Networking 2010: Not Your Parents' Job Hunt

"Work Smarter, Not Harder" - WSNH. It's my motto. Probably because when it comes down to it, I want permission to be lazy.

Actually, it's probably more of a goal than motto. I haven't quite achieved complete incorporation of that into my life. But I'm getting there. It resonates with me for a variety of reasons mostly because it encourages me to better utilize my time. It's about the quality of time, not the quantity of time, I put into a project.

In my last post, you read about my experience of being laid off and recovering from that. WSNH was my one guideline the second I walked out of that office. How could I go through the tedious job search process without the demoralizing effects of thousands of rejections? I didn't want to deal with that.

The game plan, which I briefly mentioned in my last article was fairly straightforward, network. For those of you who think that simply means go out and talk to people you know, get real. Maybe that was the case for your parents, but those old school ways belong to 1999.

Every single person capable of hiring you is already in one place. The internet.

Wahuh?? Oh it's true. But how do you reach them? I don't know exactly how, but I can tell you what worked for me.

1. I cleaned up Facebook. Not that I had any incriminating pictures there, but I wanted to project the image of a well-balanced, even-keeled professional - in my photos AND in the "info" section.

2. I made my LinkedIn profile whole. There's a little percentage thing that tells you how "complete" your profile is. It took a couple of days, but I got it to 100%. I also requested several recommendations from key people.

Most hiring managers search at least LinkedIn to learn more about applicants. It's like a supplemental resume with references - and it's easy.

3. I setup andreakilgore.com. Another place for my resume. It's interactive and more visually appealing than a traditional resume. It's a hub that takes visitors anywhere else I am on the Web. People can find and reach out to me in five different ways by just going to andreakilgore.com.

4. Envoked Twitter power. I tweeted matter-of-factly and without bias to my situation, and then I let it go. My tweets demonstrated to potential employers that I had moved on. They could clearly see I wasn't dwelling, that I was searching for my next opportunity, and keeping up with the industry and current events instead of becoming a casualty of unemployment.

Twitter nay-sayers - I snagged an interview through Twitter. They eventually hired someone with more experience, but this may have been my best interview experience with a company yet.

5. Business cards. My business cards were a severely abbreviated version of my site so if I ever did meet someone in the real world who was a potential employer, or knew someone who was, that business card would take them to my hub. This old school function is still 86% relevant.

6. Network like there's no tomorrow. I connected with people online and offline. I had coffee and lunch meetings my entire first two weeks of being laid off. I needed it for my mental health, and I needed to find out about opportunities. There wasn't a weekday when I wasn't meeting up with someone. Not in that "I'm desperate for a job" kind of way. But I just talked to people. Fostered relationships, reconnected.

In natural conversation, we discussed my next steps. They offered to help me in any way they could. Period. I didn't push, beg or demand. I didn't expect them to find me my next job. They were just aware, and that's all I needed. I kept in touch CASUALLY so I was top of mind but always in moderation... always.

7. Speaking of moderation, I did not apply to every job that was a pseudo match. I've heard stories from people who send out 30 resumes a week and lament that they haven't landed any interviews. Then they quickly run out of steam because applying to that many jobs really is a bloody ton of work.

I carefully evaluated listed positions with my desires for my next job - not unlike what hiring managers would be doing with applicants. While the job market really is terrible, I wasn't going to settle. I do bring a skill set to the table, and I'm not sacrificing that for a job I don't really want. That approach isn't fair to potential employers either.

As you know I did eventually find a job that was a match for what I wanted - and apparently what my hiring manager wanted as well. How did my groundwork help in getting this job?

Well, a former coworker, whom I stayed in touch with, passed the position along to me. I didn't once ask him to help me find a job. He did it because we have a good relationship.

Since starting this job, my now boss has mentioned three things that resonate with me.
1. A strong recommendation from our mutual contact got me the first interview.
2. My website demonstrated to her that I am a go-getter.
3. She found my personal blog on my website. With that, she learned about me, my writing style and personality.

The internet is a gathering place for job seekers. Don't rely on it alone because you won't get far. Everyone is there though so establish an online presence so strong that when your next employer Googles your name, you are the first five results.

Work smarter, not harder. Strategize your job search because in this market, it's more likely to be a marathon than a sprint.

Update: I feel compelled to mention, change your cell's voicemail. A little personality is fine but play it smart. This could be the first time a potential employer hears your voice.