I spoke to a new member of a networking group I was at recently who said to me that she wasn’t sure if it was the right thing for her because she didn’t have (or want to start) her own business. As we spoke it became clear that while she didn’t want her own business, she did want to work but was struggling to find a job. So I asked,
“Is networking not part of your job search strategy?”
She responded with a blank look but as we continued to talk, she soon began to realise that networking was not just for business owners and that not only should she keep coming to this particular group but that she also needed to find other networking groups to join.
The thing is, you cannot wait in for the employment agency to call or spend all day at your computer looking for job vacancies. You need to be out there speaking to people from a whole range of back grounds and with so many networking groups to choose from, it couldn’t be more easy. If you don’t feel confident enough to go along to a new group for the first time, take a friend with you but just make sure that you don’t spend the whole time together and not talking to others. Or, if you have a hobby or interest, see if there are any workshops, courses, or meet ups related to your hobby that you could attend; that way you know you will have something in common with the other people there.
As I said in my last post, the Six degrees of separation refers to the idea that everyone is on average approximately six steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person on Earth, and that person may have the vacancy you are looking for.
And this is so true because I actually have a client who is now working with someone as a result of a conversation they had while sitting beside each other on a short flight between London and Amsterdam!
So get out there and get talking. 🙂
And if you are now hearing that negative voice inside your head saying,
”That’s easy for you but I could never do it; go into a room and talk with total strangers, no way, I’m not confident enough. What would I say?”
Then you are not alone, there are lots of people who feel this way but it doesn’t mean that you have to remain this way – get in touch and see how I can help, anne@power-to-change.eu let’s work together towards getting that job you want.
