did you know you are 54 times more like to get hired through a referral? think about that for a minute… i said times, not percent, TIMES. it’s a really astonishing number really, and should cause you to ask, “how do I make that number work to my advantage?” the answer: networking. it’s the key to your career future. Whether you are recently graduated or a seasoned veteran; networking is how you are going to get you next job. let me explain why this works.
first off, now more than ever employers are getting 100s of resumes for any given position (no matter what the level). the best and most effective way to get noticed in that stack of papers is if someone walks over to the hiring manager or HR person and says “here, this person rocks, you need to talk to them.” people like working with known entities and when someone can speak on your behalf it takes a huge bit of guesswork and worry off the hiring person’s mind. second, you are going to hear of more job opportunities through your network, and you can enlist your network to keep an eye out for you in their respective companies, thus increasing your chances of finding the perfect job for you. so how do you use your network? here are 5 easy steps to connect with others:
- make a list of everyone you know and where they work. Anything look interesting? give them a call.
- if you aren’t on LinkedIn, sign up. you can see my profile to get an idea of how it looks here or you can sign up for ROCKHARBOR’s job hunting seminar on June 10th for more details on how to use LinkedIn to its fullest.
- join user groups online. you can find them on yahoo, google, and LinkedIn. doing this will allow you to connect with people with similar skill sets and a lot of the time you will see jobs posted specifically for the skill set of the group.
- always check your network first before applying for a job. not only will you find that you probably know someone who works there, but you may also find you know someone who knows someone who works at the company you are trying to get into.
- don’t be afraid to use your network and ask people for help finding work and getting the word out about your job search. you’ve connected with these people for a reason, because you trust them. they want to help you out, trust me.
those are the basics. if you do these 5 things, you’ll be off to great start. for more job hunting tips and support during your job search come and check out ROCKHARBOR’s upcoming seminar “the hunt: finding work in today’s job market” on june 10th. you can sign up on CORE here.
i am of medical technology background particularly in the open heart discipline [I am not a doctor ; just a technologist].
I have about 13 years of business experience covering medical equipment and devices in the AsiaPacific countries. I want a job either in NZ or in Asia please;
thank you and God bless you all
Hi guys! I just graduated from UCSB and would love to move to the Costa Mesa area and join the RH family! Two problems though…I need a job and I need a roomate/place to stay! I’m looking to be a physical therapist aide (ideally), but am also interested in marketing/advertising. And for a roommate, I just want to live with someone that loves Jesus..and who would want to live relatively inexpensively =)
Let me know if you can help me!! Thanks!
brechez@gmail.com
Message (500 Character Limit)I am a graduated college student looking to move to Orange County. I was
wondering if there was anybody who is looking for a roommate down there for
relatively cheap or even possibly for exchange of services like
childcare/housekeeping or something like that. I am 21 years old with childcare
experience. I just found a job in Yorba Linda babysitting for 3 days a week and
would be able to stay at their home during that time. I am also currently
looking for a job with Disney as well. I am looking to move fairly quickly. If
you know of anything please contact me. Thanks!
adisneydesigner@aol.com
For anyone who needs job experience or some padding to help them give their degree some umph, I’ve heard that interning (unpaid) at non-profits (ex: YMCA, shelters) are flexible and is a great way to get your foot in the door to a career. You’re practically volunteering so they enjoy having interns. Positions can vary from HR, Marketing, Event Planner, etc… I went to a non-profit event at my school and the speakers said that even if their company doesn’t have a job opening, they will do their best to find you a career after your internship.
Just go to their site and directly contact the HR rep. Know what you want out of your internship and they’ll try and help you.
I need a job! Also, if someone needs a place to live, the OC Rescue Mission will give you a free place to live in exchange for 16 hours of volunteer work as a security guard! I’m doing this right now and it’s a sick gig! 16 hours a week and I get free room and board, all the food I can eat (literaly), and I get to be around the least, the broken, and the lost every day. It is an awesome ministry to be involved in. Hit me up if you are interested.
queensboulevard11@gmail.com
Shalom my family!
so true! and it feels great to help someone find a job and establish themselves in a new career.
I always hated bugging people that I rarely talk to for a job, but I learned a lot of companies give bonuses to employees that refer someone. So keep in mind that you could be helping an acquaintance get a little extra cash by applying through them.