Your contact list (your ‘circle of influence’ as I like to call it) is worth far more than gold and should be treated as such. By nurturing and building these relationships you’ll be able to tap into numerous opportunities about which you may otherwise never have found out.

Adopting an approach of regularly sharing relevant information and supporting your circle of influence should create an environment of reciprocity so that when you need to seek support your contacts will be far more open to supporting you. It’s a win-win situation. 

If you’re still unsure of the best way to cultivate your growing circle of influence, below are 5 tips that I recently shared on Twitter on how you can keep in contact with your connections in order to develop in positive and professional relationships.

Tip One: @annemariecross What have you done for yr network today? Send someone an article they’d be interested in and that will support them in achieving their goal.

Read a newsletter, article or online report that you know would be of benefit to one (or more) of your connections? Send them a copy of the article to support them in achieving their goal.

You many like to include a short note to demonstrate that you’ve been thinking about them and that you are genuinely interested in seeing them achieve whatever they are working on.

Tip Two: @annemariecross What have you done for yr network today? Volunteer to help out at an event. Your contact will be very grateful for the support.

Supporting your contacts by volunteering at their cause or event is a great way to strengthen a relationship. Extending a hand of friendship in any way, large or small, is certainly a wonderful gesture and one I’m sure will be greatly appreciated.

Additional benefits of volunteering include the ongoing expansion and development of your skills and knowledge base, while meeting additional people who can also become part of your network.

Tip Three: @annemariecross What have u done for yr network today? Make contact with someone & invite them for a coffee & chat – just because you can.

Life and work often get so busy that we HAVE to make the time to just sit back and ‘smell the roses’.

Similarly, with your circle of influence, the contact you have with them does not necessarily need to be ‘work’ focussed all the time. Inviting someone out to coffee and a chat is a fantastic way to strengthen your relationship without having that corporate-like approach. Remember, people recommend and/or do business with people they know, like and trust. Aim to build relationships that are founded on integrity and trust. 

Tip Four: @annemariecross What have u done for yr network today? Send a card or tell someone how much you appreciate them for their ongoing support.

Receiving a card, a phone call or note from someone who is showing their appreciation is a gesture that I’m sure all of us appreciate. So why not do the same for people in your network.

Has someone helped you out of a bind; sent you information that has been helpful in your job search/career; or has just been there for you no matter what? Reach out to them today and let them know you are grateful for their help and support

Tip Five: @annemariecross Building your network? Find out the interests of one of yr connections & ask them about this next time you meet.

I’m sure all of you have one activity – a hobby or interest about which you are very passionate. So how impressed would you be if one of your connections asked you how about this and whether you’d had a recent opportunity to immerse yourself in this area? I know I would be!

As the tweet post states, find out about the interests of your connections and make a note of it on your network database so the next time you know that person is going to attend a networking event, you’ll be able to ask them about it. A great icebreaker and a way to build rapport while strengthening your relationship.

So which of the five tips will you be implementing this week? My coach’s challenge for you this fortnight is to pick a minimum of two, and implement these with at least three of your contacts.

Annemarie

After initial introductions and the ensuing handshake he commented “I’m really sorry to take up your valuable time. I know you must think I’m a nuisance, and I don’t mean to be such a bother.” Even his body language indicated a serious lack self confidence, which was really saddened me. I could just imagine him repeating this comment at a networking meeting or worse yet, at an interview.

Whether you are representing yourself at a network meeting, an interview or even just having a coffee with a network contact – it is vital to portray a professional and successful image.

Unfortunately this person did not realise that the message he was conveying, could be viewed as negative or weak by some people, and by projecting anything less than his absolute best could harm his reputation.

To avoid becoming a casualty of communication catastrophe and undermining yourself and your abilities try some of the tips provided below:

• Avoid using weak and ineffective communication when promoting your ideas such as “You probably won’t like this idea but how about…” or “I’m probably way off track but …” Instead use strong communication when presenting your ideas; if you don’t believe in what you are saying or what you stand for, how can you expect others to?
• Emulate the physical ‘presence’ and mannerisms of self-assured and confident people. Stand tall with your head held high. Use a firm (although not hand crushing) handshake, smile, and remember to speak clearly and maintain eye contact with the person to whom you are communicating with. 
• Don’t beat yourself up if you make a mistake, but rather view it as an opportunity for continued learning and personal development. Everyone makes mistakes, but it is in the way you learn from these and pick yourself up that makes all the difference. One of my favourite quotations is ‘There is no failure, only feedback.’ So, if a situation did not deliver the outcome as planned, review it and understand how you can improve on it, so that next time you are in a similar situation you can achieve a better result.
• Learn to accept congratulatory praise and compliments and don’t lessen the impact of your achievements by saying “Oh it was nothing really.” Be proud of what you have accomplished! Instead say ‘Thank you!’ to demonstrate your gratitude for being acknowledged.
• Avoid using negative comments about yourself or your skills as this not only projects a poor self-image, but does little to enhance your self-esteem. Stop feeding your negative self-image by diminishing your skills and abilities, but rather be proud of who you are and what you have to offer.
• Don’t portray or describe yourself as a victim when faced with a problem. Rather, take on a proactive demeanour by demonstrating your ability to face challenges head on, even if that means asking for support from those around you.

Remember, how we interact and communicate with people around us and with ourselves (through internal communication/thoughts) can significantly impact how we are perceived. Ensure you are perceived in a positive and professional way by adopting some of the above tips!

By the way you’ll be pleased to know that after spending some time with the person I mentioned earlier, we were able to work on his marketing documentation as well as his communication and presentation style. He’s having far more positive results within this job search, which is pleasing to hear.

If you feel like you could be jeopardising your (online and offline) networking and interviewing efforts by not projecting a professional persona, then come and listen in to our upcoming radio show ‘Help! I need a job’. We’ll be sharing important online and offline networking communication strategies to help you win that job.

Does the thought of ‘active’ networking scare you? If networking is not a major part of your job search plan, then you could potentially be missing out on 70-80% of job opportunities that will never be advertised. Learn how you can begin putting yourself in front of key decision makers for your dream job in today’s audio.

How are your networking efforts going?

Mobile post sent by AnnemarieCross using Utterli.  Replies.  mp3 ]]> http://career-coach.com.au/blog/top-ten-effective-habits-of-a-highly-successful-networker/feed 0 http://career-coach.com.au/blog/informational-interviewing-secure-your-success http://career-coach.com.au/blog/informational-interviewing-secure-your-success#comments Thu, 23 Apr 2009 04:27:09 +0000 Annemarie Cross http://career-coach.com.au/blog/?p=303

Mobile post sent by AnnemarieCross using Utterli.  Replies.  mp3 ]]> http://career-coach.com.au/blog/informational-interviewing-secure-your-success/feed 0 http://career-coach.com.au/blog/multiplayer-computer-game-experience-prompts-a-%e2%80%93-%e2%80%98you%e2%80%99re-hired%e2%80%99 http://career-coach.com.au/blog/multiplayer-computer-game-experience-prompts-a-%e2%80%93-%e2%80%98you%e2%80%99re-hired%e2%80%99#comments Sat, 25 Mar 2006 07:54:01 +0000 Annemarie Cross http://career-coach.com.au/blog/?p=35 I happened across a story that my son (12 years) would love to read being that it provokes further thinking around team-focused computer games, particularly with so many ‘experts’ claiming that computers are destroying our young.

My son’s passion for computer games is hard to ignore – in fact his mouse and keyboard could be likened to as ‘his third arm’. Now while he is actively involved in team sports and other outside activities (thank goodness) he is always drawn back to his games and computer. Particularly the quests that require team-based plotting against your opponents, quick thinking, a steady hand and extremely swift eye and hand coordination (which I certainly don’t have) to get past and/or conquer your rivals.

To my son’s defence I have to admit that I would be lost without my computer and internet connection as this is my main form of communication with my clients and would therefore feel cut off from the world if I was unable to access it.

This recent article in Wired Magazine “You play World of Warcraft? You’re Hired!” http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.04/learn.html caught my attention, as for one job seeker, it seems that playing a computer game actually prompted a hiring. Of course he was extremely talented in his field; however the article makes for some very interesting reading.

Perhaps these [team-based] computer games are not so bad as we are led to believe? A topic of discussion that I’m sure could prompt much heated debate from both sides of thinking.

I’ll end this post by quoting Brown & Thomas (article authors) “The day may not be far off when companies receive resumes that include a line reading “level 60 tauren shaman in World of Warcraft. –The savviest employers will get the message.”

Happy playing!

Late last year, I had the privilege of addressing a group of unemployed mature aged candidates looking at revitalising their resumes to enable them to make a real impact within their job search. [I'll be speaking with them again within the next few weeks identifying the hidden job market and how to expose hidden job opportunities, which I am looking forward to.]

It became apparent that some of the challenges they faced, not only had to do with their resumes, but also once they got to the interview stage. All too often they were confronted with questions of being overqualified, and the unspoken opinion of the interviewer that the candidate was too old for the role. We all know this is highly illegal and discouraged; however unfortunately out in the real world, these candidates confirmed that this was still happening far too often.

During a recent coaching session (with a mature-aged client) I suggested that rather than try to ignore and bypass the topic, he should bring it up, coupled with some qualifying statements that positioned him as a top candidate for the role. By confronting this unspoken subject head-on in a strategic and positive manner should hopefully eliminate any concerns the interviewer may have, and allow you the opportunity to address these within the interview.

“You may have some concerns about my age, however as a veteran in the industry I bring with me extensive experience to draw upon which could immediately bring value and results to your organisation. [You may wish to include some brief examples here]. Throughout my experience I have demonstrated my ability to work with people from diverse ages and backgrounds, and feel confident I would soon become an invaluable member of your vibrant team.”

Here are some additional interview responses that can address similar situations:

* “Overqualified? While it may seem that my experience and skills are overqualified for the role – I would say that they position me as being fully qualified to perform the duties of this position. Being able to achieve performance levels better than expected would certainly be advantageous to an organisation would you not agree?”

* “I certainly enjoyed my senior roles however I’ve reached a time in my career where I would prefer a more hands on role and be able to work more closely with customers.”

* “I no longer have dependent children and am therefore no longer driven with salary or title. I prefer a hands-on role and the references I provided will confirm that I am a dedicated team member that consistently achieves goals and deadlines. I’m positive we can come to a mutually agreeable salary level.”

* “I realise your organisation is a dynamic company and experiencing significant growth in the market. This is exactly the sort of organisation I want to establish my career with. Rather than your company having to spend thousands of dollars in training, I offer an immediate return on your investment. I’m sure you value a team player with skills and aptitudes to support your corporate vision towards further growth?”

* “You have mentioned my background confirms senior level roles however I am at a time in my life where I wish to stand down from the stresses of a senior position and regain a healthy work/life balance. This position is exactly what I am looking for and will provide me with more time to spend with my family, which is something my previous roles have not allowed me to do.”

* It’s gratifying that you believe my skills expertise would generate further head-hunter offers and that I would leave should another opportunity present itself. However this role is exactly what I am looking for and I would be prepared to sign an agreement committing to an 18 month period.”

All the best!

~ Perhaps you are sending out numerous applications without so much as a ‘thank you’ or ‘no thank you’ from potential employers?

~ Are you continuously experiencing knock-backs, even though you are more than qualified and experienced to perform the job functions? or,

~ Have you been waiting for what seems an eternity for that dream job to be advertised, however it never happens?

If you have answered ‘yes’ to any of the above, you are certainly not alone as I get dozens of emails from disillutioned job seekers frustrated by the lack of interest by prospective employers.

8 key steps to exposing, exploiting and conquering the hidden job market is a free 8 week course which has been developed specifically for job seekers who want to throw off the shackles of job search confusion and despair to gain control of their search and fast-track the job offer and their careers. Are you one of these job seekers? If so, go to www.career-coach.com.au and sign up now!!

What’s covered in this free 8 week course?

Week One: Understanding the battleground: demystifying the terms ‘hidden job market’.

Week Two: Covert Operations: The savvy job seeker’s secret weapon to penetrating and conquering the hidden job market.

Week Three: Combat Zone 1: Activating your network: gathering, preparing and having your forces work for you during your campaign.

Week Four: Combat Zone 2: Control Centre Infiltration: uncovering and targeting opportunities within the workplace.

Week Five: Combat Zone 3: Multiple strikes: attacking the market place.

Week Six: Arsenal Preparation 1: Dynamic and compelling career marketing documets.

Week Seven: Arsenal Preparation 2: Interviewing dynamism to outstrip and outshine the competition.

Week Eight: Final countdown…campaign overview and launch.

Are you ready to take control of your job search? Sign up today: www.career-coach.com.au

A recent study by Watson Wyatt, a leading human capital consulting firm, confirms that networking is now being used by companies seeking potential staff, namely through existing employee referrals. According to the Watson Wyatt study, companies that hired more than one-third of new employees through employee referrals generated more than twice the total return to shareholders (48 percent) than did employers that hired less than 10 percent of employees through referrals (23 percent). So what does this mean? Basically, that savvy companies with advanced recruiting methodologies (i.e. using employee referrals) were locating new staff far more efficiently and effectively, were able to fill vacancies quickly, while also outperforming financially in comparison to other organisations not using these effective recruiting practices.

I know of several senior management staff (known and highly respected in their industry) who were contacted by competing companies requesting suitable names of potential job seekers. This also confirms that companies are no longer just relying on recruiting firms or job advertisements, but are endeavouring to source staff from people in their network of contacts. Hence, these jobs are being filled without ever being advertised.

So, if you want to fast-track your job search and tap into the hidden job market, begin with your network of contacts. A personal recommendation from an existing employee within an organisation can open doors of opportunities for both you and the employer.

If you’re a little apprehensive about reaching out to your network, email me at info@annemariecross.com and request my free e-book on ‘Leveraging your network to fast-track your job search.’

Looking at taking the next step in your career but have a burning question you would like answered before making a move? Perhaps you were stumped by an interviewer’s recent question and would like to get some feedback on how to approach it better if asked this question again?

If this sounds like you then visit: www.aresumewriter.net/forum/ where you can get all your career related questions answered by career experts.

What are you waiting for??? Get posting!!!