Networking Workshop (2) We did a workshop a few weeks ago. Seems we need to drill deeper. I am likely to call on each of you for comment Tonight is intended as a workshop. Quite informal. We may go off in a lot of directions. Big goal is to make sure you have ONE ‘next task” on your list and a way to approach it Networking Workshop (2) Tony Dye March 17, 2016

Just curious, who knows the story of St. Patrick?

Survey #1 – How are you spending your time? How many hours to your search last week? So far this week? (even if not very productive) How much time on Resume updates LinkedIn updates Marketing plan and search direction Job boards and applications Researching target companies Networking – any type Other Informal survey. Do you know where you spend your time? Unless you have some form of income-producing work, why would you not be spending at least 40 hours/week on your search? If you spent less that 40 hours, why? What do we need to address? Do you feel you are being productive? If not, why not?

Survey 2 – What’s keeping you unemployed? There are so few real job opportunities Low confidence in my abilities My lack of specific skills My unclear personal target Discrimination (age, gender, whatever) Bad economy Life circumstances in the way of a search Poor self-discipline Is there one of these that’s your major problem? Or is it some percentage of each? Can you put percentage numbers on this? (I’ll wait a moment) Anyone care to share? Follow-up question: which of these can you actually do something about? Are you?

Do you believe in networking? Do you really believe in networking? Are you doing it? (YES would be a great answer) If you believe, and you’re not doing it, what’s the problem? Anybody want to speak up?

Excerpt from the Essay Expert MOST EFFECTIVE JOB SEARCH ACTIVITY Network, Network, and Network!! A significant 67% of job seekers indicated that networking and communicating with key contacts was their most effective job search activity. Of those who reported their job search took as long or shorter than expected, close to 80% said networking was their most effective activity. Are you getting the point? 20% said working with a coach or improving their skills in other ways, including enhancing their resume and cover letter writing abilities, was key to their success. Yesterday’s email from the Essay Expert

Why are you NOT networking more? You don’t know what to say in networking You don’t know who to network with You don’t know how to make the connections It’s hard stuff! “I don’t WANT to do it!” You don’t believe it matters as much as people say What’s the problem? Is it one of these? If not, what?

Quotes "If you are unemployed, it's not so much because of poor skills as because of poor relationships“ -- My bad paraphrase of a quote that I can’t find "In a job search, relationships are at least as important as skills!“ -- My alternate paraphrase. Better? "The most important personal ‘core competence’ by far is a rich set of relationships.” -- Tom Peters If you disagree, then networking is not going to be important to you. If you agree, then isn’t it just about the most important thing?

Key networking thoughts Networking is mostly 1 person at a time A job search is about what you can do for someone. NOT about how someone else can help you Exception: Your very first networking with your friends. ASK for help! Networking is NOT about meeting lots of people at once. It’s not speed dating. Just fine one person to connect more deeply with. Referrals from others is the best

Workshop Let’s jump into our workshop. No handout tonight. Make your own notes

Networking checklist Having a clear purpose for networking (now, later) Have a ‘next’ person to network with. (just one at a time) Prepared to meet (Marketing plan, or start with ABC-123) Where to network? Time for networking What should you leave behind? What is your follow-up? What will you do ongoing? Do you need to do a branding exercise? Do you have a reliable data system? What about a master doc for all your messages? I’m tossing this out for discussion. Where do you disagree? More importantly, which of these steps is your bottleneck? A paradox. If you don’t have a clear job target, there is still a case for networking. ASK for help! Otherwise the clock keeps on ticking

May I network with you? Right now? Live and in person? Note: that means I know who I’m networking with tonight. How about you?

What’s wrong with this approach?

Take-aways What are your next steps? DECIDE if you will do networking or not Who is your accountability partner? Do you have someone to bounce ideas around with? Track your hours and your progress Choose your ONE next person to network with (probably someone you know well) Have a rough marketing document, or at least ABC-123 to talk through Ask for help. Ask for suggestions Do you have clear actions? Do you know what to do? If you are stuck, please don’t let this linger another week, or two, or more. Find someone for a one-to-one meeting. Consider others in this room!

“Resources” http://TonyDye.com/CPCCM This is an experiment. We may change it. We may delete it. “Get it while it’s there.” Let Dan or me know if you’d like us to go a different direction. I’ll will post today’s presentation by the end of the weekend, maybe a lot sooner. It will be in the 7. Networking area

Tony Dye TonyDye@Gmail.com @TonyDye TonyDye.com Thank You Tony Dye TonyDye@Gmail.com @TonyDye TonyDye.com