question is obvious.  Even so, many people network only when they lose their job, want to market their business, or generally when they want something from someone else. I call this “Seagull Networking.”  

It happened to me recently.  Someone I worked with several years ago found me on LinkedIn and asked to connect.  When we worked together I was living in Seattle, he lived in San Diego and we were consulting on a project in the Bay area.  I was  glad that he’d found me and happy to learn he now lived in the Phoenix area, too.  I accepted his invitation and the next thing I knew, I received a direct e-mail asking me if I wanted to get together to catch up. “Great!” I thought because I’d enjoyed working with this person.

So we met for lunch. 

But it wasn’t just the two of us.  It was my former colleague, me, and his Blackberry calls.  Between each call I listened to all the accomplishments my “friend” achieved in the past 10 years.  Did he ask about me and what I’d been doing for the past 10 years?  What do you think?

After lunch we said our goodbyes and promised to stay in touch.  Next day, I followed up with an e-mail and sent some information that I thought would be helpful in his search. He got back to me the following week with a cryptic “Great to see you” but didn’t respond to my question in the e-mail.  And, he spelled my name wrong!   

Why am I telling you this story?  Because I don't want you to be regarded as a seagull networker.

While the research consistently shows than nearly 80% of all jobs are found through networking, great networkers don’t wait until they need something from someone. They maintain connections along the way.  Then, if the unforeseen happens (i.e., “I had no idea my department was going to be shut down”) they are not regarded as a nuisance who swoops, makes a lot of noise and then disappears until the next time they need something.

Comments?

Next week:  Are you paying attention to what’s important to someone else.  For example, do you know how to spell/pronounce their name?

Sylva Leduc, MEd, MPEC
Leadership Strategist
Author, "Roadmap to Success"
Sage Leadership Strategies