Getting the Word Out

Your world can’t help you look if they don’t know you’re looking

When you’re feeling at your lowest ebb, job seeking can feel like a lonely endeavor. While those feelings of abandonment can be justified, the reality is that a successful job search is nothing like a solitary pursuit.

Let’s start close to home. Your spouse, your family, your immediate relatives aren’t just capable of providing moral support, any one of them may know someone. Or they may know someone who knows someone, etc. Even one of children who tells a friend who, in turn, tells their parents…

Turning Pro

On a more professional level, there are recruiters, job coaches, et.al. They are all there to advance your best interest. But these are people whom you have sought out. These are people who themselves have something to gain when you succeed in landing that next position.

But let’s not stop there. You have former co-workers. There are probably vendors with whom you’ve worked over time. There may be people you’ve come to know who are technically competitors. All of those people can – in one way, shape or form – help you in your job search.

But there’s a catch. There always is.

In this case, the catch is that you need to tell them that you’re looking, that you’re available. If you don’t tell them that you’re seeking a new position, they won’t know. And if they don’t know, they won’t be able to help. They won’t recognize what could be an ideal opportunity for you.

When it’s appropriate, make certain that they have (or have seen) a copy of your resume; that they can find you on LinkedIn. Be sure that they know how to introduce you to anyone who might cross their paths.

But don’t stop there. Maintain contact with all these potentials. A word to the wise: be certain you know how comfortable these individuals are – not just with you contacting them, but also how often it is appropriate for you to contact them. That frequency will vary from person to person. But learn what it is and adhere to it. There is fine line between being assertive or aggressive, and being a pest.

In the end, there any number of people out there who can help you in your job search. But you have to tell them.

More tips.