#yournetwork Archives - First Sun Consulting, LLC | Outplacement Services and Career Transition Firm

#BestofFSCBlog :How to Network When You’re Not Looking for a Job.

March 8, 2018/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

If you’re already unemployed and looking, anyone you meet will see what they can do for you, but they won’t know why knowing you benefits them. That’s understandable, since at that point your only goal in building a network would be to help yourself.

In reality, it’s best to make networking part of what you do at all times. When you have a job, it’s OK to network with an eye on the next one. In fact, it’s easier to set up your next position when the people you will be connecting with hear about your long-term interest rather than an immediate need.

What Should You Do?

Even if you have a steady, stable job you like, it’s important to have an eye on tomorrow. That does not mean you’re angling to leave, or are even particularly open to a new position — it just means you’re banking relationship capital for a future day.

This could be a somewhat passive activity where you simply make an effort to attend industry events and meet more people. The best bet, however, is to use the fact that you don’t need anything from potential connections to build some new relationships.

One great way to do that is to seek out people at companies where you might want to work or in jobs you may want to hold. Introduce yourself, explain your situation and ask for an informational interview or even to have a cup of coffee.

This tactic also works well if you’re considering a potential geography switch. When planning a visit or vacation to an area you may someday want to live in, make a few appointments with potential employers. Let them know your future plans and any connections you may have to the area (family, property ownership, etc.). That way, if a job comes up, you won’t be treated as an out-of-town applicant.

Be Creative

Networking can take on a lot of forms. You may consider volunteering or working with industry groups on projects that are outside the realm of normal business. Even something like joining a softball team increases the number of people you know.

It’s also a good idea to raise your profile outside your own company. That could mean speaking at industry events, contributing to trade journals or participating in after-work events.

Keep It Going

The hardest part of networking on a long-term basis is keeping up connections. That person who had coffee with you two years ago probably won’t think of you when a job comes open if that was your only contact.

Keeping in touch has gotten easier in the social media era. Make connections on all the leading platforms as appropriate, and interact with your network. Make a point of having a personal interaction a few times a year — anything from getting together to sending a holiday card.

Put the effort in to keep your connections from going cold. If you do that then your network will be there either when you need a job, and may even surprise you by putting an opportunity on your plate when you did not expect it.

Glassdoor.com | March 7, 2018 | Posted by Daniel B. Kline, The Motley Fool

Your #Career : 5 Hiring Trends To Watch In 2016… #3- Social media will be Increasingly Used to find Candidates. (i.e. your LinkedIn Profile)

February 19, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

As 2016 gets into full swing, we’re beginning to see several key hiring trends develop. Based on my insights as a former recruiter, I believe these themes bode well for job seekers looking to make the most of their career this year by finding a new job.

Here are five trends job seekers can leverage in finding their next great role:

1. Job offers will include more perks and benefits. According to Mercer, salary increases this year are projected to be 2.9%. So, if you’re planning on remaining in your current job, chances are your raise will not be significant (if you receive one at all).

As such, job seekers looking to increase their earning power by pursuing external opportunities should also focus on negotiating more bells and whistles in their offer. In light of the current talent shortage, employers are generally hungry for quality candidates. Seekers should leverage this not only in negotiating financial benefits like base compensation, a sign-on bonus and relocation allowance – which may be more difficult to attain in the current economic climate – but also for perks like flexible work schedules and additional time off. Candidates can expect to see offers that include ramped up benefits like unlimited personal time and extended maternity and personal leaves.

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2. Increased interest in boomerangs. The trend of employees considering returning to their former employers is on the rise. In a recent Monster poll, more than half of participants revealed that they’d consider returning to a former employer.

To that point, an additional 28% reported that they are already boomerangs. As more recruiters (and therefore employers) tap into this potential gold mine of rehires, they’re discovering the benefits of a former employee: boomerangs already know the company culture and infrastructure, which can help reduce their time to hire as well as their ramp up period.

We can expect to see more companies hosting in-person and virtual alumni events to network and re-establish rapport with their former employees, and, most importantly, build a pipeline of valuable potential rehires.

3. Social media will be increasingly used to find candidates. Back in the day, employers could only rely on resumes and cover letters to get a sense of a candidate’s qualifications. As we all know, the Internet and social media have made it much easier for them to find and research potential candidates – especially elusive talent that may not be actively looking for a job.

While resumes and cover letters are still staples of the process, expect recruiters to check out your online profiles in addition to what you have submitted – or even before you submit anything at all.

The really good news? Whether you’re looking for a job, applying or simply networking, having an active, polished online presence can make it easier for recruiters to find you and reach out about opportunities you may not have even known existed. Be reachable and, more importantly, be responsive to their emails, even if you’re not interested at the time.

4. More lucrative employee referral programs – and beyond. When I worked in corporate recruiting, all of my hiring managers shared one common hiring metric: the number one source of new hires was employee referrals.

In 2016, it’s likely employers will ramp up their referral programs for employees, as well as start extending referral bonuses externally, such as offering $100 to $500 to friends of the company and former employees. As the war for talent heats up, keep your eyes open for opportunities to refer friends and colleagues.

5. More offers will include flexibility. Until recently, it was common for candidates to be nervous about asking potential employers for flexible work arrangements.

Now more and more employers are offering flexibility as part of their employment package up front. And the options will continue to expand this year – from occasional telecommuting to staggering work hours and more. As the workplace continues to evolve, hiring practices will change along with them.

Vicki Salemi is a career expert for Monster, author, public speaker and columnist.

Forbes.com | February 18, 2016 | Vicki Salemi

Your #Career : 5 Ways Other People Can Help (or Hurt) Your Career…Work hard, Put your Time In, & Move Up the Corporate Ladder, Right? Not so Fast.

February 12, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

As important as it is to do your best at work and to gain experience, there are many mistakes you could make that would negate your hard work and damage your career. In addition, the truth is that you alone are not in charge of where your career goes (or doesn’t go); other people have more power than you may realize.

This is particularly true if you are an employee because you have performance reviews and co-workers to worry about, but even if you own your own business, you will always have to interact with other people. While hard work can get you far, there will always be other players who can positively or negatively change your course. Here are five ways that other people can affect your career.

1. References

Sometimes a reference is a good thing. If a hiring manager has narrowed the search down to two candidates, and your references speak very highly of you, then you might get the job offer. Also, if you regularly check in with your references and you update them about new work experience and training that you have, they will be prepared to share this information when they receive calls.

On the other hand, be careful who you choose as a reference. It’s a common myth that companies can only give the dates that you were employed; employers are allowed to give an honest opinion about employees as long as they avoid misrepresentations or lies (however, many companies have set rules about how much information they will provide). Be sure to ask if it is acceptable to use someone as a reference, and if they feel comfortable giving you a positive one.

The work you do to move forward in your career is essential to success, but remember that other people can have a big impact on your career as well.

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2. Networking

The importance of networking can’t be overstated: meeting the right people can truly help your career. If you build and maintain a strong network of people who can share job opportunities with you, and even recommend you for positions, then you will truly be building important relationships. Still, as much as contacts have the ability to help you in your career, they also can easily harm you. If you have a bad experience with someone who is well known or important in your job field, you could easily find yourself unable to find a job at several companies that work with your contact.

In order to successfully network, it’s important to avoid some big mistakes; make sure to talk about more than just work, and truly build relationships and offer to help others too.

3. Reviews

Your boss can easily make or break your career, or at least, your ability to move up at your current company. If your boss is disappointed with your work, believes that you are lacking in some other way, or simply dislikes you, he or she can make it next to impossible for you to advance in your career or earn a promotion. Your boss can also help you though; if you impress your boss, you may quickly get promoted at your company, and you also may have the opportunity to meet new people and work on projects that will help your career in other ways.

Your boss isn’t the only one who might give you a negative or positive review. Your co-workers can also have a say: if they find you to be lazy or incompetent, your boss will surely hear about it.

If you have a customer-facing job, you may get a customer complaint. Most companies provide training for their employees, but if your supervisor continually receives negative reviews or complaints about your work, you might find that a complete stranger has the ability to negatively affect your career simply by sharing their opinion. Even a simple mistake during an important client lunch could have disatrous effects.

4. Job competition

We all know that we are likely competing against several other qualified people when we apply for a job or come in for an interview. However, it’s also true that you might lose out on a huge opportunity because a complete stranger is more qualified than you, or is better at interviewing, or simply knows the right people. It’s possible that you might be even farther in your career right now if years ago a hiring manager hadn’t received a better resume from another applicant.

Where you live alone might be changing your career path. According to the January 2016 Rankings from Indeed, it’s much harder to find a job in certain cities; if there are more unemployed people for each job listing, you may be facing more competition for the job you want.

5. Social media

What you put on social media can affect your career. If you post embarrassing pictures, or you complain about your job, then your boss or co-workers might see it. However, your career can be affected by what other people post too. If your friends share embarrassing or drunken photos of you and your boss sees them before you get a chance to delete them, the result could be funny, or it could be ruinous.

According to Kelly Services’ The 2015 Hiring Manager Research, only 12% or hiring managers said they had disqualified a candidate based on a review of their social media profile, but you don’t want to be part of that 12%. Also according to Kelly, social media can be an important tool when networking (68% of working professionals said they use social media as their primary method of networking.)

The work you do to move forward in your career is essential to success, but remember that other people can have a big impact on your career as well.

CheatSheet.com | February 12, 2016 | Sienna Beard

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