If you want a job, and you aren't focusing on tapping into your network
to try to win a referral into the company that interests you, it's time
to drastically alter your strategy. As employers try to cut hiring
costs, decrease turnover and improve new hire time-to-productivity, they
are becoming more aggressive about encouraging their employees to
recommend people who would be good candidates. A New York Times article
reports that employees hired as the result of a referral are 15 percent
less likely to quit and that they "perform better, stay longer and are
quicker to integrate" on the job. What company wouldn't want to identify
this type of candidate?
CareerXRoads, a consulting practice that studies recruiting technology solutions, conducts annual studies about how organizations source and hire employees.
They found that nearly half of all companies make at least one hire for
every five referrals they get. If you are not putting yourself in
positions to be referred, you are missing out on one very key aspect of
job search networking.
How can you get referrals and avoid the "resume black hole" that so many
job seekers dread? The key is to expand the number of people who
understand your background and who like and trust you enough to stake
their own reputations on your expertise. Here are some tips to help you
convince people to help you in your job search:
Let people know what you do. Don't be obnoxious about
it, but especially if you are actively job searching, make a point to
talk about your professional expertise with people you know. If you're
at a party, it's natural to exchange pleasantries and ask, "So, what do
you do?" When you have a chance to respond, don't delve into a diatribe
about your job search -- simply mention your expertise matter-of-factly.
If the person seems really interested, and especially if you share
professional interests, consider steering the conversation to find out
if the person may know anyone at some of your target companies. However,
recognize, that if you've just met it's unlikely that your new contact
will jump at the chance to refer you for a job. Think of the meeting as a
steppingstone and make sure to follow up.
Grow your network and keep conversations alive. You
can't get referrals before people get to know you. It's your job to put
yourself in positions to meet new people and to keep in touch with
contacts. Why do people refer candidates for positions? One reason is
because they think they are competent and can do the job, but another
important reason is because they like the person. When you meet people
you like, or you might like to know better, follow up with them. Forward
occasional links to articles that they may like and ask to meet for
coffee. The more people who know you and like you, the better your
chances to land a referral.
Demonstrate your expertise via social media. There's no
better way to demonstrate what you know to people who don't already
know you than via social media tools such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook
and Google Plus. Pick your favorite network and share a steady stream
of news and information about your field. Be a useful resource for
people in your industry. Comment on articles, offer your own insights
about key topics and start online conversations with influential people
in your field. You may be surprised to find that someone you never met
in person will refer you for a job because he is impressed with you
online.
Volunteer for opportunities. Be known as someone who is
always willing to pitch in. If you are employed, step up to take on
challenging projects where you'll have a chance to showcase what you
know. If you're between positions, look for places to offer your help.
Ideally, you'll land volunteer gigs where you can use your work skills,
but if you have a hard time landing the perfect volunteer job, find an
organization whose mission you support and find ways to pitch in. You'll
grow your network and your potential for job referrals simply by doing
what you say you will!
Make seeking opportunities for referrals a priority and you are much more likely to land a job sooner than later.
Source: AOL
