Networking your way to a new job
Networking is the most important element of your job search. MedZilla dispels the myth that networking is shaking hands and passing out business cards. In this article, MedZilla explains how networking fits into the job search, what networking really is and how a networking cover letter can provide the foundation of a successful networking campaign.
Marysville, WA (PRWEB) June 11, 2004 -- You've been terminated. Your throat
closes up and you imagine yourself and your family at the street's edge with
cans in your hands asking for money.
Those scary images are not what you
need to be thinking about the minute you get the bad news. Rather, your thinking
process should shift immediately to an effective way to conduct a successful job
search. That "process" revolves around networking.
"Networking is the
single most effective and important element in your job search," says Frank
Heasley, PhD, president and CEO of MedZilla.com, a leading Internet recruitment
and professional community that serves biotechnology, pharmaceuticals,
healthcare and science. "Networking requires thought, research, strategy and
time. It's more than sitting back and waiting for people to contact you. It's
more than checking newspaper ads, responding to them, posting your resume and
contacting recruiters. In networking, you have to go out and find and make a
lasting impression on specific people within the industry of your choice and in
related industries."
Networking: It might not be what you
think
Networking is more than shaking hands and passing out business
cards at a professional gathering. It often requires researching which companies
might need someone with your talents, skills and experience. It means contacting
people who are plugged into your industry and have a sense for which companies
are hiring and which are not.
Finally, networking means contacting those
key people (think of them as your informants) and talking with them, not about
asking for a job, but rather asking their advice about who to contact and how to
contact the right people. If a recruiter has ever contacted you, you probably
noticed when they asked if you were not interested in a specific position, did
you know anyone else who might be. That's networking. In networking, every
conversation should result in more contacts.
Remember, your being
employed has taken you out of the mainstream. You've been sheltered and might
not be aware of changes in the industry-changes in thinking, hiring practices
and hiring trends. Your informants will generally be decision makers-people who
have their fingers on the pulse of the industry. People in management and other
executives tend to make the best informants.
Many plates in the air....
Keep a log
Networking should be a big part of your job search, according
to Dr. Heasley. Don't forget, however, to try the traditional methods of keeping
an eye on posted and advertised positions in newspapers, magazines and the Web.
Post your resume on niche sites, devoted to your and similar industries. In
addition, follow up on leads from advertisements and recruiters.
An
aggressive job search might require that you tap different search methods
simultaneously.
Michele Groutage, MedZilla's director of marketing,
suggests that you keep a log of your job search activities, including making
notes about leads from advertisements (such as how and when you responded to
those leads), recording where you've posted your resumes and which recruiters,
you have called or have called you.
"Some people haphazardly go through
the job search process, forgetting what they've done and without getting the
most out of their efforts," Groutage says. "The job search log helps you plan
your next move. For example, you might note that it's time to follow up with one
of your leads and take that person for a cup of coffee. Part of the log is
recording your experiences; making notes of your discussion with that lead and
what that person suggested you do next."
Networking with a
letter
You probably already have a resume, but do you have a networking
letter? The networking letter, which asks for a person's advice, is different
from a cover letter, which asks for a specific job.
Your networking
letter should match your personality and style. Its purpose is to communicate
that you value the recipient's opinion and request his or her help in your job
search. Ask that the recipient provide you with any names, people, or companies
that might be interested in someone with your background. (Don't forget to
attach a copy of your resume.)
Direct your networking letter to people at
companies or within industries that are responsible for hiring people with
backgrounds that are similar to yours.
Make sure the letter is well
written and free of grammatical and spelling goofs. Customize it for each
recipient to the point that the person getting it will feel like you've done
your research and are serious about following up on his or her
suggestions.
After you've mailed it, wait a week or two before following
up on the letter. You might find that it takes a few phone calls to get through
to your lead, or potential informant, but don't give up. It's amazing how many
targeted leads can be generated from one good resource.
"One of the most
important parts of good networking is not dropping the ball," Dr. Heasley says.
"People are busy, but usually not too busy to help someone who seems serious and
is qualified. It just takes some time and persistence-that's what networking is
all about."
About MedZilla.com
Established in mid 1994, MedZilla is
the original web site to serve career and hiring needs for professionals and
employers in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medicine, science and healthcare.
MedZilla databases contain about 10,000 open positions, 13,000 resumes from
candidates actively seeking new positions and 71,000 archived
resumes.
Medzilla® is a Registered Trademark owned by Medzilla Inc.
Copyright ©2004, MedZilla, Inc. Permission is granted to reproduce and
distribute this text in its entirety, and if electronically, with a link to the
URL www.medzilla.com. For permission to quote from or reproduce
any portion of this message, please contact Michele Groutage, Director of
Marketing and Development, MedZilla, Inc. Email: e-mail protected from spam
bots.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/6/prweb132741.htm