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Networking From Inside Your Comfort Zone
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By Jo Miller
Q: I am temping in a Project Management job and I am about to be offered the job permanently. My issue is that I don't like the job. I can't stand the thought of being bored and underutilized 40 hours a week. I cannot decide whether to continue to temp or just take this job while I keep looking. I recently escaped an extremely dull job after sticking it out for 3 long years and I don't look forward to more of the same. Temping has been good to me and I am confident I will keep finding temp work.
A: Keep temping! You sound so confident and happy with your temp work. You may also have a third option.
Have you been kept continuously busy with temp work for more than six months?
Are you above average skill level in your field?
Can you step into a new work situation, quickly find your feet and start producing?
Do you tend to get bored once you have mastered a job and need to move onto a new challenge?
Can you confidently take charge in a crisis?
Do you possess interpersonal and customer service skills in addition to the requisite technical skills?
Are you emotionally strong enough to deal with the unpredictable nature of temping income?
Have you built a good relationship with your temping agency?
If you answered 'yes' to most of these questions, you may be one of a new breed of worker, the permanent temp. Almost unheard of ten years ago, the permanent temp loves the flexibility and variety of temping, feels confident they will keep receiving assignments indefinitely, and is able to shoulder the uncertain nature of temp work.
If you possess all the characteristics of a good long-term temp worker, you will succeed by finding yourself one or two reputable temping agencies and building a strong relationship with each. Some agencies even value their long-term temps so highly, they offer benefits.
Q: I am a senior design engineer. I have been putting applications and resumes in everywhere they are looking for someone with my qualifications. How come they won't even call for an interview? Someone, please help me. My career counselor said I have to network, but nothing's worse than networking. It's degrading, like selling myself. I will not hit up my friends for jobs.
A: If you want to start getting different results, you're going to have to do something differently. Statistics offered by Sandler Sales Institute say your chance of getting the job is 80% when someone else introduces you, then attends the introductory meeting or call. How badly do you want that job? Enough to challenge yourself to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable?
Many job seekers avoid networking for the same reasons you do. But surprisingly, effective networking is not disingenuous, does not involve taking advantage of people, and most definitely does not involve hitting them up for jobs.
The true objective of networking is not ?how can I take advantage of this person?, rather, ?what help can I offer this person?, followed by ?what would they need to know about me, in order to offer help in return?.
Step 1: Your first step is to write a list of names of those you consider to be your inner circle: your trusted friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances. Your goal is to foster each of those relationships, offer your help, and send a clear message about what they could do if they wish to help you in return. Ask yourself:
Who on my list have I not made contact with in the last week?
Who have I not offered to help?
And who is not aware of what they could do to help me?
Step 2: Now add more people to that inner circle. Take an honest look at how you like to meet new people. Are you most effective when rapidly introducing yourself to twenty people at an industry networking function, or inviting one person to chat over coffee? Choose a comfortable way of getting to know people better.
Q: I am temping in a Project Management job and I am about to be offered the job permanently. My issue is that I don't like the job. I can't stand the thought of being bored and underutilized 40 hours a week. I cannot decide whether to continue to temp or just take this job while I keep looking. I recently escaped an extremely dull job after sticking it out for 3 long years and I don't look forward to more of the same. Temping has been good to me and I am confident I will keep finding temp work.
A: Keep temping! You sound so confident and happy with your temp work. You may also have a third option.
Have you been kept continuously busy with temp work for more than six months?
Are you above average skill level in your field?
Can you step into a new work situation, quickly find your feet and start producing?
Do you tend to get bored once you have mastered a job and need to move onto a new challenge?
Can you confidently take charge in a crisis?
Do you possess interpersonal and customer service skills in addition to the requisite technical skills?
Are you emotionally strong enough to deal with the unpredictable nature of temping income?
Have you built a good relationship with your temping agency?
If you answered 'yes' to most of these questions, you may be one of a new breed of worker, the permanent temp. Almost unheard of ten years ago, the permanent temp loves the flexibility and variety of temping, feels confident they will keep receiving assignments indefinitely, and is able to shoulder the uncertain nature of temp work.
If you possess all the characteristics of a good long-term temp worker, you will succeed by finding yourself one or two reputable temping agencies and building a strong relationship with each. Some agencies even value their long-term temps so highly, they offer benefits.
Q: I am a senior design engineer. I have been putting applications and resumes in everywhere they are looking for someone with my qualifications. How come they won't even call for an interview? Someone, please help me. My career counselor said I have to network, but nothing's worse than networking. It's degrading, like selling myself. I will not hit up my friends for jobs.
A: If you want to start getting different results, you're going to have to do something differently. Statistics offered by Sandler Sales Institute say your chance of getting the job is 80% when someone else introduces you, then attends the introductory meeting or call. How badly do you want that job? Enough to challenge yourself to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable?
Many job seekers avoid networking for the same reasons you do. But surprisingly, effective networking is not disingenuous, does not involve taking advantage of people, and most definitely does not involve hitting them up for jobs.
The true objective of networking is not ?how can I take advantage of this person?, rather, ?what help can I offer this person?, followed by ?what would they need to know about me, in order to offer help in return?.
Step 1: Your first step is to write a list of names of those you consider to be your inner circle: your trusted friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances. Your goal is to foster each of those relationships, offer your help, and send a clear message about what they could do if they wish to help you in return. Ask yourself:
Who on my list have I not made contact with in the last week?
Who have I not offered to help?
And who is not aware of what they could do to help me?
Step 2: Now add more people to that inner circle. Take an honest look at how you like to meet new people. Are you most effective when rapidly introducing yourself to twenty people at an industry networking function, or inviting one person to chat over coffee? Choose a comfortable way of getting to know people better.
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