Don't Speak to Strangers! is This How You View Networking?
By Redy2Assist
Do not speak to strangers! No doubt you heard this mentioned by your parents
several times when you were a child. It is sound advice, and has protected
many children from calamity. Now you are older, and you recall that familiar
warning message about speaking to strangers. You know it still makes sense
to listen to this advice because there are a lot of strangers out there that
are up to no good; so you keep your guard up. You feel protected and you are
doing just fine. Wait, the company that you loyally worked with for 10 years
has just laid you off and a Career Coach is telling you to network and speak
to strangers. But wait, my parents told me not to speak to strangers, is
this person out of their mind?
When I was downsized, I took advantage of receiving career advice from an
outplacement firm, which was provided by my former employer. They reviewed
my Résumé, and helped me to create a job search marketing plan. They also
encouraged me to network with friends, family, and former coworkers.
Then they told me to join networking groups. I heard them, but did not
listen right away. I only contacted people I knew, about finding work. I
then realized, most of the people I knew did not know about any available
jobs, or were in danger of being downsized as well. Then I started to think,
how will I benefit from only networking with people I know?
Unemployed people can network and help each other.
The outplacement company encouraged me to reach out to other people who were
unemployed. I wondered, how in the world can unemployed people help me? At
the time that did not make sense to me. Then they explained that unemployed
people are good to network with because they might have worked for a company
that I am interested in, and I could get information from them. Just because
they are no longer working for that company, does not mean they no longer
have network contacts there. Now it all made sense. Light bulb on!
I contacted a few people who were also listed with the outplacement company,
some responded to me and others totally ignored me. I really did not know
what I was doing, or how to network at the time; so I totally understand. To
improve my networking skills, I read articles, and went to local networking
events. It really helped me to overcome my fear of networking with
strangers.
Some of the people you might meet when you network with strangers and join
networking groups.
I networked with a Project Manager who was also out of work, and now this
person is a Vice President of a well known company (we still keep in touch).
One gentleman that I networked with was very helpful. He gave me tons of
useful information, and great advice. He is now a very high ranking person
at a Global Company. He was the person that first introduced me to LinkedIn
and I connected with him as soon as I joined. I also joined former
employer's alumni groups to reconnect with former co-workers. Then I
branched out and started to join other job search and networking groups on
LinkedIn.
All the people that I met were very supportive. Collaborating with them has
really helped me further improve my networking skills and enabled me to hone
my strengths in ways which I might not have thought of myself. I truly
appreciate all I have learned and try to give back by helping others.
I have met many people who were once strangers to me. They have been very
helpful in my career transition, and I would not have met them if I only
networked with people I knew.
Are you ready to take your job search to the next level? Network
<
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2696933/reasons_to_keep_networking _even_if.html?
cat=3> everywhere you go and meet new people (be cautious and
safe while doing so). You never know, your dream job might be right in your
professional network of strangers.
More resources
*
http://www.ehow.com/how_5885219_stay-positive-reinvent-yourself-unemployed.h
tml
*
http://www.ehow.com/how_5992104_show-appreciation-social-networking.html
*
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2697001/keep_searching_and_networki
ng_dont.html?cat=42
URL:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2722541/dont_speak_to_strangers_is_
this_how.html?cat=31
