Resources

• former school instructors or mentors
• your sports coach, or
• someone from church or a community group.

This process isn’t about “selling” yourself. It is about knowing what your strengths are and having the confidence to modestly express your strengths and qualifications to others around you.

Then, when you are somewhat comfortable with the networking process, move onto cold calling those connections that may be able to better help you gather information on your chosen industry and get that desirable job.

Volunteer in an industry you are interested in or join a local organization. This is a great way to get out in the community and meet people that can be an integral part of your networking process.

Point #2:   Be organized / Have the right tools

1. A dependable and professional voice mail message on a phone where you can be reached at all times.
2. A professional email address that you access at least every 24 hours.
   (ie. FirstNameLastName@yahoo.com)
3. A planner specifically to record the networking contacts you have made or plan to make.

Take a good look at your address book and email contacts. Make a list of people to call such as your friends, family, colleagues, former supervisors, and social contacts. Every one is an important contact in your networking circle.

As you reach out to your existing contacts you should be gaining leads of new contacts to follow-up on. Keep organized, and write these leads down in your networking address book.

1. The purpose of this phone call is to use your short message to introduce yourself in a professional manner and to announce your availability in the job market.
2. Remember to smile (he/she will be able to hear the smile), be polite and friendly.
3. If this is a cold call, explain how you got their name and why you are calling.
4. If he/she is busy, try to schedule another time to call.
5. If you find that he/she is resistant to your call, maintain your friendly demeanor and thank the contact for his/her time.
6. If the contact is open to talking to you, thank them again and deliver your short message about your background and interests.
7. If you receive a positive response and he/she tells you about an opening, offer to send a resume
8. End the call by sincerely thanking him/her for his/her time and make reference to the person who suggested that you call.
9. Record the information from your call in your planner. Contact all referrals gained from this call. Be sure to leave clear personal or voice mail messages.

Some sample phone scripts are available at Smith James Group, Inc. under “How Do You Network”

Point #4:   Follow Up on Calls
Always follow-up on your contacts with a nice letter thanking him/her. For a sample letter visit “What Are Your Next Steps” at Smith James Group, Inc.

• Talk to family, friends, former co-workers, bosses, and your neighbors
• Talk to the other parents at your child’s sports or music events
• Talk to the sales people visiting your office
• Visit with other members of your social clubs or religious groups
• Attend professional or trade association meetings
• Strike up a conversation with someone else in a waiting room (ie. doctors office, DMV, etc.)
• Use online resources: career-related web forums and online discussion groups (ie. jobster.com)

1. When picking up the application, be dressed as if you were going to be interviewed – you may!
2. Pick up two applications and use one as a rough draft.
3. Before you put pen to paper, read the whole application thoroughly.
4. The application should be typed or printed in pen unless a handwriting sample is requested on the application.
5. Use only black or blue ink.
6. Fill in all the blanks. If the question does not apply to you, put a dash mark or an “N/A” (not applicable).
7. Print as neatly as possible. No erasures, smudges, or spill stains.
8. Never fold or crinkle the application.
9. Use care in sentence structure, spelling and punctuation. Avoid using abbreviations.
10. Make sure to list phone numbers where you can be readily reached.

• List all jobs held, including volunteer work. Be as complete as possible, providing supervisor, address and phone number of employer.
• If the employer is requesting you to list your skills be as specific as possible.

Acceptable reasons for leaving a job:

• military service
• further education
• raise family
• work force reduction – lay off
• seasonal work – lay off
• temporary employment
• relocated
• self-employment
• seek salaried employment (when leaving self-employment)
• career change
• better growth opportunity

References: Be prepared with the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of at least three personal references. Never use family members. You may wish to list teachers, ministers, friends or former employers. Make sure that you have their permission before using them as a reference.

• widely used format
• logical flow, easy to read
• showcases growth in skills and responsibility
• shows promotions and impressive titles
• shows company loyalty

• emphasizes gaps in employment
• highlights frequent job changes
• emphasizes employment but not skill development
• emphasizes lack of related experience and career changes
• points out demotions/career set backs

Enclosure

Enclosure

1. Your background and experience list (names of former employers, schools, training, etc.)
2. A resume or summary of your work experience
3. Also include any work-related or community service awards that you have received.
4. Social security card, driver’s license, union card, military records, etc.

• It was a pleasure meeting you.”
• “Thank you for taking the time to speak with me.”
• A summary of your skills and their needs.

• Bring only essential items to the interview (i.e. resume, references, portfolio, licenses, datebook, etc.). Do not bring anything unrelated to the job into the interview.
• Arrive 15 minutes early so you can relax and review what you want to say.
• Be pleasant and friendly but businesslike to everyone you meet.
• Shake hands firmly. Be yourself. Use natural gestures and movements.
• Stress your qualifications without exaggeration. Emphasize experience and training related to the job opening.
• If you know about the company’s products and services, you should refer to them as you answer questions. It is impressive if you have positive knowledge about the company. If the company is involved in any kind of problem (i.e. lawsuits, layoffs, etc.) do not bring it up.
• After being asked a question, it is okay to pause and think about your answer. Answer questions with more than a “yes” or “no”. On the other hand, do not ramble. A successful interview occurs if the interviewer talks fifty-percent of the time.

• Speak positively of past employers and avoid discussing personal, domestic or financial problems.
• Know your salary range from your research. When asked “What are your ideas on salary?”, answer with a question of the interviewer (i.e. “What do you pay people with my skills and experience?”)
• Ask probing questions about the company plans, nature of the job, etc. Questions indicate interest and motivation. Questions are also helpful in getting the interviewer to talk.
• Be prepared if the interviewer says, “You’re perfect for this job. When can you start?” Preparing for this question can prevent a snap decision. Most employers will allow you time to make this decision. But what if they ask, “Can you start tomorrow?”
• Thank the interviewer even if they indicate that you are not right for the job. Ask about other companies that might be hiring. Get a name of someone to see.
• Send a brief thank you note immediately after the interview.
• Call a few days after the interview to see if a hiring decision has been made.

Questions You Might be Asked at a Job Interview 
Think about how you will answer these questions.
Then practice answering them aloud.

1. What do you know about our company? (Use company research)
2. What qualifications do you have for this job? (Match what you know about the job and company to your experience)
3. What is your greatest strength? (Relate to job description)
4. What is your greatest weakness? (Turn into a positive, i.e. perfectionist with high self-expectations. Admit a past problem and what you learned from it)
5. Tell me about yourself. (Reveal something semi-personal but still professional)
6. Why did you leave your previous job(s)? (Turn into a positive
7. If you were hired, what ideas/talents could you contribute to the position or our company?
8. Could you give me an example of how you have demonstrated _____________________ skill? (Think first, be specific, speak only long enough to answer the question)
9. Give me an example of how you handled a difficult situation on a previous job.
10. Why are you interested in working for this company? (Relate your skills to what you know about the company)
11. Tell me about your education. (Use examples that relate to the position)
12. Why have you chosen this particular field?
13. Describe your best/worst boss. (Keep it positive)
14. In a job, what interests you most/least? (Relate to position)
15. How do others describe you? (Keep it positive)
16. What do you consider the single most important idea you contributed or your most noteworthy accomplishment in your last job?
17. Where do you see yourself in three years? (Demonstrate ambition and flexibility)
18. How does this position fit into your future plans? (Demonstrate potential and ambition)
19. What could you have done better on your last job? (Keep it positive)
20. What have you done recently that shows your initiative and willingness to work?
21. How would you describe yourself to others? (Keep it positive and brief)

Questions You Might Want to Ask at a Job Interview 
Add questions as you research careers and companies.

1. How do you feel about working in this organization?
2. Were there any questions I didn’t provide an adequate answer?
3. As you think about the position, what aspects of this job could be performed better?
4. What are the key challenges or problems of this position?
5. Where can I go from here, assuming that I meet/exceed the job’s responsibilities?
6. What are the company’s short and long term objectives?
7. When will a decision be made about this position?
8. What do you see as my greatest strengths and weaknesses pertaining to this position?
9. What are the opportunities for personal growth?
10. What makes your firm different from its competitors?
11. What do you see as the company’s strengths and weaknesses
12. How would you describe your corporation’s personality and management style?
13. What is the overall structure of the department where this position is located?
14. What characteristics does a successful person within your company possess?

• Libraries
• Your child’s school
• A friend or neighbor’s house
• Kinko’s (you pay for the time)

How will this help your job search?

• You may find a job opening that you can only apply for by using e-mail.
• You can ask your friends and family who have e-mail to help you network wherever they live!
• If you are working with a job search counselor, you can communicate with them by e-mail sometimes more easily than playing phone tag.
• Some newspapers (like the Record Searchlight) will let you pick the want-ad information you want and e-mail you the results every day.

– Email could help you get a job! –